Stochastic superflares of photoluminescence from a single microdiamond with germanium-vacancy color centers: A general phenomenon or a unique observation

Abstract

We report the discovery of a GeV-associated phenomenon which is strong (up to an order) stochastic reversible enhancements of photoluminescence intensity in a single GeV diamond synthesized with the high-pressure, high-temperature technique. We were lucky to observe this effect with only one crystal among dozens of similar microdiamonds. Each rise and fall of the intensity above its stable moderate level may be referred to as a superflare with smooth dynamics of the transients which develop on the timescale of seconds. These flares tend to recur infinitely at ambient conditions under cw-laser excitation above a certain input power threshold. To explain this phenomenon we propose a theory of intrinsic optical instabilities which develop in a dense ensemble of quantum emitters.