Optical and Mechanical Quantum Control of Nitrogen Vacancy Centers in Diamond

• Main Author: Amezcua, Mayra
• Other Authors: McMorran, Benjamin
• Language: en_US
• Published: University of Oregon 2018
• Subjects: Nitrogen vacancy center; Quantum optics; SAW
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1794/23743

Current proposals for the design of quantum computer architectures include combining different quantum systems with designated tasks to build a device that can efficiently store, process, and transfer quantum information. Electron spins in solid-state quantum systems are a viable platform for storing information in these multi-quantum frameworks. While extensive research has been performed to couple solid-state systems to photons and microwaves, an alternative line of research focuses on coupling these systems to phonons, or mechanical motion. The use of phonons in solid-state devices opens up a new approach to interface different quantum systems. This dissertation presents experimental progress in developing and controlling a spin-mechanical system, specifically the interaction between the electron spin of a nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond and mechanical vibrations on the surface of the diamond, and discusses theoretical methods for limiting decoherence in the system. To investigate the strain properties of the NV center, we couple acoustic waves to the NV spin via an optical excitation. We transfer population between the spin ground states by driving phonon-assisted optical transitions and demonstrate the formation of a non-radiative state, which can be used to adiabatically transfer population between two states, through the same mechanism. To mitigate the effects of the nuclear spin bath on the NV center, we study and show preliminary results on the semiclassical dressed states, or quantum states of the NV interacting with optical fields. The dressed states can be insensitive to magnetic fluctuations, thus preserving the quantum state of the system. Finally, we consider a transitionless quantum driving technique that decouples the NV center from a radiative state, preventing decoherence through spontaneous emission. These developments are essential in advancing our understanding of phonon-based interfaces between quantum systems. This dissertation includes previously published and unpublished co-authored material.