Low-loss broadband antenna for efficient photon collection from a coherent spin in diamond

Abstract

We report the creation of a low-loss broadband optical antenna giving highly directed output from a coherent single spin in the solid state. The device, a crystalline solid-state realization of a dielectric antenna, is engineered for individual nitrogen-vacancy electronic spins in diamond. We demonstrate a directionality close to 10. The photonic structure preserves the high spin coherence of single-crystal diamond (T2 100 μs). The single-photon count rate approaches a megahertz facilitating efficient spin readout. We thus demonstrate a key enabling technology for quantum applications such as high-sensitivity magnetometry and long-distance spin entanglement.