Optical cavities, coherent emitters, and protocols for diamond-based quantum networks

Quantum mechanics differs deeply from classical intuition and knowledge, sparking fundamental questions and radically new technology. Generating large entangled states between distant nodes of a quantum network will advance both domains. The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centre in diamond is a promising building block for such a network.
However, extending quantum networks to more nodes and larger distances relies upon improving the entangling efficiency of these defect centres. In this thesis we present experimental and theoretical work focused on addressing this challenge through embedding NV centres in an optical cavity, taking care to preserve coherence of the NV optical transition. We further analyze protocols for efficient quantum communication over an NV-based quantum network.