Optimal control of light pulse storage and retrieval in atomic vapor

Nathaniel B. Phillips, Irina V. Novikova, Alexey Vyacheslavovich Gorshkov

Alexey Vyacheslavovich Gorshkov, Axel André, Michael Fleischhauer +2 more

Min Byung Chae, Fenglin Li, Lim Lee +2 more

Irina V. Novikova, Alexey Vyacheslavovich Gorshkov, David F. Phillips +3 more

We demonstrate experimentally a procedure to obtain the maximum efficiency for the storage and retrieval of light pulses in atomic media. The procedure uses time-reversal to obtain optimal input signal pulse shapes. Experimental results in warm Rb vapor are in good agreement with theoretical predictions and demonstrate a substantial improvement of efficiency. This optimization procedure is applicable to a wide range of systems.

Irina V. Novikova, Nathaniel B. Phillips, Alexey Vyacheslavovich Gorshkov

We experimentally demonstrate optimal storage and retrieval of light pulses of arbitrary shape in atomic ensembles. By shaping auxiliary control pulses, we attain efficiencies approaching the fundamental limit and achieve precise retrieval into any predetermined temporal profile. Our techniques, demonstrated in warm Rb vapor, are applicable to a wide range of systems and protocols. As an example, we present their potential application to the creation of optical time-bin qubits and to controlled partial retrieval.

Wu, Qinzhi