Spectrally selective modification in the emission lifetimes of nitrogen-vacancy centers in nanodiamonds

Abstract

The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center is one of the most prominent candidates for quantum technologies, and its efficient utilization requires control over its spontaneous emission rate. Here, we report the wavelength-selective enhancement and suppression of NV center emission lifetime at room temperature by modifying the local density of optical states (LDOS) around them. The results are explained using the Barnett–Loudon sum rule and also supported by the LDOS calculations. Two complementary measurement geometries are employed to study the direction-dependent emission behavior from the nanodiamonds decorated on the top of photonic crystals. The lifetime distributions are compared with a proper reference sample using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test to verify the distinct nature of lifetime distributions. The wavelength-selective enhancement or suppression of emission rates would be useful for NV center-based high-resolution imaging and effective readout of its charge states.