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Mid-Infrared Modulation of Quantum Emitters in Hexagonal Boron Nitride
Karin Yamamura1,2, Xinyang Yu1,2, Chaohao Chen1,2
1School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales 2007, Australia.
Abstract:
Single-photon emitters (SPEs) are promising building blocks for practical devices in quantum technologies. Traditionally, these systems are excited using off-resonant visible light through their phonon transitions, yet this process remains poorly understood. Here, we explore the interaction of mid-infrared (MIR) excitation with the properties of SPEs in hexagonal boron nitride. Notably, we present a reversible, nondestructive method to enhance emission from blue SPEs using MIR coexcitation. By resonantly driving defect-localized in-plane infrared-active optical phonon modes near 7.3 μm, the MIR field modulates carrier dynamics through a phonon-assisted recombination.This unique feature, not observed previously for defects in solids, is a promising reservoir in a growing toolkit to modulate quantum emitters at room temperature for their use in practical quantum technologies.
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