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ORCA - towards an integrated noise-free quantum memory

K. T. Kaczmarek

Published Jan 1, 2017• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Light is an ideal information carrier for quantum networks: its quantum properties are not degraded by noise in ambient conditions and it has a large information capacity owing to its high bandwidth. However, quantum technologies based on photonic networks have been hampered by the exponentially poor scaling of the underlying probabilistic quantum operations. Quantum optical memories, devices that store, manipulate, and release on- demand quantum light, have been identified as an indispensable network component, because they facilitate scalability. Noise-free operation of the memory is critical, since even small additional noise can render the memory classical by destroying the quantum character of the light. Here I introduce a new broadband quantum memory protocol - the off-resonant cas- caded absorption (ORCA) memory - that is inherently noise-free and operates in ambient conditions. I model ORCA theoretically, after which I characterise the classical perfor- mance of a proof-of-concept implementation in warm caesium vapour, using weak near- infrared coherent states. In order to verify quantum operation of the ORCA memory, I interface it with a broadband heralded single-photon source. I measure and compare the quantum statistics of the stored and retrieved light, observing for the first time their full preservation in a room-temperature atomic quantum memory. Finally, I make headway into integrating the ORCA vapour memory by investigating an alkali-filled hollow-core fibre platform. I use light-induced atomic desorption (LIAD) to demonstrate record- breaking alkali vapour densities in fibre, a prerequisite for efficient memory operation. Because of its technical simplicity and integrability, its high bandwidth and its low noise, ORCA provides a viable route towards next generation, photonic quantum network technologies.

DOI
10.5287/ora-e2nqogadp

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Light is an ideal information carrier for quantum networks: its quantum properties are not degraded by noise in ambient conditions and it has a large information capacity owing to its high bandwidth. However, quantum technologies based on photonic networks have been hampered by the exponentially poor scaling of the underlying probabilistic quantum operations. Quantum optical memories, devices that store, manipulate, and release on- demand quantum light, have been identified as an indispensable network component, because they facilitate scalability. Noise-free operation of the memory is critical, since even small additional noise can render the memory classical by destroying the quantum character of the light. Here I introduce a new broadband quantum memory protocol - the off-resonant cas- caded absorption (ORCA) memory - that is inherently noise-free and operates in ambient conditions. I model ORCA theoretically, after which I characterise the classical perfor- mance of a proof-of-concept implementation in warm caesium vapour, using weak near- infrared coherent states. In order to verify quantum operation of the ORCA memory, I interface it with a broadband heralded single-photon source. I measure and compare the quantum statistics of the stored and retrieved light, observing for the first time their full preservation in a room-temperature atomic quantum memory. Finally, I make headway into integrating the ORCA vapour memory by investigating an alkali-filled hollow-core fibre platform. I use light-induced atomic desorption (LIAD) to demonstrate record- breaking alkali vapour densities in fibre, a prerequisite for efficient memory operation. Because of its technical simplicity and integrability, its high bandwidth and its low noise, ORCA provides a viable route towards next generation, photonic quantum network technologies.
Optical quantum memories are devices that store and recall quantum light and are vital to the realization of future photonic quantum networks. To date, much effort has been put into improving storage times and efficiencies of such devices to enable long-distance communications. However, less attention has been devoted to building quantum memories which add zero noise to the output. Even small additional noise can render the memory classical by destroying the fragile quantum signatures of the stored light. Therefore, noise performance is a critical parameter for all quantum memories. Here we introduce an intrinsically noise-free quantum memory protocol based on two-photon off-resonant cascaded absorption (ORCA). We demonstrate successful storage of GHz-bandwidth heralded single photons in a warm atomic vapor with no added noise, confirmed by the unaltered photon-number statistics upon recall. Our ORCA memory meets the stringent noise requirements for quantum memories while combining high-speed and room-temperature operation with technical simplicity, and therefore is immediately applicable to low-latency quantum networks.
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Quantum optical memories are devices that store quantum states of light, which can allow for the active synchronization of probabilistic events within large-scale quantum networks. Recent work on quantum memories have seen impressive quantum operation, albeit still suffering from noise on the output mode of the device. Here we demonstrate a noise-free quantum memory for light based on the off-resonant cascaded absorption of photons in a warm vapour of caesium atoms. The memory is characterized by measuring a noise floor of 8 × 10−6 photons per pulse. We demonstrate genuine quantum operation by storing and recalling on-demand heralded single photons with a heralded second-order autocorrelation function of g(2) = 0.028 ± 0.009.
The coherent storage, buffering and retrieval of photons in a quantum memory enables the scalable creation of photonic entangled states via linear optics and repeat-until success, unlocking applications in quantum communications and photonic quantum computing. Quantum memories based on off-resonant cascaded absorption (ORCA) in atomic vapors allow this storage to be broadband, noise free, and high efficiency. Here, we implement a cavity-enhanced ORCA memory with reduced footprint and reduced power requirements compared to conventional single-pass schemes. By combining a strong magnetic field with polarization control, we maintain a Doppler-free interaction and eliminate the need for optical pumping. Our design establishes the feasibility of large arrays of ultracompact, low-power, near-unit efficiency, noiseless quantum memories running at GHz bandwidth, without the need for atom trapping or cryogenics.
Quantum information networks will facilitate the use of a broad range of quantum technologies including quantum computers, quantum sensors, and quantum communication systems, among others. An important component of these networks are devices that enable light-atom interactions, as they interface photons from communication channels with the matter-based nodes, allowing for processing of photonic quantum information. These devices will need to be scalable and easily integrated to expand the size of networks. One platform of interest is vapour-filled hollow-core fibres (HCF). By overlapping light and atomic vapour within the same volume, strong interactions can occur, including important nonlinear effects such as cross-phase modulation and wave mixing processes. HCFs can be directly integrated into fibre systems, making them a convenient technology for the expansion of quantum networks. This thesis reports on three projects themed around scalable technologies for quantum networks. The first project involved the injection-locking of a diode laser. Nanosecond long pulses had their 20 GHz frequency chirps reduced to near the Fourier-transform limit, enabling them to interact efficiently with rubidium vapour. This project demonstrated that the mature, cost effective, and scalable technology of diode lasers can be compatible with essential atomic ensemble quantum networking devices such as quantum memories and quantum frequency converters. In the second project, a high-bandwidth quantum memory protocol called off-resonant cascaded absorption (ORCA) was investigated. The ORCA memory can be used to synchronise high speed photonic operations that occur in optical quantum information processing. This project used a Kagom´e HCF to enhance the light-atom interactions, resulting in two orders of magnitude reduction in optical power requirements. The third project again used the HCF platform, this time to facilitate a quantum frequency conversion scheme that converts rubidium-compatible, near-IR wavelengths to the telecommunications C-band, which is ideal for long distance fibre transmission. This project demonstrated the FWM process has reduced optical pump powers and higher efficiency in the HCF when compared to a rubidium-filled cell. The research described in this thesis presents a strong argument for the use of HCFs as a scalable technology that could be implemented in quantum networks.