Donor-Acceptor Pair Quantum Emitters in Hexagonal Boron Nitride.

Qinghai Tan,Xue-Lu Liu,Yongzhou Xue,Bao-Quan Sun,Igor Aharonovich,Hui-Xiong Deng,Weibo Gao,Jun Zhang,Xiuming Dou,Jia-Min Lai,Dan Guo,Ping-Heng Tan

doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c04647

Abstract

Quantum emitters are needed for a myriad of applications ranging from quantum sensing to quantum computing. Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) quantum emitters are one of the most promising solid-state platforms to date due to their high brightness and stability and the possibility of a spin-photon interface. However, the understanding of the physical origins of the single-photon emitters (SPEs) is still limited. Here we report dense SPEs in hBN across the entire visible spectrum and present evidence that most of these SPEs can be well explained by donor-acceptor pairs (DAPs). On the basis of the DAP transition generation mechanism, we calculated their wavelength fingerprint, matching well with the experimentally observed photoluminescence spectrum. Our work serves as a step forward for the physical understanding of SPEs in hBN and their applications in quantum technologies.

Highlights

Our work serves as a step forward for the physical understanding of single-photon emitters (SPEs) in Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and their applications in quantum technologies
Layered van der Waals materials have received much attention for their novel optoelectronic properties[1] and for the capability of hosting a wealth of optically active defects that act as single-photon emissions (SPEs)[2,3]
Our work indicates that the donor-acceptor pairs (DAPs) transition mechanism may explain the broad distribution of observed quantum emitters in hBN and serve as a foundation for designing scalable quantum devices

Summary

Introduction

Layered van der Waals materials have received much attention for their novel optoelectronic properties[1] and for the capability of hosting a wealth of optically active defects that act as single-photon emissions (SPEs)[2,3]. We present concrete and conclusive evidence that the dense SPEs in hBN, across entire visible spectrum, can be well explained by donor-acceptor pairs (DAPs). Based on the DAP transition generation mechanism, we have calculated their wavelength fingerprint, matching well with the experimentally observed photoluminescence spectrum.

Results

Conclusion