An optical quantum memory is a stationary device that is capable of storing and recreating photonic qubits with a higher fidelity than any classical device. Thus far, these two requirements have been fulfilled for polarization qubits in systems based on cold atoms and cryogenically cooled crystals. Here, we report a room-temperature memory capable of storing arbitrary polarization qubits with a signal-to-background ratio higher than 1 and an average fidelity surpassing the classical benchmark for weak laser pulses containing 1.6 photons on average, without taking into account non-unitary operation. Our results demonstrate that a common vapor cell can reach the low background noise levels necessary for polarization qubit storage using single-photon level light, and propels atomic-vapor systems towards a level of functionality akin to other quantum information processing architectures.An optical quantum memory is a stationary device that is capable of storing and recreating photonic qubits with a higher fidelity than any classical device. Thus far, these two requirements have been fulfilled for polarization qubits in systems based on cold atoms and cryogenically cooled crystals. Here, we report a room-temperature memory capable of storing arbitrary polarization qubits with a signal-to-background ratio higher than 1 and an average fidelity surpassing the classical benchmark for weak laser pulses containing 1.6 photons on average, without taking into account non-unitary operation. Our results demonstrate that a common vapor cell can reach the low background noise levels necessary for polarization qubit storage using single-photon level light, and propels atomic-vapor systems towards a level of functionality akin to other quantum information processing architectures.

Scientific ReportsJan 7, 201535 citations

Unconditional polarization qubit quantum memory at room temperature

Mehdi Namazi, Connor Kupchak, Bertus Jordaan +2 more

Here we study how the optical response of cold atomic environments is transformed by the motion of atoms at room temperature and consequently characterize the optimal performance of room temperature quantum light-matter interfaces. Our findings enable us to attain complete quantum memory operation for polarization qubits in a warm $^{87}$ Rb atomic vapor with an average fidelity of $86.6\pm 0.6\%$ , thereby defeating any classical strategy exploiting the non-unitary character of the memory efficiency. Our system significantly decreases the technological overhead required to achieve quantum memory operation and will serve as a building block for scalable and technologically simpler many-memory quantum machines.Here we study how the optical response of cold atomic environments is transformed by the motion of atoms at room temperature and consequently characterize the optimal performance of room temperature quantum light-matter interfaces. Our findings enable us to attain complete quantum memory operation for polarization qubits in a warm $^{87}$Rb atomic vapor with an average fidelity of $86.6\pm 0.6\%$, thereby defeating any classical strategy exploiting the non-unitary character of the memory efficiency. Our system significantly decreases the technological overhead required to achieve quantum memory operation and will serve as a building block for scalable and technologically simpler many-memory quantum machines.

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyDec 23, 20150 citations

Building A Portable Room Temperature Quantum Memory

Ruoxi Wang

Quantum memory provides a platform for building quantum networks in quantum information processing. Applications of said networks include quantum gates for quantum computing and quantum repeaters for long distance quantum key distribution. An optical quantum memory can be realized by a cold atom system combined with electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). However, room temperature quantum memory via vapor cells benefit from its easy operation without the need for laser cooling and trapping, promoting the scalability. In this work, we studied and tested EIT in a Rubidium vapor cell at room temperature, by storing and retrieving a classical light source using probe and control lasers. We also constructed a portable quantum memory system and realized the storage of light at the single-photon level at room temperature. For a future perspective, we designed the quantum memory system with cavities, wishing to breakthrough in storage efficiency. | 37 pagesQuantum memory provides a platform for building quantum networks in quantum information processing. Applications of said networks include quantum gates for quantum computing and quantum repeaters for long distance quantum key distribution. An optical quantum memory can be realized by a cold atom system combined with electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). However, room temperature quantum memory via vapor cells benefit from its easy operation without the need for laser cooling and trapping, promoting the scalability. In this work, we studied and tested EIT in a Rubidium vapor cell at room temperature, by storing and retrieving a classical light source using probe and control lasers. We also constructed a portable quantum memory system and realized the storage of light at the single-photon level at room temperature. For a future perspective, we designed the quantum memory system with cavities, wishing to breakthrough in storage efficiency. | 37 pages

Dec 1, 20160 citations

Single-photon-level memory at room temperature

K. F. Reim, Patrick Michelberger, K. C. Lee +3 more

Quantum memories capable of storing single photons are essential building blocks for quantum information processing, enabling the storage and transfer of quantum information over long distances. Devices operating at room temperature can be deployed on a large scale and integrated into existing photonic networks, but so far warm quantum memories have been susceptible to noise at the single photon level. Using a fundamentally different approach to quantum memories, i.e. the recently developed far off-resonant Raman memory scheme, the authors present a highly efficient room-temperature memory that is able to operate with a low unconditional noise floor in the quantum regime, something that no other room-temperature memory has been able to demonstrate before.Quantum memories capable of storing single photons are essential building blocks for quantum information processing, enabling the storage and transfer of quantum information over long distances. Devices operating at room temperature can be deployed on a large scale and integrated into existing photonic networks, but so far warm quantum memories have been susceptible to noise at the single photon level. Using a fundamentally different approach to quantum memories, i.e. the recently developed far off-resonant Raman memory scheme, the authors present a highly efficient room-temperature memory that is able to operate with a low unconditional noise floor in the quantum regime, something that no other room-temperature memory has been able to demonstrate before.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)May 1, 20110 citations

Highly-efficient quantum memory for polarization qubits in a spatially-multiplexed cold atomic ensemble

Pierre Vernaz-Gris, Kun Huang, Mingtao Cao +2 more

Quantum memory for flying optical qubits is a key enabler for a wide range of applications in quantum information. A critical figure of merit is the overall storage and retrieval efficiency. So far, despite the recent achievements of efficient memories for light pulses, the storage of qubits has suffered from limited efficiency. Here we report on a quantum memory for polarization qubits that combines an average conditional fidelity above 99% and efficiency around 68%, thereby demonstrating a reversible qubit mapping where more information is retrieved than lost. The qubits are encoded with weak coherent states at the single-photon level and the memory is based on electromagnetically-induced transparency in an elongated laser-cooled ensemble of cesium atoms, spatially multiplexed for dual-rail storage. This implementation preserves high optical depth on both rails, without compromise between multiplexing and storage efficiency. Our work provides an efficient node for future tests of quantum network functionalities and advanced photonic circuits.Quantum memory for flying optical qubits is a key enabler for a wide range of applications in quantum information. A critical figure of merit is the overall storage and retrieval efficiency. So far, despite the recent achievements of efficient memories for light pulses, the storage of qubits has suffered from limited efficiency. Here we report on a quantum memory for polarization qubits that combines an average conditional fidelity above 99% and efficiency around 68%, thereby demonstrating a reversible qubit mapping where more information is retrieved than lost. The qubits are encoded with weak coherent states at the single-photon level and the memory is based on electromagnetically-induced transparency in an elongated laser-cooled ensemble of cesium atoms, spatially multiplexed for dual-rail storage. This implementation preserves high optical depth on both rails, without compromise between multiplexing and storage efficiency. Our work provides an efficient node for future tests of quantum network functionalities and advanced photonic circuits.

arXiv:1707.09372Nature CommunicationsJan 19, 2018181 citations

Highly-efficient quantum memory for polarization qubits in a spatially-multiplexed cold atomic ensemble

Pierre Vernaz-Gris, Kun Huang, Mingtao Cao +2 more

Abstract Quantum memory for flying optical qubits is a key enabler for a wide range of applications in quantum information. A critical figure of merit is the overall storage and retrieval efficiency. So far, despite the recent achievements of efficient memories for light pulses, the storage of qubits has suffered from limited efficiency. Here we report on a quantum memory for polarization qubits that combines an average conditional fidelity above 99% and efficiency around 68%, thereby demonstrating a reversible qubit mapping where more information is retrieved than lost. The qubits are encoded with weak coherent states at the single-photon level and the memory is based on electromagnetically-induced transparency in an elongated laser-cooled ensemble of cesium atoms, spatially multiplexed for dual-rail storage. This implementation preserves high optical depth on both rails, without compromise between multiplexing and storage efficiency. Our work provides an efficient node for future tests of quantum network functionalities and advanced photonic circuits.Abstract Quantum memory for flying optical qubits is a key enabler for a wide range of applications in quantum information. A critical figure of merit is the overall storage and retrieval efficiency. So far, despite the recent achievements of efficient memories for light pulses, the storage of qubits has suffered from limited efficiency. Here we report on a quantum memory for polarization qubits that combines an average conditional fidelity above 99% and efficiency around 68%, thereby demonstrating a reversible qubit mapping where more information is retrieved than lost. The qubits are encoded with weak coherent states at the single-photon level and the memory is based on electromagnetically-induced transparency in an elongated laser-cooled ensemble of cesium atoms, spatially multiplexed for dual-rail storage. This implementation preserves high optical depth on both rails, without compromise between multiplexing and storage efficiency. Our work provides an efficient node for future tests of quantum network functionalities and advanced photonic circuits.

Jan 1, 2018141 citations

^{87}

Rb atomic vapor with an average fidelity of

86.6\pm 0.6\%

, thereby defeating any classical strategy exploiting the non-unitary character of the memory efficiency. Our system significantly decreases the technological overhead required to achieve quantum memory operation and will serve as a building block for scalable and technologically simpler many-memory quantum machines.