Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize society, but what if the key to unlocking its true potential lay hidden inside the sparkle of a diamond? Tiny imperfections found in some diamonds, known as nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers, have pushed these gemstones to the forefront of quantum computing research.
But just what is a nitrogen-vacancy center diamond and what makes it so useful to quantum computing? In this blog, we’ll examine what nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond are and their groundbreaking applications.
What Are Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers in Diamond?
An ideal diamond is composed of carbon atoms, arranged in a repeating tetrahedral lattice structure. This repeating structure, along with strong carbon-carbon covalent bonds, helps give diamonds their renowned hardness and durability.
To form an NV center in a diamond you need a small point defect. This defect occurs when a carbon atom is replaced by a nitrogen atom, and the adjacent carbon atom is missing – leaving a vacancy. The combination of the nitrogen atom and a vacancy is what defines an NV center diamond.
Diamonds with an NV center can produce a pinkish hue, though some appear colorless like traditional diamonds. Amazingly, this defect gives NV center diamonds special quantum properties that are highly beneficial in quantum computing and other high technology applications.
What Special Properties Do NV Center Diamonds Have?
While NV center diamonds do occur in nature, their special properties can best be harnessed by specifically growing them in a lab environment via the high pressure high temperature process. In a laboratory setting, we can precisely control the placement and orientation of multiple NV centers. This gives lab grown NV center diamonds unique properties essential for quantum applications.
These properties include:
Electron Spin/Superposition
The NV center diamond’s unpaired electron spin gives it unique properties for quantum applications. The spin states (ms = 0, ±1) exhibit long coherence times, even at room temperature. This means that the superposition states can be maintained for a relatively long period, allowing for complex quantum operations.
The spin state of an NV center diamond is also extremely sensitive to magnetic fields, which enables nanoscale magnetic field sensing.
Fluorescence
The NV center’s spin state can be optically initialized and read out through fluorescence measurements. When illuminated with green light, NV center diamonds emit a red fluorescence. The intensity of the fluorescence emitted is higher for the ms = 0 state, versus the ms = ±1 states. By applying a magnetic field, the energy levels of these spin states are shifted due to the Zeeman effect, which allows for precise control of the spin. Scientists can observe the fluorescence rate and determine the spin state, allowing them to read out the quantum information stored in the NV center.
Sensitivity
Because the spin state is highly sensitive to magnetic fields, NV center diamonds can act as extremely sensitive quantum sensors, capable of measuring magnetic and electric fields, at the nanoscale.
Applications of NV Center Diamonds in Quantum Computing
In classical computing, bits represent either the “on” or “off” states, represented as 0 or 1. Quantum computing, however, uses the qubit as its fundamental unit of information. Unlike bits, a qubit is able to leverage the principle of superposition to exist in a probabilistic combination of states simultaneously.
This allows a quantum computer with n qubits to leverage the superposition principle, and explore a computational space of 2n states. Computational problems that cannot be solved in polynomial time by conventional computers could be with quantum computers.
The long spin state coherence times and sensitivity make NV centers in diamonds a good system for qubits. Precision and controlled growth are necessary to finetune diamond properties and NV center placement. Euclid’s use of both high pressure high temperature (HPHT) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods for diamond growth give us the flexibility to make diamonds with whatever properties our customers need.
These unique quantum properties of NV centers open up a range of exciting applications.
Create Quantum Processors
Unlocking the true power of quantum computing lies in combining individual qubits to form a quantum processor. In the lab, we can carefully position multiple NV centers within a diamond lattice, creating a network of entangled qubits. This quantum entanglement of qubits allows for complex quantum computations that are far beyond the capabilities of traditional computing systems.
Quantum Sensing
The sensitivity of NV center diamonds is one of their most powerful properties, making them ideal for creating highly precise sensors. NV center diamonds can offer high resolution nanoscale magnetic field sensing, which can open up new frontiers in biomedical imaging. This allows for precise mapping of magnetic fields in biological samples such as the brain, enabling the study of neuron activity.
Quantum Cryptography
NV centers hold significant promise for enhancing security through quantum key distribution (QKD). QKD techniques use quantum mechanics to detect potential attempts to intercept encryption keys during transmission. This eavesdropping detection creates a crucial advantage over traditional encryption techniques, making it substantially more difficult to intercept encryption keys without detection.
Quantum Networking
NV center diamonds can be used to establish quantum networks, by enabling the entanglement of distant qubits. Entanglement between distant NV centers can be mediated by photons, enabling quantum communication and distributed quantum computation.
These are just some applications of nitrogen-vacancy center diamonds. While there is still much work to be done, this technology has the potential to revolutionize various fields, including biotech, medicine, materials science, computing, and communication.
Conclusion
Nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond offer a significant advancement in quantum technology, with the potential to revolutionize the future of computing. While significant challenges remain in building a full scale quantum computer, the continued development of NV center based quantum sensors have already led to advancements in biomedical imaging and other significant scientific fields.
Euclid Techlabs fully recognizes the potential of NV center diamonds. We are one of the only companies in the US capable of creating NV center diamonds via the HPHT process. Not only do we excel in the creation of lab grown diamonds, we also develop diamond based applications that are powering advancements in high energy and nuclear physics, as well as quantum computing and other advanced research areas.
Ready to see how nitrogen-vacancy center diamonds can elevate your research and development work? Euclid Techlabs is ready to demonstrate how our custom solutions for industry, medical, and defense applications are empowering game changing breakthroughs. Contact Euclid Techlabs today to learn more.