Strain modulation of Si vacancy emission from SiC micro- and nanoparticles

Abstract

Single-photon emitting point defects in semiconductors have emerged as strong candidates for future quantum technology devices. In the present work, we exploit crystalline particles to investigate relevant defect localizations, emission shifting and waveguiding. Specifically, emission from 6H-SiC micro- and nanoparticles ranging from 100 nm to 5 $\mu$m in size is collected using cathodoluminescence (CL), and we monitor signals attributed to the Si vacancy (V${}_{\text{Si}}$) as a function of its location. Clear shifts in the emission wavelength are found for emitters localized in the particle center and at the edges. By comparing spatial CL maps with strain analysis carried out in transmission electron microscopy, we attribute the emission shifts to compressive strain of 2-3% along the particle a-direction. Thus, embedding V${}_{\text{Si}}$ qubit defects within SiC nanoparticles offers an interesting and versatile opportunity to tune single-photon emission energies, while simultaneously ensuring ease of addressability via a self-assembled SiC nanoparticle matrix.

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• Quantum Computing
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• Fabrication and Characterization of Two-Dimensional Photonic Crystal Microcavities in Nanocrystalline Diamond
• Stark Tuning and Electrical Charge State Control of Single Divacancies in Silicon Carbide
• Room-temperature near-infrared silicon carbide nanocrystalline emitters based on optically aligned spin defects