Coherent optical transitions in implanted nitrogen vacancy centers

We report the observation of stable optical transitions in nitrogenvacancy (NV) centers created by ion implantation. Using a combination of high temperature annealing and subsequent surface treatment, we reproducibly create NV centers with zero-phonon lines (ZPL) exhibiting spectral diffusion that is close to the lifetime-limited optical line width. The residual spectral diffusion is further reduced by using resonant optical pumping to maintain the NV− charge state. This approach allows for placement of NV centers with excellent optical coherence in a well-defined device layer, which is a crucial step in the development of diamond-based devices for quantum optics, nanophotonics, and quantum information science. We report the observation of stable optical transitions in nitrogenvacancy(NV) centers created by ion implantation. Using a combination of hightemperature annealing and subsequent surface treatment, we reproducibly create NVcenters with zero-phonon lines (ZPL) exhibiting spectral diffusion that is close to thelifetime-limited optical line width. The residual spectral diffusion is further reduced byusing resonant optical pumping to maintain the NV− charge state. This approachallows for placement of NV centers with excellent optical coherence in a well-defineddevice layer, which is a crucial step in the development of diamond-based devices forquantum optics, nanophotonics, and quantum information science.