Two-level ultrabright single photon emission from diamond nanocrystals

Nano Lett. 2009 Sep;9(9):3191-5. doi: 10.1021/nl9014167.

Abstract

The fabrication of stable ultrabright single photon sources operating at room temperature is reported. The emitter is based on a color center within a diamond nanocrystal grown on a sapphire substrate by chemical vapor deposition method and exhibits a two-level electronic behavior with a maximum measured count rate of 3.2 x 10(6) counts/s at saturation. The emission is centered at approximately 756 nm with a full width at half-maximum approximately 11 nm and an excited state lifetime of 3.7 ns. These unique properties make it a leading candidate for quantum photonics and communication applications as well as for cellular biomarking.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Materials Testing
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanotechnology
  • Particle Size
  • Photons*
  • Quantum Theory
  • Surface Properties
  • Temperature
  • Time Factors