Fluorescence, Phosphorescence, Thermoluminescence and charge transfer in synthetic diamond

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Fluorescence and Phosphorescence underpin many of the discrimination techniques use to separate natural from synthetic diamond and these physical processes are at the heart of many new photonic and quantum technologies based on colour centres in diamond. In HPHT synthetic diamond the phosphorescence observed is explained in terms of donor-acceptor pair recombination. This is undoubtedly correct, and the thermal activation of electrons to neutral boron acceptors shows that boron plays a key role. However, there are a number of things that we struggle to explain. The phosphorescence peak positions are not explained, there is no conclusive link between the emission and charge transfer involving the nitrogen donor, and the role of other defects in quenching the luminescence. Furthermore, in diamonds grown by chemical vapour deposition, and subsequently treated (e.g. high pressure high temperature annealing, irradiated and annealed, etc.) there is unexplained fluorescence and phosphorescence. This project will use photoluminescence, phosphorescence and thermoluminescence, allied with quantitative measurements of defect and impurity content and theory, to investigate the defects involved and the underlying mechanisms of luminescence in synthetic diamond.