Combined optical and microwave approach for performing quantum spin operations on the nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond - art. no. 041201

Electron spin echoes were per-formed on nitrogen-vacancy (N-V) centers in d iamond using optical polarization and detection and 35 GHz microwave contro l. The experiments demonstrate an approach to quantum information in the so lid state. A phase memory time of 3.6 mus was measured, and coupling of the electronic spin to the N-14 nuclear spin was observed. Because of the favo rable properties of the N-V center, interesting extensions of these single- qubit operations can be proposed.