Quantum memories for optical and microwave photons provide key functionalities in quantum processing and communications. Here we propose a protocol well adapted to solid-state ensemble-based memories coupled to cavities. It is called Stark echo modulation memory (SEMM) and allows large storage bandwidths and low noise. This is achieved in an echo-like sequence combined with phase shifts induced by small electric fields through the linear Stark effect. We investigated the protocol for rare-earth nuclear spins and found a high suppression of unwanted collective emissions that is compatible with single-photon-level operation. Broadband storage together with high fidelity for the Stark retrieval process is also demonstrated. SEMM could be used to store optical or microwave photons in ions and/or spins. This includes nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond and rare-earth-doped crystals, which are among the most promising solid-state quantum memories.
Quantum memories for optical and microwave photons provide key functionalities in quantum processing and communications. Here we propose a protocol well adapted to solid-state ensemble-based memories coupled to cavities. It is called Stark echo modulation memory (SEMM) and allows large storage bandwidths and low noise. This is achieved in an echo-like sequence combined with phase shifts induced by small electric fields through the linear Stark effect. We investigated the protocol for rare-earth nuclear spins and found a high suppression of unwanted collective emissions that is compatible with single-photon-level operation. Broadband storage together with high fidelity for the Stark retrieval process is also demonstrated. SEMM could be used to store optical or microwave photons in ions and/or spins. This includes nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond and rare-earth-doped crystals, which are among the most promising solid-state quantum memories.
Quantum memories for light are essential components in quantum technologies like long-distance quantum communication and distributed quantum computing. Recent studies have shown that long optical and spin coherence lifetimes can be observed in rare earth doped nanoparticles, opening exciting possibilities over bulk materials, e.g., for enhancing coupling to light and other quantum systems, and material design. Here, we report on coherent light storage in Eu 3+:Y 2 O 3 nanoparticles using the Stark echo modulation memory (SEMM) quantum protocol. We first measure a nearly constant Stark coefficient of 50 kHz/(V/cm) across a bandwidth of 15 GHz, which is promising for broadband operation. Storage of light is then demonstrated with an effective coherence lifetime of 5 μs. Pulses with two different frequencies are also stored, confirming frequency-multiplexing capability, and are used to demonstrate the memory high phase fidelity. These results open the way to nanoscale optical quantum memories with increased efficiency, bandwidth, and processing capabilities.
We report the first experimental realization of backward retrieval in a spin-wave quantum memory based on a Stark-echo-modulated protocol in Eu3+:Y2SiO5. By using Stark control, we preserve the full optical depth of the ensemble while suppressing coherent noise, enabling conditional storage fidelities above 97%. Our analysis shows that the present backward-retrieval efficiency is mainly limited by technical imperfections rather than by fundamental constraints. With realistic engineering improvements, backward retrieval in this protocol could move beyond the reabsorption-limited forward-emission regime. The protocol is also compatible with cavity-enhanced operation, offering an additional route toward higher efficiencies. These findings establish Stark-echo modulation as a practical and scalable route to high-efficiency, long-lived solid-state quantum memories.
Quantum memories for quantum communication need to be able to store photons for an extended time and then to release them on demand. This can be achieved in atomic frequency comb ensemble-based quantum memories by control pulses that transfer the excitation to and from long-lived spin states. However, such pulses can give rise to coherent and incoherent noise due to their interaction with the memory ensemble. In this paper, we experimentally demonstrate the ability to switch off the coherent noise from such control pulses during the echo emission in a spin-wave quantum memory, using the linear Stark effect in rare-earth-ion doped crystals. By applying an electric-field pulse, the echo emission was coherently switched off prior to the first spin transfer pulse, and the stored data pulse was restored only when both an optical recall pulse and a rephasing electrical pulse were applied, giving a high degree of control of both desired and undesired emissions. We estimate the effectiveness of this technique by turning off the free-induction decay of a narrow ensemble of ions. This technique can thus improve the noise performance of spin-wave storage at the single-photon level by quenching coherent optical radiation created by strong control pulses. The method demonstrated here represents a proof of principle that the spin-wave storage scheme can be combined with Stark control. The combined scheme serves as an addition to the toolbox of techniques that can be used to realize a full version of a quantum repeater. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
Quantum information processing promises to have transformative impacts on information and communication science and technology. Photonic implementation of quantum information processing is among successful candidates for implementation of quantum computation and is an essential part of quantum communication. Linear optical quantum computation, specifically the KLM scheme, and quantum repeaters are prominent candidates for practical photonic quantum computation and long-distance quantum communication. Quantum memories for photons are key elements for any practical implementation of these schemes. Practical quantum memories require theoretical and experimental investigations into quantum memory protocols and physical systems for implementations. The present thesis is focused on studying new approaches toward practical solid-state based quantum memories. First, I present a proposal for a new quantum memory protocol called the controllable-dipole quantum memory. It represents a protocol, in a two-level system, without any optical control that is shown to be equivalent to the Raman type-quantum memory. Then I include our studies on the quantum memory based on the refractive index modulation of the host medium. It is shown that it can resemble the gradient echo quantum memory without a spatial gradient in the external field. These two protocols can be implemented in rare-earth doped crystals. With regards to using new physical systems, I present a proposal based on nitrogen vacancy centers. This may pave the way toward micron-scale on-chip quantum memories that may contribute to the implementation of integrated quantum photonics. Finally, I studied the precision requirements for the spin echo technique. This technique is necessary to extend the storage time in solid-state quantum memories, in which the coherence times are limited by spin inhomogeneous broadening.
Interaction of quantum radiation with multi-particle ensembles has sparked off intense research efforts during the past decade. Emblematic of this field is the quantum memory scheme, where a quantum state of light is mapped onto an ensemble of atoms and then recovered in its original shape. While opening new access to the basics of light–atom interaction, quantum memory also appears as a key element for information processing applications, such as linear optics quantum computation and long-distance quantum communication via quantum repeaters. Not surprisingly, it is far from trivial to practically recover a stored quantum state of light and, although impressive progress has already been accomplished, researchers are still struggling to reach this ambitious objective. This special issue provides an account of the state-of-the-art in a fast-moving research area that makes physicists, engineers and chemists work together at the forefront of their discipline, involving quantum fields and atoms in different media, magnetic resonance techniques and material science. Various strategies have been considered to store and retrieve quantum light. The explored designs belong to three main—while still overlapping—classes. In architectures derived from photon echo, information is mapped over the spectral components of inhomogeneously broadened absorption bands, such as those encountered in rare earth ion doped crystals and atomic gases in external gradient magnetic field. Protocols based on electromagnetic induced transparency also rely on resonant excitation and are ideally suited to the homogeneous absorption lines offered by laser cooled atomic clouds or ion Coulomb crystals. Finally off-resonance approaches are illustrated by Faraday and Raman processes. Coupling with an optical cavity may enhance the storage process, even for negligibly small atom number. Multiple scattering is also proposed as a way to enlarge the quantum interaction distance of light with matter. The quest for higher efficiency, better fidelity, broader bandwidth, multimode capacity and longer storage lifetime is pursued in all those approaches, as shown in this special issue. The improvement of quantum memory operation specifically requires in-depth study and control of numerous physical processes leading to atomic decoherence. The present issue reflects the development of rare earth ion doped matrices offering long lifetime superposition states, either as bulk crystals or as optical waveguides. The need for quantum sources and high efficiency detectors at the single photon level is also illustrated. Several papers address the networking of quantum memories either in long-haul cryptography or in the prospect of quantum processing. In this context, much attention has been paid recently to interfacing quantum light with superconducting qubits and with nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond. Finally, the quantum interfacing of light with matter raises questions on entanglement. The last two papers are devoted to the generation of entanglement by dissipative processes. It is shown that long lifetime entanglement may be built in this way. We hope this special issue will help readers to become familiar with the exciting field of ensemble-based quantum memories and will stimulate them to bring deeper insights and new ideas to this area.
A quantum state light-storage, using a virtual magnetic field through the ac Stark effect is proposed to combine the high overall storage efficiency and large bandwidth employing room temperature atomic vapor. In this approach, which was called the ac Stark Gradient Echo Memory (ASGEM), it has been shown the possibility to employ about a nanosecond ac Stark pulse far detuned (about 127 THz) from D1 line of rubidium and create an atomic media with the possibility to store a photon with about a GHz bandwidth with storage and retrieval efficiency of more than 90%. A contour plot of efficiency as a function of gradient field strength and optical depth, based on three-level Maxwell- Bloch equations, simulated for a better understanding of experimental parameter optimization.