Standards Development

Scope

This document specifies the terminology, key parameters , experimental test setup, measurem ent procedures, and analysis of measured data of device and material parameters of color centers. Furthermore, minimal requirements for a unified reporting of data and experimental setup are specified.

Purpose

Color centers, e.g. realized as nitrogen vacancies (NV), are essential quantum building blocks in many applications for quantum-sensing, -computing and -communication (s. section 5.2 - FGQT roadmap). For example, they can be used as precise sensors in the fields of magnetometry, thermometry , strain and pH-meas uremen t at ambient tempertaures , and for the energy-efficien t commutation of electric motors. A number of commercial applications regarding sensing are already entering the market, especially in the field of quantum solid state magnetometry. Color centers can also act as robust room-temperature single-photon sources, which can be utilized for e.g. radiometry, secure communication or random number generators, for example. Furthermore, the enormous scaling potential in diamond systems, applications in quantum computing are, at present, being successfully investigated and commercialized within the EU.

In particular, a significant number of early quantum adopters and companies (e.g. Bosch, Thales, Elmos, Qzabre, Qnami, NVISION, MUQUANS, AOSENSE, Quantum Technologies, SaxonQ) are, already or looking to, exploit this color center based quantum technologies. A critical step in the development of these new technologies is the need to assess the quality of their prototypes, and, subsequently, devices intended for market. Therefore, tools need to be developed to qualify the performance and the reliability of these market ready devices. Furthermore, material development is a key step for all devices based on color centers solid-state sensors, ensuring reproducible and reliable components. As such, color center material development pathways would highly benefit from standardisation activities, leading robust and fit-for-purpose technologies for end users.

This document will focus on related fundamental terminology in addition to metrics and characterization methods of color centers We will centre on device parameters and testing infrastructure, which will also include standardization of material characterization. In this way, the standardisation activities will serve to underpin future development for solid state quantum devices based on color centers to build reproducible and reliable components.

Considering the wide field of applications and comprehensive standardization requirements (e.g. devices and material), this document will be the starting point for a dedicated series of individual documents.