Work

Symmetry Engineering Enables Deterministic Ensemble Polarization Control in Hexagonal Boron Nitride

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: Optical polarization is a key degree of freedom in quantum photonic and sensing technologies, enabling efficient light--matter coupling and directional emission. However, in defect ensemble-based quantum systems, orientational averaging across many defects suppresses optical anisotropy and eliminates a deterministic polarization axis. Here, symmetry engineering is introduced as a strategy to restore collective optical anisotropy in negatively charged boron vacancy (V_B^-) ensembles hosted in hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). By imposing anisotropic in-plane tensile strain through lithographically defined nano-ridge arrays, in-plane symmetry is broken and the ensemble emission dipole is aligned with the ridge-defined strain symmetry axis. Polarization-resolved photoluminescence reveals that the polarization visibility scales with the magnitude of strain anisotropy, while the emission orientation rigidly follows the engineered symmetry axis across devices with varying strain direction. This deterministic alignment is independent of crystal orientation, establishing the optical foundation for polarization-defined ensemble spin readout and programmable photonic integration in two-dimensional quantum materials

Source: arXiv (Cornell University)

DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2610.03547

Authors: Ishraq, Aqiq, Herrmann, Eric, Agnihotri, Pragya, Hutchinson, Alexander, Santos, Ramiro M. dos, Asif, Shahidul, Murray, Lottie, Veettil, Abhijith Puthiya, Stockl, Luke, Shaikh, Muhammad Hassan, Maurtua, Collin, Watanabe, Kenji, Taniguchi, Takashi, Doty, Matthew, Dreyer, Cyrus E., Janotti, Anderson, Wang, Xi, Chakraborty, Chitraleema

Institutions: University of Delaware, National Institute for Materials Science, Flatiron Institute, Stony Brook University

Language: English

Topic: Diamond and Carbon-based Materials Research

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, Office of Science, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Harvard University, Division of Materials Research

Awards: G1177608224, G2033999888, MRI: Acquisition of a Big Data and High Performance Computing System to Catalyze Delaware Research and Education, G3387587033, RII Track-2 FEC: Laying the Foundation for Scalable Quantum Photonic Technologies, G4444685404, G5581067857, NNCI: Mid-Atlantic Nanotechnology Hub (MANTH), University of Delaware MRSEC - Center for Hybrid, Active, and Responsive Materials (CHARM), G8444873486

OpenAlex ID: W7220372070

Cites: 2

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Related to: 10