Electron transport in single molecule magnet transistors and optical transitions in the 15nitrogen-vacancy- center in diamond

This thesis presents theoretical studies dealing with quantum interference effects in electron transport through single molecule magnet transistors and a study on optical Λ transitions in the 15NV - center in diamond. The thesis starts with a brief general introduction to the physics of quantum transport through single electron transistors. Afterwards, the main body of the thesis is divided into three studies: (i) In chapter (2) we describe the properties of single molecule magnets and the Berry phase interference present in these nanomagnets. We then propose a way to detect quantum interference experimentally in the current of a single molecule magnet transistor using polarized leads. We apply our theoretical results to the newly synthesized nanomagnet Ni4. (ii) In chapter (3) we review the Kondo effect and present a microscopic derivation of the Kondo Hamiltonian suitable for full and half-integer spin nanomagnets. We then calculate the conductance of the single molecule magnet transistor in the presence of the Kondo effect for Ni4 and show how the Berry phase interference becomes temperature dependent. (iii) We conclude in chapter (4) with a theoretical study of the single Nitrogen vacancy defect center in diamond. We show that it is possible to have spin non-conserving transitions via the hyperfine interaction and propose a way to write and read quantum information using circularly polarized light by means of optical Λ transitions in this solid state system.