Electrically driven optical interferometry with spins in silicon carbide

Interfacing solid-state defect electron spins to other quantum systems is an ongoing challenge. The ground-state spins weak coupling to its environment not only bestows excellent coherence properties but also limits desired drive fields. The excited-state orbitals of these electrons, however, can exhibit stronger coupling to phononic and electric fields. Here, we demonstrate electrically driven coherent quantum interference in the optical transition of single, basally oriented divacancies in commercially available 4H silicon carbide. By applying microwave frequency electric fields, we coherently drive the divacancys excited-state orbitals and induce Landau-Zener-Stuckelberg interference fringes in the resonant optical absorption spectrum. In addition, we find remarkably coherent optical and spin subsystems enabled by the basal divacancys symmetry. These properties establish divacancies as strong candidates for quantum communication and hybrid system applications, where simultaneous control over optical and spin degrees of freedom is paramount.Funding Agencies|AFOSRUnited States Department of DefenseAir Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) [FA9550-14-1-0231, FA9550-15-1-0029]; DARPAUnited States Department of DefenseDefense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) [D18AC00015KK1932]; NSF EFRINational Science Foundation (NSF) [EFMA-1641099]; ONROffice of Naval Research [N00014-17-1-3026]; National Research, Development and Innovation Office in Hungary (NKFIH) [2017-1.2.1-NKP2017-00001, NVKP 16-1-2016-0043, NN127902, KKP129866]; EU Commission (ASTERIQS project) [820394]; MTA Premium Postdoctoral Research Program; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation through WBSQD2 project [2018.0071]; JSPS KAKENHIMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT)Japan Society for the Promotion of ScienceGrants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) [17H01056, 18H03770]; Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource, a node of the NSFs National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure [NSF ECCS1542205]