Research Interests

I and my team are exploring the use of diamond nano-particles for applications in quantum technologies, and also as fluorescing labels in biological applications.

Diamonds can be grown in the lab using techniques such as chemical vapour deposition (CVD). In the diamond fabrication process, it is possible to tailor the materials properties for certain applications by adjusting the growth parameters. At the Quantum Materials and Applications (QMApp) Lab, we are interested in growing nanoscopic diamond particles which contain single atomic impurities (for example Nitrogen, Silicon or Nickel). In doing so, we are able to isolate single quantum states within the diamond, and use them for many interesting, cutting edge experiments. For example, the diamond impurities can be made to emit single light particles which are used in unbreakable cryptography schemes, or the light emitting from a single nitrogen atom could be used as a tool to measure the presence of a single electron. Other applications include exploiting the fact that diamonds are bio-compatible and can fluoresce brightly in order to label and monitor biological processes (for example the uptake of cancer drugs in a cancerous cell).

I am particularly interested in exploring

1. Growing and measuring the magnetic resonance properties of single atoms in diamond
2. Designing and developing techniques to produce high-efficiency single photon sources in diamond using Cavity QED
3. Produce brightly fluorescing nanodiamond particles for bio-labelling