Abstract

The development of reliable devices to generate single photons is crucial for applications in quantum cryptography, as well as for fundamental quantum optics experiments. Due to their extremely high photostability at room-temperature, optically active defects in solids, the so called color centers, are among the most promising candidates. Single NV (nitrogen-vacancy) centers in diamond have been demonstrated to be able to generate single photons and have already shown advantages compared to attenuated laser pulses in a quantum cryptography experiment [1]. But the quality of a single photon source based on single NV centers is intrinsically limited by the broad spectrum and relatively long luminescence lifetime. Additionally, the high diffraction index of diamond restricts the efficiency to collect the fluorescence light. Recently color centers with narrow bandwidth and short luminescence lifetime have been reported [2].

© 2007 IEEE