The electron-phonon processes of the nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond

Applications of negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond exploit the centers unique optical and spin properties, which at ambient temperature, are predominately governed by electron-phonon interactions. Here, we investigate these interactions at ambient and elevated temperatures by observing the motional narrowing of the centers excited state spin resonances. We determine that the centers Jahn-Teller dynamics are much slower than currently believed and identify the vital role of symmetric phonon modes. Our results have pronounced implications for centers diverse applications (including quantum technology) and for understanding its fundamental properties.

All-optical thermometry and the thermal properties of the optically detected spin resonances of the NV center in nano-diamond

The negatively-charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond is at the frontier of quantum nano-metrology and bio-sensing. Recent attention has focused on the application of high-sensitivity thermometry using the spin resonances of NV centers in nano-diamond to sub-cellular biological and biomedical research. Here, we report a comprehensive investigation of the thermal properties of the centers spin resonances and demonstrate an alternate all-optical NV thermometry technique that exploits the temperature dependence of the centers optical Debye-Waller factor.