Ultrafast Laser Induces Macroscopic Symmetry-Breaking of Diamond Color Centers

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Gao, Yang, Ji, Qi-Zheng, Liu, Chao-Bo, Xiao, Qi, Lian, Chao
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Gao, Yang
Ji, Qi-Zheng
Liu, Chao-Bo
Xiao, Qi
Lian, Chao
author_facet Gao, Yang
Ji, Qi-Zheng
Liu, Chao-Bo
Xiao, Qi
Lian, Chao
contents The negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy center is a leading quantum platform due to its excellent spin coherence and stable interactions. Understanding its ultrafast dynamics is crucial for quantum applications but presents significant challenges for both experimental characterization and atomic-scale modeling. Here, we employ real-time time-dependent density functional theory to investigate the coupled electron-phonon-spin dynamics in negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy centers. Laser excitation promotes minority-spin electrons within 100~fs, establishing a $C_{3v}$-symmetry breaking charge ordering. Subsequently, ionic motion on the potential energy surface of the excited electrons generates both symmetric oscillations of carbon-nitrogen bonds and dynamic Jahn-Teller distortions with a $C_{3v}$-symmetry breaking. These distortions subsequently induce nonlocal coherent phonons in the diamond lattice, which propagate with the $C_{3v}$-symmetry breaking at the sound velocity ($\sim$2~Å/fs). Our simulations provide direct time-resolved visualization of these processes, offering novel insights into the microscopic interplay of electrons, phonons, and spins in nitrogen-vacancy centers.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2505_12989
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Ultrafast Laser Induces Macroscopic Symmetry-Breaking of Diamond Color Centers
Gao, Yang
Ji, Qi-Zheng
Liu, Chao-Bo
Xiao, Qi
Lian, Chao
Materials Science
The negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy center is a leading quantum platform due to its excellent spin coherence and stable interactions. Understanding its ultrafast dynamics is crucial for quantum applications but presents significant challenges for both experimental characterization and atomic-scale modeling. Here, we employ real-time time-dependent density functional theory to investigate the coupled electron-phonon-spin dynamics in negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy centers. Laser excitation promotes minority-spin electrons within 100~fs, establishing a $C_{3v}$-symmetry breaking charge ordering. Subsequently, ionic motion on the potential energy surface of the excited electrons generates both symmetric oscillations of carbon-nitrogen bonds and dynamic Jahn-Teller distortions with a $C_{3v}$-symmetry breaking. These distortions subsequently induce nonlocal coherent phonons in the diamond lattice, which propagate with the $C_{3v}$-symmetry breaking at the sound velocity ($\sim$2~Å/fs). Our simulations provide direct time-resolved visualization of these processes, offering novel insights into the microscopic interplay of electrons, phonons, and spins in nitrogen-vacancy centers.
title Ultrafast Laser Induces Macroscopic Symmetry-Breaking of Diamond Color Centers
topic Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.12989