Abstract Quantum interfaces (QIs) that generate entanglement between photonic and spin-wave (atomic memory) qubits are basic building block for quantum repeaters. Realizing ensemble-based repeaters in practice requires quantum memory providing long lifetimes and multimode capacity. Significant progress has been achieved on these separate goals. The remaining challenge is to combine the two attributes into a single QI. Here, by establishing spatial multimode, magnetic-field-insensitive and long-wavelength spin-wave storage in laser-cooled atoms inside a phase-passively-stabilized polarization interferometer, we constructed a multiplexed QI that stores up to three long-lived spin-wave qubits. Using a feed-forward-controlled system, we demonstrated that a multiplexed QI gives rise to a 3-fold increase in the atom–photon (photon–photon) entanglement-generation probability compared with single-mode QIs. For our multiplexed QI, the measured Bell parameter is 2.51±0.01 combined with a memory lifetime of up to 1 ms. This work represents a key step forward in realizing fiber-based long-distance quantum communications.
Abstract Quantum interfaces (QIs) that generate entanglement between photonic and spin-wave (atomic memory) qubits are basic building block for quantum repeaters. Realizing ensemble-based repeaters in practice requires quantum memory providing long lifetimes and multimode capacity. Significant progress has been achieved on these separate goals. The remaining challenge is to combine the two attributes into a single QI. Here, by establishing spatial multimode, magnetic-field-insensitive and long-wavelength spin-wave storage in laser-cooled atoms inside a phase-passively-stabilized polarization interferometer, we constructed a multiplexed QI that stores up to three long-lived spin-wave qubits. Using a feed-forward-controlled system, we demonstrated that a multiplexed QI gives rise to a 3-fold increase in the atom–photon (photon–photon) entanglement-generation probability compared with single-mode QIs. For our multiplexed QI, the measured Bell parameter is 2.51±0.01 combined with a memory lifetime of up to 1 ms. This work represents a key step forward in realizing fiber-based long-distance quantum communications.
Practical realization of quantum repeaters requires quantum memories with high retrieval efficiency, multi-mode storage capacities, and long lifetimes. Here, we report a high-retrieval-efficiency and temporally multiplexed atom-photon entanglement source. A train of 12 write pulses in time is applied to a cold atomic ensemble along different directions, which generates temporally multiplexed pairs of Stokes photons and spin waves via Duan-Lukin-Cirac-Zoller processes. The two arms of a polarization interferometer are used to encode photonic qubits of 12 Stokes temporal modes. The multiplexed spin-wave qubits, each of which is entangled with one Stokes qubit, are stored in a "clock" coherence. A ring cavity that resonates simultaneously with the two arms of the interferometer is used to enhance retrieval from the spin-wave qubits, with the intrinsic retrieval efficiency reaching 70.4%. The multiplexed source gives rise to a ∼12.1-fold increase in atom-photon entanglement-generation probability compared to the single-mode source. The measured Bell parameter for the multiplexed atom-photon entanglement is 2.21(2), along with a memory lifetime of up to ∼125 µs.
A source that can generate atom-photon quantum correlations or entanglement based on a quantum memory is a basic building block of quantum repeaters (QRs). To achieve high entanglement generation rates in ensemble-based QRs, spatial-, temporal-, and spectral-multimode memories are needed. Previous temporal-multimode memories are based on rephasing mechanisms in inhomogeneously broadened media. Here, by applying a train of write pulses in time, with each pulse coming from a different direction, to a homogeneously broadened atomic ensemble to induce Duan-Lukin-Cirac-Zoller-like Raman processes, we prepare up to 19 pairs of modes, namely, one spin-wave mode and one photonic time bin. Spin-wave-photon (i.e., atom-photon) entanglement is probabilistically produced in these mode pairs. Based on the stored spin-wave modes together with feedforward-controlled readout, we build a temporally multiplexed source and then demonstrate an 18.8-fold increase in the probability of the generation of spin-wave-photon entanglement compared to the sources that use individual modes. The measured Bell parameter for the multiplexed source is $2.30\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02$, and the memory lifetime is 30 \ensuremath{\mu}s.
Abstract Qubit memory that is entangled with photonic qubit is the building block for quantum repeaters. Realizing ensemble-based repeaters requires qubit simultaneously featuring high retrieval efficiencies and long lifetimes. So far, the longest memory time at 50% retrieval efficiency for entanglement storage reaches ~40 μs. Here, by coupling cold atoms to two spatially-distinctive modes of a polarization-interferometer-based cavity, we achieve cavity-perfectly-enhanced and long-lived atom-photon entanglement. A write-laser beam is applied onto cold atoms, we then create a magnetic-field-insensitive spin-wave qubit that is entangled with the photonic qubit encoded onto two arms of the interferometer. By applying a read beam, the spin-wave qubit is converted to a photonic qubit, whose two modes are resonant with the cavity. Our experimental data shows that zero-delay intrinsic retrieval efficiency is up to 77% and 1/e lifetime 1ms. At 50% efficiency, the storage time reaches 540μs , which is 13.5 times longer than the best reported result.
The light-matter quantum interface that can create quantum correlations or entanglement between a photon and one atomic collective excitation is a fundamental building block for a quantum repeater. The intrinsic limit is that the probability of preparing such nonclassical atom-photon correlations has to be kept low in order to suppress multiexcitation. To enhance this probability without introducing multiexcitation errors, a promising scheme is to apply multimode memories to the interface. Significant progress has been made in temporal, spectral, and spatial multiplexing memories, but the enhanced probability for generating the entangled atom-photon pair has not been experimentally realized. Here, by using six spin-wave-photon entanglement sources, a switching network, and feedforward control, we build a multiplexed light-matter interface and then demonstrate a ∼sixfold (∼fourfold) probability increase in generating entangled atom-photon (photon-photon) pairs. The measured compositive Bell parameter for the multiplexed interface is 2.49±0.03 combined with a memory lifetime of up to ∼51 μs.
Qubit memory that is entangled with photonic qubit is the building block for long distance quantum repeaters. Cavity enhanced and long lived spin wave photon entanglement has been demonstrated by applying dual laser beams onto optical-lattice atoms. However, owing to cross readouts by two beams, retrieval efficiency of spin wave qubit is decreased by one quarter compared to that of single mode spin wave at all storage times. Here, by coupling cold atoms to two modes of a polarization interferometer based cavity, we achieve perfect qubit retrieval in cavity enhanced and long lived atom photon entanglement. A write laser beam is applied onto cold atoms, we then create a magnetic field insensitive spin wave qubit that is entangled with the photonic qubit encoded onto two arms of the interferometer. The spin wave qubit is retrieved by a read beam, which avoids the cross readouts. Our experiment demonstrates 540 μ s storage time at 50% intrinsic qubit retrieval efficiency, which is 13.5 times longer than the best reported result.
Practical realizations of quantum repeaters require quantum memory simultaneously providing high retrieval efficiency, long lifetime and multimode storages. So far, the combination of high retrieval efficiency and spatially multiplexed storages into a single memory remains challenging. Here, we set up a ring cavity that supports an array including 6 TEM00 modes and then demonstrated cavity enhanced and spatially multiplexed spin wave photon quantum interface (QI). The cavity arrangement is according to Fermat' optical theorem, which enables the six modes to experience the same optical length per round trip. Each mode includesn horizontal and vertical polarizations. Via DLCZ process in a cold atomic ensemble, we create non classically correlated pairs of spin waves and Stokes photons in the 12 modes. The retrieved fields from the multiplexed SWs are enhanced by the cavity and the average intrinsic retrieval efficiency reaches 70% at zero delay. The storage time for the case that cross-correlation function of the multiplexed QI is beyond 2 reaches 0.6ms .