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arXiv:0911.4359 · Physical Review A

Efficiency optimization for atomic frequency comb storage

M Bonarota, Jérôme Ruggiero, J.-L. Le Gouët, T. Chanelière

Published Mar 5, 2010• 85 citations
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Abstract

We study the efficiency of the atomic frequency comb storage protocol. We show that for a given optical depth, the preparation procedure can be optimize to significantly improve the retrieval. Our prediction is well supported by the experimental implementation of the protocol in a ${\mathrm{Tm}}^{3+}$:YAG crystal. We observe a net gain in efficiency from 10 to $17%$ by applying the optimized preparation procedure. In the perspective of high bandwidth storage, we investigate the protocol under different magnetic fields. We analyze the effect of the Zeeman and superhyperfine interaction.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.81.033803

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We study the efficiency of the atomic frequency comb storage protocol. We show that for a given optical depth, the preparation procedure can be optimize to significantly improve the retrieval. Our prediction is well supported by the experimental implementation of the protocol in a Tm3+{\mathrm{Tm}}^{3+}Tm3+:YAG crystal. We observe a net gain in efficiency from 10 to 1717%17 by applying the optimized preparation procedure. In the perspective of high bandwidth storage, we investigate the protocol under different magnetic fields. We analyze the effect of the Zeeman and superhyperfine interaction.
We demonstrate efficient and reversible mapping of a light field on to a thulium-doped crystal using an atomic frequency comb (AFC). Owing to an accurate spectral preparation of the sample, we reach an efficiency of nine per cent. Our interpretation of the data is based on an original spectral analysis of the AFC. By independently measuring the absorption spectrum, we show that the efficiency is limited by both the available optical thickness and the preparation procedure at large absorption depth for a given bandwidth. The experiment is repeated with less than one photon per pulse and single-photon counting detectors. We clearly observe that the AFC protocol is compatible with the noise level required for weak quantum field storage.
Quantum memory devices with high storage efficiency and bandwidth are essential elements for future quantum networks. Here, we report a storage efficiency greater than 28% in a Tm\mathrm{Tm}Tm3+{}^{3+}3+:YAG crystal (where YAG is yttrium aluminum garnet) at elevated temperatures, achieving this milestone without relying on optical cavities and without compromising memory bandwidth. We introduce different pumping techniques for Tm\mathrm{Tm}Tm-based memories that enable multifrequency-window storage and high memory bandwidth reaching 630 MHz, significantly surpassing previous Tm\mathrm{Tm}Tm-based memory demonstrations, considering the operating temperature of 3.5 K. Furthermore, we propose a general method for large-bandwidth atomic frequency memory using non-Kramers rare-earth ions (REIs) in solids, paving the way for storage efficiencies and bandwidths approaching fundamental limits. The compatibility of Tm\mathrm{Tm}Tm memories with neutral-atom quantum processors and their seamless integration with scalable photonic platforms, such as lithium niobate on insulator, underscore their potential for distributed quantum computing, hybrid quantum networks, and space-based quantum communication. Our study represents a significant advancement toward practical high-performance quantum memories based on REI-doped crystals, where we predict that gigahertz bandwidth and storage efficiencies exceeding 30% are achievable at lower temperatures.
Atomic Frequency Comb (AFC) protocol has been particularly successful recently to demonstrate the storage of quantum information in a solid medium (rare-earth doped crystals). The AFC is inspired by the photon-echo technique. We show in this paper that the AFC is actually closely related to the slow-light based storage protocols extensively used in atomic vapours. Experimental verifications are performed in thulium doped YAG (Tm3+:YAG). We clarify the interplay between absorption and dispersion and propose a classification of the existing protocols.
We experimentally study a broadband implementation of the atomic frequency comb (AFC) rephasing protocol with a cryogenically cooled P r 3 + : Y 2 S i O 5 crystal. To allow for storage of broadband pulses, we explore a novel, to the best of our knowledge, regime where the input photonic bandwidth closely matches the inhomogeneous broadening of the material ( ∼ 5 G H z ) , thereby significantly exceeding the hyperfine ground and excited state splitting ( ∼ 10 M H z ) . Through an investigation of different AFC preparation parameters, we measure a maximum efficiency of 10% after a rephasing time of 12.5 ns. With a suboptimal AFC, we witness up to 12 rephased temporal modes.
Abstract In this work we present an implementation of cavity-assisted atomic frequency comb (AFC) memory protocol in an isotopically pure 143 Nd 3+ :YLiF 4 crystal. We use a tunable confocal Fabry–Perot cavity that is placed inside the cryostat. For a 1 mm thick sample with optical depth of 0.2 we obtain total storage efficiency of 3%, which is a 15-fold enhancement compared to the no cavity case. The memory bandwidth is limited by the inhomogeneous broadening of the optical transition and allows us to store short 30 ns pulses.