Three-dimensional quantum photonic elements based on single emitters in laser-written microstructures for efficient non-classical light generation and ultra-sensitive optical nanomagnetometry

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Oliver Benson; Professor Dr. Martin Wegener
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics ; Plant Cultivation, Plant Nutrition, Agricultural Technology
• Term: from 2014 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 247057675

• Final Report Year: 2017

Final Report Abstract

In this project we realized a novel approach for a controlled, cost-efficient, and scalable method to fabricate active quantum photonic elements. ‘Active’ refers at first to the realization of room temperature single photon sources, where the photons are collected via three-dimensional waveguides and antenna structures. It is straight forward to apply the approach also to other defect centers, most interestingly to emitters with the potential to provide indistinguishable photons. A second aspect refers to the realization of defects in diamond as centers for sensing, in particular optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR). For such applications collecting as much signal, i.e. photon, as possible is required. However, the fabrication of sensing elements has to be cost-efficient and should be compatible with standard microscope setups as well as microfluidic cells. The realized approach complies with these requirements. While a complete magnetic sensor could not be realized within the duration of the project, first important steps have been taken. For example an independent ODMR setup in a rack and a micro-PL setup with a fluidic cell were realized. Follow-up projects, e.g., within the area of quantum technology, in particular, quantum sensing are already in preparation. Finally, we would like to summarize highlights of the project: • A new process technology was realized to fabricate quantum photonic elements in a reliable and cost-efficient way. The latter is crucial for future applications in sensing applications, where costly assembly is unacceptable. • A waveguide coupled non-classical light source operating at room temperature was realized with a scalable on-demand approach. • A patent for fabricating optical devices by direct laser-writing was filed.

Publications

• Single Photon Nanophotonics Using NV Centers in Three-Dimensional Laser-Written Microstructures, Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & International Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-IQEC) Location: Munich, Germany Date: May 12-16, 2013
  A. W. Schell, J. Kaschke, J. Fischer, R. Henze, J. Wolters, M. Wegener, O. Benson
  
• Three-dimensional quantum photonic elements based on single nitrogen vacancy-centres in laserwritten microstructures, Sci. Rep. 3, 1577 (2013)
  A. W. Schell, J. Kaschke, J. Fischer, R. Henze, M. Wegener, and O. Benson
  (See online at https://doi.org/10.1038/srep01577)
• Laser-Written Microstructures for Enhanced Single-Photon Collection Efficiency, Conference on Lasers and Electro- Optics (CLEO) Location: San Jose, CA Date: Jun 08-13, 2014
  A. W. Schell, T. Neumer, Q. Shi, J. Kaschke, J. Fischer, M. Wegener, O. Benson
  (See online at https://doi.org/10.1364/CLEO_AT.2014.JW2A.122)
• Laser-written parabolic micro-antennas for efficient photon collection, Appl. Phys. Lett. 105, 231117 (2014)
  A. W. Schell, T. Neumer, Q. Shi, J. Kaschke, J. Fischer, M. Wegener, O. Benson
  (See online at https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4903804)
• Numerical analysis of efficient light extraction with an elliptical solid immersion lens, Opt. Lett. 39, 4639-4642 (2014)
  A. W. Schell, T. Neumer, and O. Benson
  (See online at https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.39.004639)
• Direct laser writing aligned with nano-diamonds containing NV-centers as single-photon emitters, Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO) Location: San Jose, CA Date: May 10- 15, 2015
  Q. Shi, J. Fischer, P. Rath, B. Sontheimer, A. W. Schell, W. Pernice, O. Benson, A. Naber, M. Wegener
  (See online at https://doi.org/10.1364/CLEO_QELS.2015.FTh3B.2)
• Strategies for optical integration of single-photon sources, Conference on Photonic and Phononic Properties of Engineered Nanostructures V Location: San Francisco, CA Date: Feb 09-12, 2015
  O. Benson, A. W. Schell, T. Neumer, Q. Shi, J. Kaschke, J. Fischer, M. Wegener
  (See online at https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2086344)
• Wiring up pre-characterized single-photon emitters by laser lithography, Sci. Rep. 6, 31135 (2016)
  Q. Shi, B. Sontheimer, N. Nikolay, A. W. Schell, J. Fischer, A. Naber, O. Benson, and M. Wegener
  (See online at https://doi.org/10.1038/srep31135)