Engineering point defects in wide-gap materials for quantum technologies

Colour centres in diamond and other wide-gap crystalline materials are a leading platform for the realisation of quantum technologies, offering the possibility of qubit densities ~106 cm-2 or more on a chip, coupled via an optical network. However the fabrication of these chips presents a considerable challenge, requiring the precision engineering of individual colour centres with highly coherent spin and optical transitions. This project builds on our recent work on laser writing methods, which provides both precision defect engineering and a new window on defect formation processes and interactions. It involves writing and manipulating defects using ultrafast lasers, characterising the resulting materials, and modelling the measured data using atomistic approaches to build a clear understanding of the processes involved. 

The project contributes to a wider team effort in the realisation of these devices within the new UK Hub for Integrated Quantum Networks (IQN), and involves collaboration with other research groups in the UK and internationally.