title: Single photon emission from diamond nanocrystals in an opal photonic crystal.
abstract: We present the first optical measurement of a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in a three-dimensional photonic crystal. The photonic crystal, fabricated by self-assembly of polystyrene microspheres, exhibits a photonic stopband that overlaps the NV photoluminescence spectrum. A modified emission spectrum and photon antibunching were measured from the NV centers. Time-resolved fluorescence measurements revealed a 30% increase in the source lifetime. Encapsulation of single NV centers in a three-dimensional photonic crystal is a step towards controlling emission properties of a single photon source.
authors.affiliation: MQ Photonics Research Centre and Department of Physics and Engineering, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia. lstew@science.mq.edu.au
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dawes
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Steel
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rabeau
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Withford
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D018130:Diamond / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D008956:Models, Chemical; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D017785:Photons; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012542:Scattering, Radiation
chemical_list: D011137:Polystyrenes; D018130:Diamond