• September 8, 2026

  • 4:00 PM (CST): Optically Detected Magnetic Resonance of Boron Vacancy Spin Defects in Hexagonal Boron Nitride

    • Speaker: Antonio Cobarrubia (Department of Physics and Computational Science Research Center, San Diego State University)

    • Abstract

      • Optically active defects in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) are emerging quantum platforms due to their

        room-temperature operation, high single-photon purity, spin-photon interfaces, and compatibility with

        cavity-enhanced light–matter interactions. Among these defects, the negatively charged boron vacancy

        center, (VB−), is particularly promising because it hosts a stable spin-1 ground state that can be optically

        initialized and read out. In this work, we present experimental and computational efforts to characterize and

        enhance quantum emission from (VB−) defects in hBN. Using a confocal microscopy platform integrated

        with microwave control and advanced timing electronics, we probe spin-dependent photoluminescence

        through optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR). These measurements reveal the spin transition

        signatures of (VB−) centers and provide insight into strategies for improving optical brightness and spin

        contrast. Understanding and controlling these spin-photon interfaces is an important step toward developing

        scalable hBN-based quantum sensors and integrated quantum photonic technologies.

  • 4:30 PM (CST): QUACOD: Quantum Optimization via Coordinate Descent for Scalable Drone Scheduling

    • Speaker: Van Quang Huy Nguyen (Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Arkansas)