A Telecom O-Band Emitter in Diamond

Color centers in diamond are promising platforms for quantum technologies. Most color centers in diamond discovered thus far emit in the visible or near-infrared wavelength range, which are incompatible with long-distance fiber communication and unfavorable for imaging in biological tissues. Here, we report the experimental observation of a new color center that emits in the telecom O-band, which we observe in silicon-doped bulk single crystal diamonds and microdiamonds. Combining absorption and photoluminescence measurements, we identify a zero-phonon line at 1221 nm and phonon replicas separated by 42 meV. Using transient absorption spectroscopy, we measure an excited state lifetime of around 270 ps and observe a long-lived baseline that may arise from intersystem crossing to another spin manifold.

Automated summary

Color centers in diamond have potential applications in quantum technologies. We discovered a new color center in silicon-doped diamond that emits in the telecom O-band, which is compatible with long-distance fiber communication. The color center exhibits a long excited state lifetime and a possible intersystem crossing to another spin manifold.