Integration of hBN Single‐Photon Emitters Into a Hybrid Optomechanical Membrane‐In‐The‐Middle Fiber‐Cavity

Abstract

ABSTRACT The integration of membranes into optical resonators plays a key role in a variety of applications, including optomechanics. Membranes hosting single photon emitters, ideally with access to spin states, open new roads toward (spin‐) optomechanics. Hexagonal boron nitride is among the most promising two‐dimensional materials showing excellent optical and mechanical properties combined with the ability to host optical active (spin‐) defects. The deterministic creation of optically active defect centers in hexagonal boron nitride membranes and their coupling to optomechanical systems is an outstanding challenge. Here, we explore an alternative, hybrid approach in order to establish coupling between a single photon emitter in commercially available hexagonal boron nitride flakes and a fiber‐cavity mode. We solve technical challenges, such as scattering losses arising from an uncontrolled flake topography. We extend our work by positioning the single photon emitter in hexagonal boron nitride flakes on a highly strained silicon nitride membrane in a membrane‐in‐the‐middle configuration. The mechanical vibrational modes of the silicon nitride membrane and cavity‐coupled emission from the single photon emitter are simultaneously observed. Our work is a first step toward the realization of a cavity optomechanics platform with an incorporated single photon emitter.