Ground-state microwave-stimulated Raman transitions and adiabatic spin transfer in the N15 nitrogen vacancy center

Microwave pulse sequences are the basis of coherent manipulation electronic spin ground state in nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers. In this work we demonstrate stimulated Raman transitions (SRTs) and adiabatic passage (STIRAP), two ways to drive dipole-forbidden transition between sublevels triplet NV center. This driving is achieved by a two-photon microwave which simultaneously drives detuned via virtual level for SRTs or partially overlapping resonant pulses STIRAP. We lay theoretical framework SRT STIRAP dynamics verify experimentally predictions population inversion observing single A comparison schemes showed better robustness success swap compared SRT.