A group of University of Calgary quantum scientists have discovered a unique property of diamond that was once thought impossible.
Dr. Sigurd Flågan, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar in the Quantum Nanophotonics Lab, and team work in the field of nonlinear optics, which studies how intense light interacts with matter when the material's response is not directly proportional to the light's intensity. This field is crucial for applications in telecommunications, advanced microscopy, and laser technology.
Graphic of second-harmonic generation in diamond. Courtesy Sigurd Flågan
The group demonstrated second-harmonic generation, the conversion of the light of colour to another by doubling the frequency and halving the wavelength of the light wave, in diamond.
"This has not been allowed in diamond," says Flågan. "This is a fundamental discovery about the properties of diamonds."
Flågan says the symmetrical crystal structure of pristine diamonds has prevented diamond from being used as a second-order nonlinear optical material before.
However, the team has discovered that this symmetrical crystal structure can be broken through charged crystal defects. This unlocks a whole range of new uses for diamond as a material.
"We have shown the fundamental property," explains Flågan. "Now the pipeline is open to study all the different applications."
Quantum technology can lead to new insights on materials
The Quantum Nanophotonics Lab is led by Dr. Paul Barclay, PhD, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Faculty of Science and director of the Institute for Quantum Science and Technology.
"Quantum technology device development can lead to insights into the fundamental properties of materials like diamond," says Barclay. "And vice versa: newly discovered properties can one day be harnessed for quantum tech."
With this new discovery, things like optical switches and modulators can be fabricated directly from diamond. These optical components would be able to withstand large optical powers and could therefore find applications in data centres, interferometers or in high-power laser fabrication techniques.
It's an ideal discovery to make, as Flågan says diamond has thermal properties that allow it to withstand high amounts of energy before breaking down and it can dissipate heat well.
"In some applications, you wouldn't be able to use any material other than diamond," says Flågan.
The team used lab grown and commercially available diamonds in their study to have the specific crystal defect they were looking to test, but the same defects could conceivably be found in natural diamonds.
Diamond has been well studied for use in the quantum field, but its use in nonlinear optics has been poorly understood until now.
"It opens the door for new lines of research," says Flågan.
