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Electron paramagnetic resonance studies of the neutral nitrogen vacancy in diamond

S. Felton, A. M. Edmonds, M. E. Newton, P. M. Martineau, D. Fisher, and D. J. Twitchen
Phys. Rev. B 77, 081201(R) – Published 6 February 2008

Abstract

Despite the numerous experimental and theoretical studies on the negatively charged nitrogen vacancy center (NV) in diamond and the predictions that the neutral nitrogen vacancy center (NV0) should have an S=12 ground state, NV0 has not previously been detected by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). We report new EPR data on a trigonal nitrogen-containing defect in diamond with an S=32 excited state populated via optical excitation. Analysis of the spin Hamiltonian parameters and the wavelength dependence of the optical excitation leads to assignment of this S=32 state to the A24 excited state of NV0. This identification, together with an examination of the electronic structure of the NV centers in diamond, provides a plausible explanation for the lack of observation (to date) of an EPR signal from the NV0 ground state.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 20 December 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.77.081201

©2008 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

S. Felton, A. M. Edmonds, and M. E. Newton*

  • Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom

P. M. Martineau and D. Fisher

  • DTC Research Centre, Belmont Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 6JW, United Kingdom

D. J. Twitchen

  • Element Six Ltd., King’s Ride Park, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 8BP, United Kingdom

  • *m.e.newton@warwick.ac.uk

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Issue

Vol. 77, Iss. 8 — 15 February 2008

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