IQIM Postdoctoral and Graduate Student Seminar

Abstract: Color centers in solids are attractive building blocks for quantum networks since they provide long-lived electronic spin states that can be interfaced with optical photons. In this talk, we will discuss experiments with the silicon vacancy (SiV) center in diamond that explore color centers as acoustic two level systems and consider whether their interaction with single phonons can be engineered to be coherent. Through low temperature optical spectroscopy of the SiV center, we measure a large strain susceptibility of 1 PHz for its electronic levels and develop a microscopic picture for its interaction with phonons. Controlling the strain environment of the color center allows us to probe, control and eventually suppress the interaction of its spin with the thermal bath. Based on these experiments, we identify schemes in which spin-orbit interaction in the color center allows for strong coupling to single phonons in nanoscale acoustic resonators and waveguides. We realize high quality-factor GHz frequency phononic crystal resonators in diamond towards a coherent spin-phonon interface. Finally, we will discuss applications of such an interface for quantum transduction as well as phonon-mediated two-qubit gates in analogy with ion traps.