Neutral silicon-vacancy ($\text{Si-}{V}^0$) centers in diamond are promising candidates for quantum network applications because of their exceptional optical properties and spin coherence. However, the stabilization of $\text{Si-}{V}^0$ centers requires careful Fermi-level engineering of the diamond host material, making further technological development challenging. Here, we show that $\text{Si-}{V}^0$ centers can be efficiently stabilized by photoactivated itinerant carriers. Even in this nonequilibrium configuration, the resulting $\text{Si-}{V}^0$ centers are stable enough to allow for resonant optical excitation and optically detected magnetic resonance. Our results pave the way for on-demand generation of $\text{Si-}{V}^0$ centers as well as other emerging quantum defects in diamond.

• Received 18 September 2022
• Revised 8 December 2022
• Accepted 31 January 2023

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.19.034022