Current Research:

The nitrogen-vacancy (NV⁻) centre, a point defect in diamond, has been a source of interest for many years owing to its spin-conserving single photon emission¹, allowing for the read out of individual spins. It therefore has possible applications in quantum technologies as, for example, a qubit or quantum sensor. However, only 4% of the photons emitted from the NV⁻ centre is coherent with the spin state. So other point defects, such as the silicon-vacancy (SiV⁻) centre (from which 70% of emitted photons are coherent with the spin state²), have since been investigated as an alternative.

The aim of my work is to investigate and demonstrate active charge state control of colour centres in diamond; specifically group IV-vacancy defects. This involves optically and electrically controlling the flow of charge carriers, and therefore the local Fermi level, in order to choose the charge state of specific defects.

Fig 1: Metal electrodes and microwave wires deposited on the surface of a diamond using photolithography.

Fig 2: Electrodes after wirebonding to a PCB.

[1] S. Johnson, et al. Tunable cavity coupling of the zero phonon line of a nitrogen-vacancy defect in diamond. New J. Phys., 17, 2015.
[2] C. Bradac, et al. Quantum nanophotonics with group iv defects in diamond. Nat Commun., 11(1), 2019.

Conferences:

I have presented my work at the following conferences:

UK Diamond Research Conference - 2023
Hasselt Diamond Workshop SBDD XXVII - 2023

Teaching:

I am currently a demonstrator in the 3rd year undergraduate physics laboratory, focusing specifically on the optical pumping experiment which allows for the investigation of the hyperfine structure of rubidium isotopes.

My Background:

I graduated with an MPhys degree from the University of Leicester in 2021. My 3rd year research project involved modelling a voltage through graphene in C. In my 4th year research I used the DFT modelling program QuantumEspresso to explore the electronic structure and mechanical properties of a theoretical carbon allotrope called pentadiamond. I also applied a similar model to hypothesise its silicon counterpart, pentasilicon.