The press release of our Optica article can be found here. A Phys.Org article can be seen here.

Applications of quantum science to computing, cryptography, and imaging are on their way to becoming key next- generation technologies. Owing to the high-speed transmission and exceptional noise properties of photons, quantum photonic architectures are likely to play a central role. A long-standing hurdle, however, has been the realization of robust, device-compatible single-photon sources that can be activated and controlled on demand. Here we demon- strate large arrays of room-temperature quantum emitters in two-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). The large energy gap inherent to this van der Waals material stabilizes the emitters at room temperature within nanoscale regions defined by substrate-induced deformation of few-atomic-layer hBN. Through the control of pillar geometry, we demonstrate an average of ∼2 emitters per site for the smallest pillars (75 nm diameter). These findings set the stage for realizing arrays of room-temperature single-photon sources through the combined control of strain and external electrostatic potentials.

From the abstract in Jake’s thesis:

“In this dissertation, experiments surrounding the charge state dynamics and the carrier dynamics are performed and analyzed. Extensive studies of the ionization and recombination processes of defects in diamond, specifically, the Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) center, have been performed. Diffusion of ionized charge carriers has been imaged indirectly through the recapture of said carriers by optically active defects such as the NV center and the Silicon Vacancy (SiV) center. With proper understanding of the carrier dynamics, diamond stands to be a strong competitor in the field of spintronics for quantum information processing. Additionally, the understanding of these charge state dynamics is utilized in a novel proof of principle experiment, showing that the NV center defect’s charge state could serve as an ultra- dense 3D memory platform.”