Neutral Silicon-Vacancy Centers in Diamond via Photoactivated Itinerant Carriers

Abstract

Neutral silicon-vacancy ($\text{Si-}{V}^{\phantom{\rule{0.1em}{0ex}}0}$) centers in diamond are promising candidates for quantum network applications because of their exceptional optical properties and spin coherence. However, the stabilization of $\text{Si-}{V}^{\phantom{\rule{0.1em}{0ex}}0}$ centers requires careful Fermi-level engineering of the diamond host material, making further technological development challenging. Here, we show that $\text{Si-}{V}^{\phantom{\rule{0.1em}{0ex}}0}$ centers can be efficiently stabilized by photoactivated itinerant carriers. Even in this nonequilibrium configuration, the resulting $\text{Si-}{V}^{\phantom{\rule{0.1em}{0ex}}0}$ centers are stable enough to allow for resonant optical excitation and optically detected magnetic resonance. Our results pave the way for on-demand generation of $\text{Si-}{V}^{\phantom{\rule{0.1em}{0ex}}0}$ centers as well as other emerging quantum defects in diamond.