Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 29, 2026
09:46
Fabrication and Characterization of High-Q Silicon Nitride Membrane Resonators
Published on: August 8, 2025
1.2K
Narrowband quantum emitters in hexagonal boron nitride with optically addressable spins.
Benjamin Whitefield1,2, Helen Zhi Jie Zeng1, James Liddle-Wesolowski1,2
1School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia.
Nature Materials
|January 27, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a simple thermal method to create high-quality quantum emitters in hexagonal boron nitride. These emitters show optically active spin transitions, crucial for advancing quantum technologies like sensing and information processing.
Area of Science:
- Solid-state physics
- Quantum technology
- Materials science
Background:
- Electron spins coupled with optical transitions are key for quantum technologies.
- Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is a promising host for spin systems.
- Controlled generation of single-photon emitters in hBN remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for controlled generation of isolated single-photon emitters in hBN.
- To investigate the spin transitions of these emitters.
- To enable single spin-photon interfaces in layered materials.
Main Methods:
- Single-step thermal processing of hexagonal boron nitride flakes.
- Characterization of quantum emitters and their spin transitions.
- Optical spin read-out measurements at room temperature.
Main Results:
- High-density, narrowband quantum emitters produced.
- Over 25% of emitters showed optical spin read-out at room temperature.
- Spin defect complexes exhibited S=1 and S=1/2 transitions, explained by charge transfer.
Conclusions:
- The thermal processing method enables controlled generation of spin defect complexes in hBN.
- Understanding of spin complexes in hBN is advanced.
- Paves the way for spin-photon interfaces in layered materials for quantum applications.
Related Concept Videos
02:43Quantum Numbers
49.9K
It is said that the energy of an electron in an atom is quantized; that is, it can be equal only to certain specific values and can jump from one energy level to another but not transition smoothly or stay between these levels.
49.9K
02:45The Quantum-Mechanical Model of an Atom
57.1K
Shortly after de Broglie published his ideas that the electron in a hydrogen atom could be better thought of as being a circular standing wave instead of a particle moving in quantized circular orbits, Erwin Schrödinger extended de Broglie’s work by deriving what is now known as the Schrödinger equation. When Schrödinger applied his equation to hydrogen-like atoms, he was able to reproduce Bohr’s expression for the energy and, thus, the Rydberg formula governing hydrogen spectra.
57.1K
01:25Strategies for Assessing and Addressing Confounding
384
Confounding is a critical issue in epidemiological studies, often leading to misleading conclusions about associations between exposures and outcomes. It occurs when the relationship between the exposure and the outcome is mixed with the effects of other factors that influence the outcome. Given that, addressing confounding is of high importance for drawing accurate inferences in research.
Confounding can be addressed at both the design phase of a study and through analytical methods after data...
Confounding can be addressed at both the design phase of a study and through analytical methods after data...
384
01:08NMR Spectroscopy: Spin–Spin Coupling
3.2K
The spin state of an NMR-active nucleus can have a slight effect on its immediate electronic environment. This effect propagates through the intervening bonds and affects the electronic environments of NMR-active nuclei up to three bonds away; occasionally, even farther. This phenomenon is called spin–spin coupling or J-coupling. Coupling interactions are mutual and result in small changes in the absorption frequencies of both nuclei involved. While nuclei of the same element are involved...
3.2K
01:17Spin–Spin Coupling: One-Bond Coupling
1.5K
Coupling interactions are strongest between NMR-active nuclei bonded to each other, where spin information can be transmitted directly through the pair of bonding electrons. While nuclei polarize their electrons to the opposite spins, the bonding electron pair has opposite spins. Configurations with antiparallel nuclear spins are expected to be lower in energy. When coupling makes antiparallel states more favorable, J is considered to have a positive value. The one-bond coupling constant, 1J,...
1.5K
01:08Spin–Spin Coupling Constant: Overview
1.5K
In bromoethane, the three methyl protons are coupled to the two methylene protons that are three bonds away. In accordance with the n+1 rule, the signal from the methyl protons is split into three peaks with 1:2:1 relative intensities. The methylene protons appear as a quartet, with the relative intensities of 1:3:3:1.
Qualitatively, any spin plus-half nucleus polarizes the spins of its electrons to the minus-half state. Consequently, the paired electron in the hydrogen–carbon bond must...
Qualitatively, any spin plus-half nucleus polarizes the spins of its electrons to the minus-half state. Consequently, the paired electron in the hydrogen–carbon bond must...
1.5K