A Diamond's Nitrogen-Vacancy Center (IMAGE) University of Chicago Caption This image represents the nitrogen-vacancy center in the atomic arrangement of diamond. The dark spheres are carbon atoms and the yellow sphere is a nitrogen atom. The "V" is the nitrogen-vacancy center, from which a nitrogen atom has moved to replace a nearby carbon atom. Teams led by the University of Chicago's David Awschalom are exploiting this atomic defect to develop new quantum technologies. Credit Peter Allen Usage Restrictions News organizations may use this image in connection with reports about the research of David Awschalom aond his associates. License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.