Low-temperature photoluminescence study of SnV centers in HPHT diamond

Here we report on the study of temperature shift and broadening of the zero phonon line (ZPL) of SnV center in HPHT microcrystalline diamond in the temperature range of 80-300 K. To separate contributions of lattice thermal expansion and electron-phonon coupling, the study of the pressure effect on the ZPL was conducted. A strong nonlinearity observed in the electron-phonon part of the ZPL temperature shift appeared to be in good agreement with well-known polynomial law ∆E(T) = cT^2-dT^4 and, therefore, can be related to the effect of the strong softening of elastic springs. [Display omitted] •The study of the pressure effect on zero-phonon line (ZPL) of SnV center was conducted.•The study of the temperature effect on ZPL of SnV in temperature range of 80–300 K was conducted.•The contributions of lattice thermal expansion and electron-phonon interactions in a temperature shift of ZPL were separated.•The strong nonlinearity in the separate electron-phonon part of ZPL shift was observed.