arXiv · 1201.0674
Efficient photon detection from color centers in a diamond optical waveguide
Abstract
A common limitation of experiments using color centers in diamond is the poor photon collection efficiency of microscope objectives due to refraction at the diamond interface. We present a simple and effective technique to detect a large fraction of photons emitted by color centers within a planar diamond sample by detecting light that is guided to the edges of the diamond via total internal reflection. We describe a prototype device using this "side-collection" technique, which provides a photon collection efficiency of approximately 47% and a photon detection efficiency of approximately 39%. We apply the enhanced signal-to-noise ratio gained from side-collection to AC magnetometry using ensembles of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers, and demonstrate an AC magnetic field sensitivity of 100 pT/\sqrt{Hz}, limited by added noise in the prototype side-collection device. Technical optimization should allow significant further improvements in photon collection and detection efficiency as well as sub-picotesla NV-diamond magnetic field sensitivity using the side-collection technique.
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D. Le Sage, L. M. Pham, N. Bar-Gill, C. Belthangady, M. D. Lukin, A. Yacoby, R. L. Walsworth. 2012-01-03. Efficient photon detection from color centers in a diamond optical waveguide. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.85.121202
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