Towards quantum-confined spin-qubits in monolayer, semiconducting WSe₂

Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides provide a promising platform for quantum communications due in large part to their 2D nature. Interface-free emission from the monolayer results in efficient light extraction. Meanwhile, large exciton binding energies ~100 meV due to low screening and confinement in the 2D plane are suitable for operation at elevated temperatures. Strong optical selection rules arising from the symmetry of the 2D lattice enable optical excitation of excitons at distinct valleys through control over the polarisation of optical excitation. Establishing a spin in the ground state with spin-dependent optical selection rules would enable an efficient mechanism for photon entanglement. Such a spin ground state is expected to have long coherence lifetimes (~40 ms) from the dilute nuclear spin bath and reduced dimensionality of the material. However, a local spin ground state has yet to be identified for these quantum emitters. Here, we present our on-going efforts to introduce a quantum emitter with a spin ground state in fully encapsulated, monolayer WSe2. Establishing a local spin qubit with optical selection rules will pave the way towards a coherent spin-photon interface in 2D materials.