A single photon source is an enabling technology with wide ranging uses in quantum communications, metrology and sensing. Current devices based on semiconductor materials require cryogenic operation severely limiting their applicability beyond the laboratory environment.
Colour centres hosted in wide band gap materials such as diamond offer good performance at room temperature and meet basic requirements for device longevity consistent with commercial technologies. However their device specifications are currently well below those of semiconductor devices. The goal of this project will be to develop devices of increased efficiency and higher speed operation. This will be achieved through fabrication of novel devices in which single colour centres are coupled to optical microcavities. A new approach to cavity fabrication will increase robustness and improve device specifications. The project will employ a variety of fabrication tools including laser processing, focused ion beam milling, plasma etching and thermal treatments.
