Mémoires quantiques pour la lumière avec des atomes froids : une implémentation en espace libre pour un stockage multimode ou une implémentation à base de nano-fibres pour une meilleure efficacité de collection.
We present an experimental study of two optical quantum memory systems based on electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in cold cesium atoms.We explain the relevance of quantum memories for the development of large-scale quantum networks, we give a comprehensive theory of the EIT phenomenon and underline the role of relevant parameters regarding the implementation of quantum memories.The first system under study is prepared in a free-space magneto-optical trap. The main result of this thesis is the demonstration of the spatial multimode capability of this system at the quantum level. For this, we used Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) light beams, i.e. beams possessing a non-zero value of orbital angular momentum (OAM). In a first step, we showed that the orbital angular momentum of stored light pulses is preserved by the memory, deep in the single photon regime. In a second step, we encoded information in the orbital angular momentum state of a weak light pulse and defined a qubit using two LG beams of opposite helicities. We developed an original setup for the measurement of this OAM qubit and used it to characterize the action of the memory during the storage of such a light pulse. Our results show that the memory performs the quantum storage of such a qubit.The second system under study, also a cloud of cold atoms, has the specificity that the atoms are trapped optically in the vicinity of a nano-waveguide. This innovative design ensures a higher light-matter interaction and facilitates the interfacing of photons into and out of the memory. We describe the building of this setup and the first steps towards quantum memory implementations.
We present an experimental study of two optical quantum memory systems based on electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in cold cesium atoms.We explain the relevance of quantum memories for the development of large-scale quantum networks, we give a comprehensive theory of the EIT phenomenon and underline the role of relevant parameters regarding the implementation of quantum memories.The first system under study is prepared in a free-space magneto-optical trap. The main result of this thesis is the demonstration of the spatial multimode capability of this system at the quantum level. For this, we used Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) light beams, i.e. beams possessing a non-zero value of orbital angular momentum (OAM). In a first step, we showed that the orbital angular momentum of stored light pulses is preserved by the memory, deep in the single photon regime. In a second step, we encoded information in the orbital angular momentum state of a weak light pulse and defined a qubit using two LG beams of opposite helicities. We developed an original setup for the measurement of this OAM qubit and used it to characterize the action of the memory during the storage of such a light pulse. Our results show that the memory performs the quantum storage of such a qubit.The second system under study, also a cloud of cold atoms, has the specificity that the atoms are trapped optically in the vicinity of a nano-waveguide. This innovative design ensures a higher light-matter interaction and facilitates the interfacing of photons into and out of the memory. We describe the building of this setup and the first steps towards quantum memory implementations.
Quantum memories are an essential building block for quantum information science, and in particular for the implementation of quantum communications across long distances. A quantum memory is defined as a system capable of storing and retrieving quantum states on-demand, such as quantum bits (qubits). Atomic ensembles are good candidates for this purpose because they enables strong light-matter coupling in case of a large number of atoms. Moreover, the collective effect, enhanced in the regime of large optical depth, can lead to storage efficiency close to unity. Thus, in this thesis, a large magneto-optical trap for cesium atoms is used as a atomic medium in order to implement a quantum memory protocol based on electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). First, the EIT phenomenon is studied through a criterion for the discrimination between the EIT and the Autler-Townes splitting models. We then report on the implementation of an EIT-based memory for photonic qubits encoded in orbital angular momentum (OAM) of light. A reversible memory for Laguerre-Gaussian modes is implemented, and we demonstrate that the optical memory preserves the handedness of the helical structure at the single-photon level. Then, a full quantum state tomography of the retrieved OAM encoded qubits is performed, giving fidelities above the classical bound. This showed that our optical memory operates in the quantum regime. Finally, we present the implementation of the so-called DLCZ protocol in our ensemble of cold atoms, enabling the generation of heralded single photons. A homodyne detection setup allows us to realize the quantum tomography of the created photonic state.
In this paper, an optical memory based on an ensemble of cold Cesium atoms interacting with light in the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) regime is studied in view of spatially multimode quantum storage. The interfacing protocol involves a control field, generating EIT for the very weak field that carries the quantum signal to be stored and enabling its mapping into the collective hyperfine coherence of the cold atomic ensemble. For the demonstration of multimode storage, the signal pulse at the single photon level is prepared in a mode with (OAM), while the control field is in a TEM00 mode. After the writing process, the information is kept in the memory register. In the retrieval phase, the information is read back from atoms to light and we show that these pulses at the single photon level with OAM can be stored and retrieved with a preserved spatial phase and a good efficiency.
Summary form only given. The orbital angular momentum (OAM) of light has raised a great deal of applications [1], ranging from the trapping of particles, the driving of optical micromachines to applications in astrophysics studies. In quantum optics, twisted single-photons have also been identified as promising carriers for the implementation of various quantum information protocols. They indeed offer the possibility to encode and process information in high-dimensional Hilbert spaces and could enable to reach higher efficiencies and enhanced information capacity. For further applications in quantum networks involving light-matter interfaces, a critical capability is the ability to reversibly map OAM into and out of atomic memories. While the storage of bright beams of light in Laguerre-Gaussian modes has been reported in the past few years [2, 3], we report here the first demonstration of storage in the single-photon regime [4]. The experimental realization proceeds in the following way. First, LG modes are generated using a spatial light modulator. These modes, which are weak coherent states at the single-photon level, are then mapped into an ensemble of cold cesium atoms in a magneto-optical trap using the dynamic electromagnetically-induced transparency (EIT) protocol. The signal quantum properties, including its OAM, are expected to be transferred to the atomic medium and can be stored for a programmable time, limited by the lifetime of the atomic coherence. After this reversible storage, unlike for bright beams, the detection of twisted single-photons cannot be performed by imaging on a CCD camera. Here we have chosen to work with a combination of a computergenerated hologram, which adds or subtracts one unity of OAM, and a single-mode fiber to implement a mode discriminator. In our experiment, the output mode is actually split on a 50/50 beam splitter and one discriminator is installed in each of the two output paths so that we can quantify both the LG+1 and LG-1 components of the retrieved light. We stored and retrieved LG+1 and LG-1 modes. As can be seen in fig. 1, detection events in the detection path with l opposite to the one of the incoming mode are negligible, within the distinction ratio. For both modes, the overall storage and retrieval efficiency is (16 ± 2%). We thus demonstrated that such pulses carrying OAM can be stored in the single-photon regime into and out the ensemble with preserved handedness of the helical phase structure. Mapping of a TEM10 mode, i.e. an equal-weight superposition of LG+1 and LG-1 modes was also performed. Within our experimental precision, the achieved storage and retrieval efficiency is the same here each LG components than for the individual storage presented previously. Further works should include reconstruction of a full density matrix, including coherences not measured here, and the calculation of process fidelity. We implemented a sophisticated detection technique based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Preliminary results will be reported. Extensions to higher alphabets for the realization of high-dimensional quantum information networks is also work for future.
We built a new experiment using cold atoms interacting with the light guided by an optical nanofiber. We first developed a nanofiber manufacturing bench. By heating and stretching a commercial optical fiber, a silica cylinder of 400 nm diameter is obtained. The light guided in these nanofibers is strongly focused over the whole length and exhibits strong evanescent fields. We then prepared a vacuum chamber and the laser system necessary for the manipulation of cold atoms. After inserting a nanofiber amid a cloud of cold atoms, we observed the phenomenon of slow light under the conditions of electromagnetically induced transparency: the light guided by the fiber is slowed down to a speed 3000 times smaller than its usual speed. We also stored the light guided by an optical fiber. After several microseconds, the information stored as a collective atomic excitation could be retrieved in the fiber. We have shown that this optical memory works for light pulses containing less than one photon on average. This system may therefore be used as a quantum memory, an essential tool for future quantum communication networks. Finally, we trapped atoms in an array in the vicinity of the nanofiber thanks to the light guided by the latter. Compared to our first set of experiments, the resulting cloud has a longer lifetime (25 ms) and interacts more strongly with the guided light (OD ~ 100). This new system should allow to efficiently implement other quantum optics protocols, such as the generation of single photons, or the entanglement of two remote atomic ensembles.
Quantum memories have been realized in different physical systems, such as atomic ensembles or solid systems. To date, all quantum memories have realized the storage and retrieval of photons encoded using only a two-dimensional space spanned, for example, by the orthogonal polarization states, and hence can only store a quantum bit. Using electromagnetically induced transparency in a cold atomic ensemble, we report the experimental realization of a quantum memory storing a photon encoded in a three-dimensional space spanned by orbital angular momentum (OAM) states. We experimentally reconstruct the storage process density matrix with a fidelity of 85.3 using a 4-f imaging system. We also realize storage of two special photonic qutrit states as examples. Toward storing a higher-dimensional state encoded in OAM space, the efficiency difference between different OAM states should be considered according to the experimental results. The capability to store high-dimensional quantum states with high fidelity is a key step towards building high-dimensional quantum networks.
A quantum memory is a key component for quantum networks, which will enable the distribution of quantum information. Its successful development requires storage of single-photon light. Encoding photons with spatial shape through higher-dimensional states significantly increases their information-carrying capability and network capacity. However, constructing such quantum memories is challenging. Here we report the first experimental realization of a true single-photon-carrying orbital angular momentum stored via electromagnetically induced transparency in a cold atomic ensemble. Our experiments show that the non-classical pair correlation between trigger photon and retrieved photon is retained, and the spatial structure of input and retrieved photons exhibits strong similarity. More importantly, we demonstrate that single-photon coherence is preserved during storage. The ability to store spatial structure at the single-photon level opens the possibility for high-dimensional quantum memories. Photonic quantum memories are necessary for quantum information networks and can be built using cold atomic gases. In this work, Ding et al. show the first storage and retrieval of single photons carrying orbital angular momentum using electromagnetically induced transparency in a cold rubidium ensemble.