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Researchers Demonstrate Active Nanoantennas Based on Diamond Nanoparticles

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A controlled light source has been developed that is based on a nanodiamond. According to researchers, experiments showed that the diamond shell could double the emission speed of light sources and could help control light sources without additional nano- or microstructures. The enhancement of the fluorescence rate of the emitters was due to artificially created defects in a diamond crystal lattice.

Nanodiamonds with artificially created nitrogen-vacancy centers (NV centers) were used for the nanoantennas.

Schematic of active nanodiamond antenna, ITMO University.
Schematic of active nanodiamond antenna. Courtesy of ITMO University.

The ITMO University research team, in collaboration with researchers from Australian National University, made the NV centers by removing carbon atoms from a diamond crystal lattice. They then linked each NV center to an implanted nitrogen atom. Researchers found that the electron spin of such an NV center could be easily controlled by light.

In a theoretical study of the optical properties of nanodiamond antennas, including the field enhancement and Purcell effect, the team found that the radiation of nanodiamond antennas could be enhanced by combining the NV center luminescence spectrum with optical Mie resonances of diamond nanoparticles, at a certain position of the NV center and at the appropriate particle size.

Using this approach, researchers were able to increase the Purcell factor, an indicator that can be used to estimate how a diamond shell affects the rate of spontaneous emission of the light source. If the Purcell factor increases, the luminescence fading time is reduced, and the signal becomes stronger and easier to read.

The team achieved this effect using nanodiamonds only.

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“Usually, to accelerate the radiation, one has to create a complex system of resonators,” said researcher Dmitry Zuev. “But we managed to achieve similar results without any additional structures. We showed experimentally that the luminescence fading can be speeded up at least two times, using just simple physics.”

Researchers also developed a theoretical model for the behavior of single-photon sources in the diamond shell. Calculations showed that the speed of light emission could be increased by several dozen times.

“Today, getting a single photon from one NV center in a nanoantenna is a rather difficult task,” said researcher Anastasia Zalogina. “In order to implement such an active nanoantenna in logic elements, for example, you need to manage their emission. In perspective, our concept will help to effectively manage single-photon emission sources. It is very important for the development of quantum computers and optical communication networks.” 

Typically, plasmonic metal nanoparticles are used as a base for nanoantennas, but these nanoparticles can experience optical loss. A search for alternatives is what led the research team to develop active dielectric nanoantennas based on nanodiamonds. Researchers noted that nanodiamonds have properties that make them suitable for use as a nanoantenna base, including a high refractive index, high thermal conductivity, and low interaction activity.

Results of this research could help pave the way toward active dielectric nanophotonics for quantum light sources, bioimaging, and quantum information processing.

The research was published in Nanoscale (doi: 10.1039/C7NR07953B).

Published: May 2018
Glossary
nano
An SI prefix meaning one billionth (10-9). Nano can also be used to indicate the study of atoms, molecules and other structures and particles on the nanometer scale. Nano-optics (also referred to as nanophotonics), for example, is the study of how light and light-matter interactions behave on the nanometer scale. See nanophotonics.
quantum
The term quantum refers to the fundamental unit or discrete amount of a physical quantity involved in interactions at the atomic and subatomic scales. It originates from quantum theory, a branch of physics that emerged in the early 20th century to explain phenomena observed on very small scales, where classical physics fails to provide accurate explanations. In the context of quantum theory, several key concepts are associated with the term quantum: Quantum mechanics: This is the branch of...
nanophotonics
Nanophotonics is a branch of science and technology that explores the behavior of light on the nanometer scale, typically at dimensions smaller than the wavelength of light. It involves the study and manipulation of light using nanoscale structures and materials, often at dimensions comparable to or smaller than the wavelength of the light being manipulated. Aspects and applications of nanophotonics include: Nanoscale optical components: Nanophotonics involves the design and fabrication of...
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