title: Phonon-induced population dynamics and intersystem crossing in nitrogen-vacancy centers.
abstract: We report direct measurement of population dynamics in the excited state manifold of a nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond. We quantify the phonon-induced mixing rate and demonstrate that it can be completely suppressed at low temperatures. Further, we measure the intersystem crossing (ISC) rate for different excited states and develop a theoretical model that unifies the phonon-induced mixing and ISC mechanisms. We find that our model is in excellent agreement with experiment and that it can be used to predict unknown elements of the NV center's electronic structure. We discuss the model's implications for enhancing the NV center's performance as a room-temperature sensor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sipahigil
authors.affiliation: Laser Physics Centre, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: N Y
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: Element Six Ltd, Kings Ride Park, Ascot SL5 8BP, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Markham
authors.affiliation: Element Six Ltd, Kings Ride Park, Ascot SL5 8BP, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Twitchen
authors.affiliation: Laser Physics Centre, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia.
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Manson
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kubanek
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Lukin