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arXiv:1805.01068 · Physical review. B./Physical review. B

Characterization of Yb 3 + 171 : YVO 4 for photonic quantum technologies

Jonathan M. Kindem, John G. Bartholomew, Philip J. T. Woodburn, Tian Zhong, Ioana Craiciu, R. L. Cone, Charles W. Thiel, Andrei Faraon

Published Jul 5, 2018• 59 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Rare-earth ion crystals are a promising platform for implementing solid-state quantum interfaces, yet there are few combinations of rare-earth and host crystals that simultaneously deliver large optical absorption, narrow inhomogeneous linewidths, and long coherence times. This work investigates the optical and spin properties of ${}^{171}$Yb${}^{3+}$ ions in YVO${}_{4}$. The observed properties and simple energy-level structure of the ${}^{171}$Yb${}^{3+}$ ion show that this material has significant potential for creating efficient quantum interfaces, such as ensemble-based memories, microwave-to-optical transducers, and optically addressable single rare-earth ion spin qubits.

DOI
10.1103/physrevb.98.024404

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Rare-earth ion crystals are a promising platform for implementing solid-state quantum interfaces, yet there are few combinations of rare-earth and host crystals that simultaneously deliver large optical absorption, narrow inhomogeneous linewidths, and long coherence times. This work investigates the optical and spin properties of 171{}^{171}171Yb3+{}^{3+}3+ ions in YVO4{}_{4}4​. The observed properties and simple energy-level structure of the 171{}^{171}171Yb3+{}^{3+}3+ ion show that this material has significant potential for creating efficient quantum interfaces, such as ensemble-based memories, microwave-to-optical transducers, and optically addressable single rare-earth ion spin qubits.
Rare-earth doped crystals are promising systems for quantum information processing. In particular, paramagnetic rare earths could be used to build coherent interfaces with optical and microwave photons. In addition, isotopes with nonzero nuclear spins could provide long-lived states for quantum state storage and processing. Yb3+{\mathrm{Yb}}^{3+}Yb3+ is particularly interesting in this respect since it is the only paramagnetic rare earth with a spin-12\frac{1}{2}21​ isotope, which corresponds to the simplest possible level structure. In this paper, we report on the optical and magnetic properties of Yb3+{\mathrm{Yb}}^{3+}Yb3+ in the two sites of Y2SiO5{\mathrm{Y}}_{2}{\mathrm{SiO}}_{5}Y2​SiO5​, a commonly used crystal for quantum applications. We measured optical inhomogeneous linewidths, peak absorption coefficients, oscillator strengths, and excited-state lifetimes. The Zeeman tensors were also determined in the ground and excited states, as well as the ground-state hyperfine tensor for the 171Yb3+^{171}\mathrm{Yb}^{3+}171Yb3+ (I=12I=\frac{1}{2}I=21​) isotope. These results suggest that Yb3+{\mathrm{Yb}}^{3+}Yb3+:Y2SiO5{\mathrm{Y}}_{2}{\mathrm{SiO}}_{5}Y2​SiO5​ is a promising material for applications like solid-state optical and microwave quantum memories.
Sub-second spin and lifetime-limited optical coherences in 171^{171}171Yb3+^{3+}3+:CaWO4_44​
Optically addressable solid-state spins have been extensively studied for quantum technologies, offering unique advantages for quantum computing, communication, and sensing. Advancing these applications is generally limited by finding materials that simultaneously provide lifetime-limited optical and long spin coherences. Here, we introduce 171^{171}171Yb3+^{3+}3+ ions doped into a CaWO4_44​ crystal. We perform high-resolution spectroscopy of the excited state, and demonstrate all-optical coherent control of the electron-nuclear spin ensemble. We find narrow inhomogeneous broadening of the optical transitions of 185 MHz and radiative-lifetime-limited coherence time up to 0.75~ms. Next to this, we measure a spin-transition ensemble line width of 5 kHz and electron-nuclear spin coherence time reaching 0.15~seconds at zero magnetic field between 50~mK and 1~K temperatures. These results demonstrate the potential of 171^{171}171Yb3+^{3+}3+:CaWO4_44​ as a low-noise platform for building quantum technologies with ensemble-based memories, microwave-to-optical transducers, and optically addressable single-ion spin qubits.
Quantum light-matter interfaces that can reversibly map quantum information between photons and atoms are essential for building future quantum networks. Crystals doped with rare-earth ions (REIs) are an attractive solid-state platform for such light-matter interfaces due to their exceptional optical and spin coherence properties at cryogenic temperatures. Building scalable REI-based technology has proven to be challenging due to the inherently weak coupling of REIs with light. This thesis explores the integration of REIs with nanophotonic resonators to overcome this weak light-matter interaction and enable efficient, scalable quantum light-matter interfaces. Specifically, this work focuses on the development of quantum nanophotonics with ytterbium in yttrium orthovanadate. This thesis begins with an introduction to a nanophotonic platform based on photonic crystal cavities fabricated directly in rare-earth host materials and highlights the initial successes of this platform with neodymium-doped materials. This motivates an examination of the optical and spin coherence properties of 171Yb:YVO4, a REI material that was previously unexplored for quantum technology applications. This material is found to have strong optical transitions compared to other REI-doped materials, a simple energy level structure, and long optical and spin coherence lifetimes. The focus then turns to the detection and coherent manipulation of single ytterbium ions coupled to nanophotonic cavities. The Purcell-enhancement in these cavities enables efficient optical detection and spin initialization of individual ytterbium ions. We identify ions corresponding to different isotopes of ytterbium and show that the coupling of electron and nuclear spin in ytterbium-171 at zero-field gives rise to strong electron-spin-like transitions that are first-order insensitive to magnetic field fluctuations. This allows for coherent microwave control and the observation of long spin coherence lifetimes at temperatures up to 1 K. We then make use of the optical selection rules and energy structure of 171Yb:YVO4 to demonstrate high-fidelity single-shot optical readout of the spin state. These results establish nanophotonic devices in 171Yb:YVO4 as a promising platform for solid-state quantum light-matter interfaces.
Rare-earth-ion doped crystals are a promising platform for applications in microwave-to-optical transduction. Erbium is of special interest because of its telecom wavelength optical transitions. This work investigates the optical and electron-spin properties of Er3+{}^{3+}3+:YVO4{}_{4}4​. An initial transduction of classical microwave signal using this material is demonstrated. The measured strong optical dipole moment and narrow ensemble inhomogeneities make Er3+{}^{3+}3+:YVO4{}_{4}4​ a promising material for microwave-to-optical transduction.
171{}^{171}171Yb3+{}^{3+}3+ ions in yttrium orthovanadate are promising candidates for building quantum networks, based on their excellent optical and spin properties and access to a secondary nuclear-spin quantum register. In this study the authors transfer GaAs photonic crystal nanobeam resonators to the surface of the host YVO4{}_{4}4​ to enhance the optical transitions of the Yb3+{}^{3+}3+ ions and efficiently collect the emitted photons. This hybrid quantum photonic interface facilitates addressing of single Yb3+{}^{3+}3+ ions and paves the way for the implementation of a scalable photonic architecture in the near infrared.
Quantum light-matter interfaces connecting stationary qubits to photons will enable optical networks for quantum communications, precise global time keeping, photon switching and studies of fundamental physics. Rare-earth-ion-doped crystals are state-of-the-art materials for optical quantum memories and quantum transducers between optical photons, microwave photons and spin waves. Here we demonstrate coupling of an ensemble of neodymium rare-earth-ions to photonic nanocavities fabricated in the yttrium orthosilicate host crystal. Cavity quantum electrodynamics effects including Purcell enhancement (F=42) and dipole-induced transparency are observed on the highly coherent (4)I(9/2)-(4)F(3/2) optical transition. Fluctuations in the cavity transmission due to statistical fine structure of the atomic density are measured, indicating operation at the quantum level. Coherent optical control of cavity-coupled rare-earth ions is performed via photon echoes. Long optical coherence times (T2∼100 μs) and small inhomogeneous broadening are measured for the cavity-coupled rare-earth ions, thus demonstrating their potential for on-chip scalable quantum light-matter interfaces.