Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1908.09242

Experimental realization of quantum non-reciprocity based on cold atomic ensembles

Ming‐Xin Dong, Yichen Yu, Ying-Hao Ye, Weihang Zhang, Enze Li, Lei Zeng, Guang‐Can Guo, Dong-Sheng Ding, Bao‐Sen Shi

Published Aug 25, 2019• 2 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

In analog to counterparts widely used in electronic circuits, all optical non-reciprocal devices are basic building blocks for both classical and quantum optical information processing. Approaching the fundamental limit of such devices, where the propagation of a single photon exhibits a good non-reciprocal characteristic, requires an asymmetric strong coupling between a single photon and a matter. Unfortunately it has been not realized yet. Here, we propose and experimentally realize a quantum non-reciprocity device with low optical losses and a high isolation of larger than 14 dB based on the cold atoms. Besides, the non-reciprocal transmission of a quantum qubit and non-reciprocal quantum storage of a true single photon are also realized. All results achieved would be very promising in building up quantum non-reciprocal devices for quantum networks.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.1908.09242

Related papers

Optical non-reciprocity with strongly coupled cavity QED system

Gang Li

Optical non-reciprocity for weak light field is particularly important for chip-based photonic and quantum information process. By adopting the strong nonlinearity associated with a few atoms in a strongly coupled cavity QED system and an asymmetric cavity configuration, we experimentally demonstrate the nonreciprocal transmission between two counterpropagating light fields with extremely low power. The system can be further manipulated to realize a non-reciprocal cavity polariton. Such that an optical isolation exceeds 30dB on single-quanta level and non-reciprocal non-classical statistics with coherent probe lights can be obtained, manifesting the quantum nature of the non-reciprocal polaritons.

SPIE Conference on Quantum and Nonlinear Optics•Oct 9, 2020•0 citations

Noiseless photonic non-reciprocity via optically-induced magnetization

Xinxin Hu, Zhu-Bo Wang, Pengfei Zhang +9 more

Abstract The realization of optical non-reciprocity is crucial for many applications, and also of fundamental importance for manipulating and protecting the photons with desired time-reversal symmetry. Recently, various new mechanisms of magnetic-free non-reciprocity have been proposed and implemented, avoiding the limitation of the strong magnetic field imposed by the Faraday effect. However, due to the difficulties in separating the signal photons from the drive laser and the noise photons induced by the drive laser, these devices exhibit limited isolation performances and their quantum noise properties are rarely studied. Here, we demonstrate an approach of magnetic-free non-reciprocity by optically-induced magnetization in an atom ensemble. Excellent isolation (highest isolation ratio is $$51.{5}_{-2.5}^{+6.5}\ {\rm{dB}}$$ 51 . 5 − 2.5 + 6.5 dB ) is observed over a power dynamic range of 7 orders of magnitude, with the noiseless property verified by quantum statistics measurements. The approach is applicable to other atoms and atom-like emitters, paving the way for future studies of integrated photonic non-reciprocal devices.

•Jan 1, 2021•47 citations

All-optical reversible single-photon isolation at room temperature

Ming‐Xin Dong, Keyu Xia, Weihang Zhang +8 more

Nonreciprocal devices operating at the single-photon level are fundamental elements for quantum technologies. Because magneto-optical nonreciprocal devices are incompatible for magnetic-sensitive or on-chip quantum information processing, all-optical nonreciprocal isolation is highly desired, but its realization at the quantum level is yet to be accomplished at room temperature. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate two regimes, using electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) or a Raman transition, for all-optical isolation with warm atoms. We achieve an isolation of 22.52 ± 0.10 dB and an insertion loss of about 1.95 dB for a genuine single photon, with bandwidth up to hundreds of megahertz. The Raman regime realized in the same experimental setup enables us to achieve high isolation and low insertion loss for coherent optical fields with reversed isolation direction. These realizations of single-photon isolation and coherent light isolation at room temperature are promising for simpler reconfiguration of high-speed classical and quantum information processing.

Science Advances•Mar 19, 2021•90 citations

Collision-Induced Broadband Optical Nonreciprocity

Chao Liang, Bei Liu, An‐Ning Xu +6 more

Optical nonreciprocity is an essential property for a wide range of applications, such as building nonreciprocal optical devices that include isolators and circulators. The realization of optical nonreciprocity relies on breaking the symmetry associated with Lorentz reciprocity, which typically requires stringent conditions such as introducing a strong magnetic field or a high-finesse cavity with nonreciprocal coupling geometry. Here we discover that the collision effect of thermal atoms, which is undesirable for most studies, can induce broadband optical nonreciprocity. By exploiting the thermal atomic collision, we experimentally observe magnet-free and cavity-free optical nonreciprocity, which possesses a high isolation ratio, ultrabroad bandwidth, and low insertion loss simultaneously. The maximum isolation ratio is close to 40 dB, while the insertion loss is less than 1 dB. The bandwidth for an isolation ratio exceeding 20 dB is over 1.2 GHz, which is 2 orders of magnitude broader than typical resonance-enhanced optical isolators. Our work paves the way for the realization of high-performance optical nonreciprocal devices and provides opportunities for applications in integrated optics and quantum networks.

Physical Review Letters•Sep 14, 2020•114 citations

A cold atomic ensemble of rubidium for quantum storage ans single photon generation

Amandine Issautier, Anders Kastberg, Sébastien Tanzilli

Quantum communication aims at generating and distributing qubits between distant sites, in order to implement quantum information protocols, such as quantum key distribution, quantum teleportation and quantum processing. For many quantum protocols, and especially for quantum repeaters, which make quantum communication over long distances much more efficient, storage and/or emission of photonic states is necessary and represents a crucial step towards the realisation of a quantum network. An outstanding challenge of quantum communication is to implement quantum memories for photonic qubits, combining long storage time with high fidelity between the input and output states, and good efficiency. Moreover, to be compatible with quantum network applications, such as quantum repeaters, these memories have to enable heralded storage and on-demand read-out. Cold atomic ensembles hold promise for satisfying both these prerequisites, and are therefore a good candidate as storage medium, offering a compromise between different benchmarks. We are setting up an experiment intended to map polarisation qubits onto an optically pumped cold atomic ensemble of rubidium serving as our quantum memory device. In a first development, our quantum memory device will be operated in the single photon emission regime so as to implement, together with an entangled photon-pair source based on guided-wave optics, the quantum teleportation scheme.

•Jun 4, 2013•0 citations

Nonreciprocity in Cold Atoms Based on Electromagnetically Induced Transparency

J. Li, Yunfei Wang, Peisheng Huang +5 more

Nonreciprocal quantum devices with low loss are indispensable in quantum information processing but challenging to be realized. Here we report an experiment to realize the nonreciprocal phase shift larger than $\ensuremath{\pi}$ with low loss in a cavity-free and magnetic-free cold atomic ensemble based on electromagnetically induced transparency. Furthermore, a four-port all-optical circulator is demonstrated with an average isolation ratio of 22.25 dB and transmission of 0.94 for each channel. At its optimal working point, the circulator's total isolation ratio reaches 63.47 dB, transmission reaches 0.86, and fidelity at about 0.99. Our work can advance further investigation of nonreciprocity with cold atoms in quantum information processing applications.

Physical Review Applied•Jul 13, 2023•7 citations
In analog to counterparts widely used in electronic circuits, all optical non-reciprocal devices are basic building blocks for both classical and quantum optical information processing. Approaching the fundamental limit of such devices, where the propagation of a single photon exhibits a good non-reciprocal characteristic, requires an asymmetric strong coupling between a single photon and a matter. Unfortunately it has been not realized yet. Here, we propose and experimentally realize a quantum non-reciprocity device with low optical losses and a high isolation of larger than 14 dB based on the cold atoms. Besides, the non-reciprocal transmission of a quantum qubit and non-reciprocal quantum storage of a true single photon are also realized. All results achieved would be very promising in building up quantum non-reciprocal devices for quantum networks.
Optical non-reciprocity for weak light field is particularly important for chip-based photonic and quantum information process. By adopting the strong nonlinearity associated with a few atoms in a strongly coupled cavity QED system and an asymmetric cavity configuration, we experimentally demonstrate the nonreciprocal transmission between two counterpropagating light fields with extremely low power. The system can be further manipulated to realize a non-reciprocal cavity polariton. Such that an optical isolation exceeds 30dB on single-quanta level and non-reciprocal non-classical statistics with coherent probe lights can be obtained, manifesting the quantum nature of the non-reciprocal polaritons.
Abstract The realization of optical non-reciprocity is crucial for many applications, and also of fundamental importance for manipulating and protecting the photons with desired time-reversal symmetry. Recently, various new mechanisms of magnetic-free non-reciprocity have been proposed and implemented, avoiding the limitation of the strong magnetic field imposed by the Faraday effect. However, due to the difficulties in separating the signal photons from the drive laser and the noise photons induced by the drive laser, these devices exhibit limited isolation performances and their quantum noise properties are rarely studied. Here, we demonstrate an approach of magnetic-free non-reciprocity by optically-induced magnetization in an atom ensemble. Excellent isolation (highest isolation ratio is 51.5−2.5+6.5 dB51.{5}_{-2.5}^{+6.5}\ {\rm{dB}}51.5−2.5+6.5​ dB 51 . 5 − 2.5 + 6.5 dB ) is observed over a power dynamic range of 7 orders of magnitude, with the noiseless property verified by quantum statistics measurements. The approach is applicable to other atoms and atom-like emitters, paving the way for future studies of integrated photonic non-reciprocal devices.
Nonreciprocal devices operating at the single-photon level are fundamental elements for quantum technologies. Because magneto-optical nonreciprocal devices are incompatible for magnetic-sensitive or on-chip quantum information processing, all-optical nonreciprocal isolation is highly desired, but its realization at the quantum level is yet to be accomplished at room temperature. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate two regimes, using electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) or a Raman transition, for all-optical isolation with warm atoms. We achieve an isolation of 22.52 ± 0.10 dB and an insertion loss of about 1.95 dB for a genuine single photon, with bandwidth up to hundreds of megahertz. The Raman regime realized in the same experimental setup enables us to achieve high isolation and low insertion loss for coherent optical fields with reversed isolation direction. These realizations of single-photon isolation and coherent light isolation at room temperature are promising for simpler reconfiguration of high-speed classical and quantum information processing.
Optical nonreciprocity is an essential property for a wide range of applications, such as building nonreciprocal optical devices that include isolators and circulators. The realization of optical nonreciprocity relies on breaking the symmetry associated with Lorentz reciprocity, which typically requires stringent conditions such as introducing a strong magnetic field or a high-finesse cavity with nonreciprocal coupling geometry. Here we discover that the collision effect of thermal atoms, which is undesirable for most studies, can induce broadband optical nonreciprocity. By exploiting the thermal atomic collision, we experimentally observe magnet-free and cavity-free optical nonreciprocity, which possesses a high isolation ratio, ultrabroad bandwidth, and low insertion loss simultaneously. The maximum isolation ratio is close to 40 dB, while the insertion loss is less than 1 dB. The bandwidth for an isolation ratio exceeding 20 dB is over 1.2 GHz, which is 2 orders of magnitude broader than typical resonance-enhanced optical isolators. Our work paves the way for the realization of high-performance optical nonreciprocal devices and provides opportunities for applications in integrated optics and quantum networks.
Quantum communication aims at generating and distributing qubits between distant sites, in order to implement quantum information protocols, such as quantum key distribution, quantum teleportation and quantum processing. For many quantum protocols, and especially for quantum repeaters, which make quantum communication over long distances much more efficient, storage and/or emission of photonic states is necessary and represents a crucial step towards the realisation of a quantum network. An outstanding challenge of quantum communication is to implement quantum memories for photonic qubits, combining long storage time with high fidelity between the input and output states, and good efficiency. Moreover, to be compatible with quantum network applications, such as quantum repeaters, these memories have to enable heralded storage and on-demand read-out. Cold atomic ensembles hold promise for satisfying both these prerequisites, and are therefore a good candidate as storage medium, offering a compromise between different benchmarks. We are setting up an experiment intended to map polarisation qubits onto an optically pumped cold atomic ensemble of rubidium serving as our quantum memory device. In a first development, our quantum memory device will be operated in the single photon emission regime so as to implement, together with an entangled photon-pair source based on guided-wave optics, the quantum teleportation scheme.
Nonreciprocal quantum devices with low loss are indispensable in quantum information processing but challenging to be realized. Here we report an experiment to realize the nonreciprocal phase shift larger than $\ensuremath{\pi}$ with low loss in a cavity-free and magnetic-free cold atomic ensemble based on electromagnetically induced transparency. Furthermore, a four-port all-optical circulator is demonstrated with an average isolation ratio of 22.25 dB and transmission of 0.94 for each channel. At its optimal working point, the circulator's total isolation ratio reaches 63.47 dB, transmission reaches 0.86, and fidelity at about 0.99. Our work can advance further investigation of nonreciprocity with cold atoms in quantum information processing applications.