Color centers in diamond crystals: Their potential use in tunable and femtosecond lasers

Abstract

In this paper the possibility of using color centers in natural and synthetic diamonds to produce stimulated emission in tunable and femtosecond lasers is discussed. H3, NV and NE4 color centers were deliberately created in the crystal lattice of diamonds during the diamond growth or by enhancement techniques. Spectroscopic properties of the created color centers, such as absorption and luminescence spectra and excited state lifetimes, were studied at room and liquid nitrogen temperatures. On the basis of these studies stimulated emission gain factors and cross-sections were calculated. An attempt was made to get laser operation on H3 and NV centers in natural diamonds and NV and NE4 centers in synthetic diamonds; however, the threshold of laser action was not achieved.