Quantum sciences are currently being turned into technological devices that exploit quantum properties of fundamental particles to push further the fields of computing, communication or sensing. Among the impressive diversity of quantum systems that are investigated in this context of quantum technologies, diamond Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centers play a prominent role, especially as quantum sensors. Thanks to a singular interplay between optical and spin degrees of freedom, NV centers have been for example employed to build sensitive magnetometers having an unprecedented nanometric spatial resolution1. The room temperature operation of NV-based quantum sensors together with its solid-state packaging – the diamond – augur further development of a broad range of sensing applications going from biomedical sciences to industrial nondestructive testing.
To fully realize the potential of NV-based quantum sensors and develop new applications, current challenges are to enhance sensors sensitivity2, miniaturize their size or again to develop new sensing modalities such as endoscopic sensors (see figure). Photonic sciences, acting as an enabling technology, represent a clear path to address those challenges, in particular by realizing integrated cost and energy effective devices which is the main objective of the postdoc.
Main duties
Lead diamond RIE etching activities, including optimization and device production
Develop and perform optical connections to the fabricated devices
Perform measurements to assess sensing performances of the fabricated devices
Communicate in scientific conferences and research journal about the obtained results
The project will benefit from all the already existing local, national and international collaborations of the group. This includes the members of the equipex+ e-Diamant (coord. J.F. Roch) and in particular the group of Jocelyn Achard (LSPM) for quantum grade diamond fabrication. Our group is also collaborating with the startup Kwantek, specialised in NV based quantum sensors, offering ideal conditions for the valorization of the postdoctoral work.