Thin Circular Diamond Membrane with Embedded Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers for Hybrid Spin-Mechanical Quantum Systems

Research on hybrid quantum systems for sensing and information processing often focuses on cantilevers containing single-photon emitters. Rather than a vibrating beam, here the authors design, fabricate, and characterize an architecture based on a sheet of high-quality diamond. Implanted N00exV centers are seen to be effective nanosensors of residual stress in the membrane, and its motion under static pressure and resonant vibration, in both dc and ac regimes. This platform is promising for piezometry, vibrometry, and optomechanical cavities.