Atomic optical antennas enabled by group IV color centers in diamond

ORAL

Abstract

An atom-like system could in principle have lossless optical transitions and generate giant electric field intensities at nanoscale distances. Under resonant excitation, these systems can function as efficient optical antennas; however, most of them suffer from interactions with their solid-state surroundings, limiting the antenna efficiency. Here, we demonstrate that germanium vacancy centers (GeVs) in diamond can operate as a high-precision and efficient optical antenna, with million-fold optical intensity enhancement measured in the near field. We also utilize these GeV antennas to detect and manipulate the charge states of nearby carbon vacancies and generate measurable fluorescence from individual vacancies through Forster resonance energy transfer. Our study reveals the capacity of atomic antennas for efficient optical energy concentration in solids, with broad applications in spectroscopy, sensing, and quantum science.

*We would like to acknowledge the support from the University of Chicago Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, the Pritzker Nanofabrication Facility part of the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, the diamond CVD growth at Argonne National Lab, and the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Material Sciences, and Engineering Division.

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Publication: Li, Z., Guo, X., Jin, Y. et al. Atomic optical antennas in solids. Nat. Photon. 18, 1113–1120 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-024-01456-5

Presenters

  • Alexander A High

    • The University of Chicago
    • University of Chicago

Authors

  • Zixi Li

    • University of Chicago

  • Xinghan Guo

    • University of Chicago

  • Yu Jin

    • University of Chicago

  • Francesco Andreoli

    • ICFO

  • Anil Bilgin

    • University of Chicago

  • David D Awschalom

    • University of Chicago
    • Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and Department of Physics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
    • Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
    • Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
    • Argonne National Laboratory

  • Nazar Delegan

    • Argonne National Laboratory

  • F. Joseph Heremans

    • Argonne Nantional Lab
    • Materials Science Division and X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory
    • Argonne National Laboratory
    • Argonne National Lab
    • University of Chicago

  • Darrick Chang

    • ICFO-The Institute of Photonic Sciences

  • Giulia Galli

    • University of Chicago

  • Alexander A High

    • The University of Chicago
    • University of Chicago