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npj Quantum Information

Single-mode quantum non-Gaussian light from warm atoms

Jaromír Mika, Lukáš Lachman, Tomas Lamich, Radim Filip, L. Slodička

Published Oct 25, 2022• 9 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract The distributed quantum information processing and hybridization of quantum platforms raises increasing demands on the quality of light-matter interaction and realization of efficient quantum interfaces. This becomes particularly challenging for needed states possessing fundamental quantum non-Gaussian (QNG) aspects. They correspond to paramount resources in most potent applications of quantum technologies. We demonstrate the generation of light with provably QNG features from a warm atomic ensemble in a single-mode regime. The light is generated in a spontaneous four-wave mixing process in the presence of decoherence effects caused by a large atomic thermal motion. Despite its high sensitivity to any excess noise, direct observability of heralded QNG light could be achieved due to a combination of a fast resonant excitation, large spectral bandwidth, and a low absorption loss of resonant photons guaranteed by the source geometry.

DOI
10.1038/s41534-022-00638-9

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Abstract The distributed quantum information processing and hybridization of quantum platforms raises increasing demands on the quality of light-matter interaction and realization of efficient quantum interfaces. This becomes particularly challenging for needed states possessing fundamental quantum non-Gaussian (QNG) aspects. They correspond to paramount resources in most potent applications of quantum technologies. We demonstrate the generation of light with provably QNG features from a warm atomic ensemble in a single-mode regime. The light is generated in a spontaneous four-wave mixing process in the presence of decoherence effects caused by a large atomic thermal motion. Despite its high sensitivity to any excess noise, direct observability of heralded QNG light could be achieved due to a combination of a fast resonant excitation, large spectral bandwidth, and a low absorption loss of resonant photons guaranteed by the source geometry.
The distributed quantum information processing and hybridization of quantum platforms raises increasing demands on the quality of light-matter interaction and realization of efficient quantum interfaces. This becomes particularly challenging for needed states possessing fundamental quantum non-Gaussian (QNG) aspects. They correspond to paramount resources in most potent applications of quantum technologies. We demonstrate the generation of light with provably QNG features from a tunable warm atomic ensemble in a single-mode regime. The light is generated in a spontaneous four-wave mixing process in the presence of decoherence effects caused by a large atomic thermal motion. Despite its high sensitivity to any excess noise, a direct observability of heralded QNG light could be achieved due to a combination of a fast resonant excitation, large spectral bandwidth, and a low absorption loss of resonant photons guaranteed by the source geometry.
Quantum non-Gaussianity (QNG) corresponds to an essential resource in many prospective applications of quantum technologies. QNG states of light have been demonstrated in a broad range of experimental platforms with various complementary advantages [1]. However, in order to allow for their direct and efficient utilization for interaction with the target quantum system, their degrees of freedom have to be well-defined and controllable. This imposes a requirement on the generation of QNG light in a single optical mode. While the intrinsic single-photon sources including trapped ions, atoms, or molecules, naturally offer a close-to a single mode emission, their technologically more accessible counterparts including majority of the solid-state emitters and sources based on heralded generation of nonclassical states in various parametric nonlinear processes typically provide a multi-mode output. Although several demonstrations of a single-mode operation of nonclassical light sources based on these platforms have been recently demonstrated, an unambiguous observation of a single-mode QNG light has never been presented.
A versatile quantum light source capable of programmably generating a variety of quantum light is a key enabler for photonic quantum technologies. In particular, independent control over both the output quantum state and its temporal waveform is essential for realizing diverse functionalities and enhancing processing performance. However, conventional sources of optical non-Gaussian states, a crucial resource for photonic quantum information processing, typically emit fixed states with predetermined temporal waveforms, lacking their programmability. Here, we propose a programmable non-Gaussian quantum light source that offers independent and arbitrary tunability of both the quantum state and the temporal waveform within a single platform. As a distinctive feature, our approach employs a heralding scheme in which these two properties are indirectly engineered to user-defined targets by manipulating the light in the heralding channel, thereby avoiding optical losses associated with direct manipulation of the heralded quantum light. We develop a prototype and demonstrate the generation of single-photon, Schrödinger cat, and two-photon states in a variety of unconventional temporal waveforms without degradation in state quality. This platform provides a versatile tool for tailoring quantum light to specific applications, significantly expanding the capabilities of photonic quantum technologies.
Abstract Generation of nonclassical light suitable for interaction with atoms corresponds to a crucial goal pursued across the broad quantum optics community. We present the generation of nonclassical photon pairs using the process of spontaneous four-wave mixing in warm atomic vapor with an unprecedentedly high degree of nonclassical photon correlations. We show how the unique combination of excitation of atoms in the proximity of the vapor cell viewport, single excitation laser beam, double-Λ energy level scheme, auxiliary optical pumping, and particular optical filtering setups, allow for the spectral bandwidth of generated nonclassical light fields of up to 560 ± 20 MHz and low two-photon noise. We provide a quantitative analysis of particular noise mechanisms which set technological and fundamental limits on the observable photon correlations. The overall technological simplicity of the presented scheme together with the availability of spectrally matched quantum memories implementable with warm atomic vapors promises the feasibility of realization of GHz bandwidth on-demand nonclassical light sources and efficient quantum communication nodes.
Generation of nonclassical light is an essential tool for quantum optics research and applications in quantum information technology. We present realization of the source of nonclassically correlated photon pairs based on the process of spontaneous four-wave-mixing in warm atomic vapor. Atoms are excited only by a single laser beam in retro-reflected configuration and narrowband frequency filtering is employed for selection of correlated photon pairs. Nonclassicality of generated light fields is proved by analysis of their statistical properties. Measured parameters of the presented source promise further applicability for efficient interaction with atomic ensembles.
The generation of high Fock states of light pulses and their superpositions with provable quantum non-Gaussian features is still very challenging, although the power of conditional methods to herald the approximate state from the available Gaussian states is growing. The atom-light interaction in the high- cavity has been considered a viable alternative to the heralded Fock states of the light pulses from nonlinear optics limited to three-photon Fock states for the last decade. Here, by optimizing the realistic protocol combining it with available optical delay elements, we conclusively predict filtering of Fock states up to ten photons with a high success rate of 20 % using a hierarchy of quantum non-Gaussian criteria. Moreover, the filtering protocol enables the preparation of superposition of Fock states, and we analyze this emerging case up to two photons with provable quantum non-Gaussian coherence and high success rate of 50 % . To demonstrate their quality for applications, we evaluate the robustness of such features, the bunching capability in a linear network, and the sensing capability to estimate the magnitude of unknown force, noise, and phase. These assessments outline the essential conditions and application criteria for realistic optical cavity QED interaction on light pulses to outperform photon detection methods.