FBH advances diamond quantum photonics
The institute is offering precision diamond processing services to support quantum light sources, sensors and future integration with photonic circuits.
The Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH) in Berlin has introduced diamond processing services for research and industry, supporting the development of quantum photonic devices, quantum memories and advanced sensing technologies.
The services combine precision surface preparation, controlled ion implantation and nanoscale fabrication to enable the production of diamond structures containing optically active colour centres.
These colour centres, formed by defects in the diamond crystal lattice, exhibit quantum spin states that can be addressed using light.
They are being investigated for applications including single-photon sources, quantum communication and quantum information processing.
FBH's processing capabilities include oxygen- and chlorine-based plasma etching to remove surface damage caused by mechanical polishing.
The process can remove up to 20 µm of material while maintaining surface roughness of approximately 0.5 nm rms, helping reduce unwanted noise in quantum devices.
The institute also offers controlled ion implantation using elements including nitrogen, silicon, germanium and tin to create specific colour centres within high-purity diamond substrates.
Electron-beam lithography enables the fabrication of diamond nanopillars containing individual colour centres. These nanoscale structures can improve photon collection efficiency, supporting the development of compact quantum light sources and optical interfaces.
The capabilities are being developed through FBH's Joint Lab Diamond Nanophotonics with Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, which combines semiconductor processing expertise with quantum optics research.
FBH and its research partners have previously demonstrated nitrogen-vacancy centres in diamond nanopillars with narrow optical linewidths, including an inhomogeneous linewidth of 150 MHz.
The institute aims to establish reproducible and scalable manufacturing processes that could eventually enable diamond nanostructures to be integrated with photonic integrated circuits.
The development highlights the growing role of precision nanofabrication in advancing integrated quantum photonics and spin-photon technologies.
