Nitrogen vacancy center fluorescence from a submicron diamond cluster levitated in a linear quadrupole ion trap

We report the observation of nitrogen vacancy fluorescence from a diamond cluster levitating in a linear quadrupole ion trap. Single clusters with diameters from micro-down to a few hundred nanometers can be trapped and characterized. We investigate the influence of the surface charge on the fluorescence and show how trapping stability can be increased. Subsequently, clusters are deposited on fiber facets. The presented method is an important first step towards optomechanical cooling of a single isolated nanodiamond. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.