Lab exchange grant: Examining properties of Group 4 quantum emitter in diamond

MicroPL system in Manchester used during the visit

Kieran Ramaswami, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at The University of Manchester and Jacob Wakley, a PhD student at the Qlab, University of Cardiff were both awarded an M4QN laboratory exchange award to visit each others labs.  The visits took place from the 17 – 20 March and the 23 – 25 March 2026.

The purpose of the visit

When Kieran visited Cardiff, they were able to confirm the validity of key characteristic spectroscopic measurements taken in Manchester of a colour centre fabricated in a nanodiamond. New characteristic features, such as polarisation, were identified in Cardiff. An in-depth assessment of the facilities and capabilities at Cardiff, including cryoPL, ODMR, and high-temperature vacuum-furnace annealing, was conducted, with plans for future samples.

When Jacob visited Manchester, they were able to confirm the validity of measurements taken in the lab in Cardiff. Also, They were also able to produce nanodiamond dummy samples for furnace testing back in Cardiff to see whether the us of the furnace for annealing was feasible.

Benefits to the UK materials and quantum community

As a result of the visits, the UK materials and quantum community should benefit from the acceleration of production, characterisation and use of novel single photon sources for quantum uses within a pick and place form factor to take advantage of current Si fabrication technologies.

Visit outcomes

The key outcomes from this visit were:
– There was confirmation of the presence of optically emitting colour centres in nanodiamond
– The discovery of polarisation dependence in the emission of colour centres for publication
– The start of a larger collaboration to the benefit of both groups involved, including future visits from both groups.