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Bulletin of the American Physical Society

Strong Atom-Light Interactions in Photonic Crystals

Jeff Kimble

Published Jun 11, 2015• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

New paradigms for optical physics emerge with lattices of atoms trapped in one and two-dimensional photonic crystals [1-4]. Exemplary experimental platforms include photonic crystal waveguides [5-7] and cavities [8, 9]. Owing to their small optical loss and tight field confinement, these nanoscale dielectric devices are capable of mediating long-range atom-atom interactions using photons propagating in their guided modes. In a complimentary fashion, long-range interactions between photons can be mediated by an underlying lattice of atoms. Such systems have the potential to provide new tools for scalable quantum networks, quantum phases of light and matter, and quantum metrology. However, bringing this future of atom nanophotonics to fruition requires the creation of an interdisciplinary toolkit for the control, manipulation, and interaction of atoms and photons with a complexity and scalability not currently possible. I will give an overview of the theoretical prospects for new physics and review experimental progress in this nascent field at the interfaces of nano-photonics, atomic physics, and quantum optics.

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New paradigms for optical physics emerge with lattices of atoms trapped in one and two-dimensional photonic crystals [1-4]. Exemplary experimental platforms include photonic crystal waveguides [5-7] and cavities [8, 9]. Owing to their small optical loss and tight field confinement, these nanoscale dielectric devices are capable of mediating long-range atom-atom interactions using photons propagating in their guided modes. In a complimentary fashion, long-range interactions between photons can be mediated by an underlying lattice of atoms. Such systems have the potential to provide new tools for scalable quantum networks, quantum phases of light and matter, and quantum metrology. However, bringing this future of atom nanophotonics to fruition requires the creation of an interdisciplinary toolkit for the control, manipulation, and interaction of atoms and photons with a complexity and scalability not currently possible. I will give an overview of the theoretical prospects for new physics and review experimental progress in this nascent field at the interfaces of nano-photonics, atomic physics, and quantum optics.
New opportunities for optical physics emerge from the integration of cold atoms with nanophotonic devices. Due to their small optical loss and tight field confinement, these nanoscale dielectric devices are capable of mediating strong atom-light interactions and open new avenues for quantum transport and quantum many-body phenomena. In particular, coupling atoms to the band edge of a photonic crystal waveguide (PCW) provides a unique platform for generating tunable range coherent atom-atom interactions which are mediated by the guided mode photons.
An exciting frontier in quantum information science is the integration of otherwise "simple" quantum elements into complex quantum networks. The laboratory realization of even small quantum networks enables the exploration of physical systems that have not heretofore existed in the natural world. Within this context, there is active research to achieve nanoscale quantum optical circuits, for which atoms are trapped near nano-scopic dielectric structures and "wired" together by photons propagating through the circuit elements. Single atoms and atomic ensembles endow quantum functionality for otherwise linear optical circuits and thereby enable the capability of building quantum networks component by component. Toward these goals, we have experimentally investigated three different systems, from conventional to rather exotic systems : free-space atomic ensembles, optical nano fibers, and photonics crystal waveguides. First, we demonstrate measurement-induced quadripartite entanglement among four quantum memories. Next, following the landmark realization of a nanofiber trap, we demonstrate the implementation of a state-insensitive, compensated nanofiber trap. Finally, we reach more exotic systems based on photonics crystal devices. Beyond conventional topologies of resonators and waveguides, new opportunities emerge from the powerful capabilities of dispersion and modal engineering in photonic crystal waveguides. We have implemented an integrated optical circuit with a photonics crystal waveguide capable of both trapping and interfacing atoms with guided photons, and have observed the collective effect, superradiance, mediated by the guided photons. These advances provide an important capability for engineered light-matter interactions, enabling explorations of novel quantum transport and quantum many-body phenomena.
Development of technology can allow access to new regimes in science and creation of new fields of research. The development of ultra-high finesse mirror technology enabled the development of the field of cavity quantum electrodynamics, and an abundance of wonderful physics experiments soon followed. The sophistication of the field of nano-fabrication and nano-photonics would allow unprecedented capability to mold the shape and flow of light, and provide a novel platform for efficient and hopefully integrable quantum systems. In this project, we hope to interface cold atoms, perhaps the most quintessential of quantum systems, to the engineering power of nano-photonics. We believe this field of study will not only lead to the demonstration of new physics in the quantum regime, but work toward building a network with quantum capabilities mediated by optical channels. In this project, we develop a nano-fabricated platform capable of interfacing nano-photonic devices with cold Cesium atoms in free-space. Nano-photonic waveguide devices are fabricated in a Silicon Nitride device layer on Silicon substrate. The fabrication is compatible with conventional semiconductor fabrication processes, and the chip design has been adapted to allow incorporation with free-space optics to support cold Cesium atom cloud around the waveguides. An ultra-high vacuum system that is compatible to the chip and its supporting structures was constructed to perform experiments. With our system, we were able to fabricate and characterize nano-photonic structures, including 1D photonic crystal waveguides, cavities, and 2D photonic crystal slabs. For the 1D photonic crystal waveguide devices, enhanced atom-light coupling between localized Cesium atoms in the vicinity of the devices, and also atom-atom interaction between Cesium atoms mediated by the guided mode of the photonic crystal waveguide, has been observed. The 2D photonic devices allow us many capabilities beyond that of the 1D waveguide. Demonstration of exotic optical properties including natural decay rate suppression and circular polarization engineering, should be within reach in the near future.