Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:quant-ph/0506232 · Physical Review Letters

Photon Echoes Produced by Switching Electric Fields

A. L. Alexander, Jevon J. Longdell, Matthew J. Sellars, N. B. Manson

Published Feb 1, 2006• 265 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We demonstrate photon echoes in ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{3+}\ensuremath{\mathbin:}{\mathrm{Y}}_{2}{\mathrm{SiO}}_{5}$ by controlling the inhomogeneous broadening of the ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{3+}\text{ }^{7}\mathrm{F}_{0}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}^{5}\mathrm{D}_{0}$ optical transition. This transition has a linear Stark shift, and we induce inhomogeneous broadening by applying an external electric field gradient. After optical excitation, reversing the polarity of the field rephases the ensemble, resulting in a photon echo. This is the first demonstration of such a photon echo, and its application as a quantum memory is discussed.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.96.043602

Related papers

Optimal control of light storage in atomic ensemble based on photon echoes

Tingwan Wu, Qinzhi Chen

This paper presents a simple quantum memory method for efficient storage and retrieve of light. The technique is based on the principle of controlled reversible inhomogeneous broadening for which the information of the quantum state light is imprinted in a two-level atoms ensemble and recalled by flipping the external nonuniform electric field. In present work, the induced Stark shift varied linearly with position, and a numerical analysis for this protocol has been studied. It shows that the storage efficiency can nearly reach 100% with a large enough optical depth, and the optimal broadening for a given pulse width is also analyzed.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Nov 20, 2009•0 citations

Photon-echo quantum memory with complete use of natural inhomogeneous broadening

Sergey A. Moiseev

The photon-echo quantum memory is based on a controlled rephasing of the atomic coherence excited by a signal light field in the inhomogeneously broadened resonant line. Here, we demonstrate an active mechanism of the atomic rephasing that provides a perfect retrieval of the stored light field in the photon-echo quantum memory based on the use of arbitrary initial inhomogeneous broadening of the resonant line. We show that the rephasing mechanism can exploit all resonant atoms, thereby maximally increasing an optical depth of the resonant transition, which is one of the critical parameters for the realization of highly efficient quantum memory. We also demonstrate that the rephasing mechanism can be used for various realizations of the photon-echo quantum memory, thereby creating many possibilities for its practical realization.

arXiv:1011.1934•Physical Review A•Jan 14, 2011•20 citations

Effect of a hybrid transition moment on Stark-modulated photon echoes in Er3+:Y2SiO5

Rose L. Ahlefeldt, Alexey Lyasota, Jodie Smith +2 more

The 1538-nm ${}^{4}{\mathrm{I}}_{15/2} \ensuremath{\rightarrow} {}^{4}{\mathrm{I}}_{13/2}$ transition of ${\mathrm{Er}}^{3+}$ has an unusual hybrid electric-magnetic dipole character, and signatures of the hybrid moment can be expected in coherent transient measurements. Here, we investigate the effect of the hybrid moment in both sites of ${\mathrm{Er}}^{3+}$:${\mathrm{Y}}_{2}{\mathrm{SiO}}_{5}$ on Stark-modulated photon echo measurements, showing that it results in a reduction of visibility of the modulated signal as well as phase and polarization shifts. We interpret these effects using a simple optical Bloch equation model, showing that site 1 has a strongly mixed moment and site 2 is predominantly magnetic dipole. We discuss the implications of the hybrid moment for quantum information applications of quantum memories. We also use the echo measurements to extract the Stark shift of the optical transition along three orthogonal directions, finding values between 10.50 and $11.93\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{kHz}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{V}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{cm}$ for site 1 and 1.61 and $15.35\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{kHz}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{V}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{cm}$ for site 2, dependent on the direction of the electric field. We observe a modification of the Zeeman shift by the electric field in both sites and discuss how this may be used to electrically control ${\mathrm{Er}}^{3+}$ spin qubits.

Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Nov 13, 2023•1 citation

Photon-echo quantum memories in inhomogeneously broadened two-level atoms

D. L. McAuslan, Patrick M. Ledingham, William R. Naylor +4 more

Here, we propose a solid-state quantum memory that does not require spectral holeburning, instead using strong rephasing pulses like traditional photon-echo techniques. The memory uses external broadening fields to reduce the optical depth and so switch off the collective atom-light interaction when desired. The proposed memory should allow operation with reasonable efficiency in a much broader range of material systems, for instance Er${}^{3+}$ doped crystals which have a transition at 1.5 $\ensuremath{\mu}\text{m}$. We present analytic theory supported by numerical calculations and initial experiments.

arXiv:1104.4134•Physical Review A•Aug 5, 2011•75 citations

Excess dephasing in photon-echo experiments arising from excitation-induced electronic level shifts

Huang Jin, J.M. Zhang, A. Lezama +1 more

Working on the $^{7}\mathrm{F}_{0}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}^{5}$${\mathrm{D}}_{0}$ transition of ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{3+}$ in ${\mathrm{Y}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, we provide the first detailed characterization of excitation-induced shifts in optical transition frequencies and demonstrate their exaggeration of nominally homogeneous dephasing rates. The shifts (found to vary in rough proportion to the number of ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{3+}$ ions excited and to be as small as one part in ${10}^{12}$) were identified through their unique signature in specially designed photon-echo experiments. The effects reported may constitute a rather general complication in optical measurements of homogeneous relaxation rates in solids.

Physical Review Letters•Jul 3, 1989•101 citations

Electric control of collective atomic coherence in an erbium-doped solid

Jiří Minář, Björn Lauritzen, Hugues de Riedmatten +3 more

We demonstrate fast and accurate control of the evolution of collective atomic coherences in an Erbium doped solid using external electric fields. This is achieved by controlling the inhomogeneous broadening of Erbium ions emitting at 1536 nm using an electric field gradient and the linear Stark effect. The manipulation of atomic coherence is characterized with the collective spontaneous emission (optical free induction decay) emitted by the sample after an optical excitation, which does not require any previous preparation of the atoms. We show that controlled dephasing and rephasing of the atoms by the electric field result in collapses and revivals of the optical free induction decay. Our results show that the use of external electric fields does not introduce any substantial additional decoherence and enables the manipulation of collective atomic coherence with a very high degree of precision on the time scale of tens of ns. This provides an interesting resource for photonic quantum state storage and quantum state manipulation.

arXiv:0907.2344•New Journal of Physics•Nov 10, 2009•14 citations
We demonstrate photon echoes in Eu3+\ensuremath:Y2SiO5{\mathrm{Eu}}^{3+}\ensuremath{\mathbin:}{\mathrm{Y}}_{2}{\mathrm{SiO}}_{5}Eu3+\ensuremath:Y2​SiO5​ by controlling the inhomogeneous broadening of the Eu3+ 7F0\ensuremath↔5D0{\mathrm{Eu}}^{3+}\text{ }^{7}\mathrm{F}_{0}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}^{5}\mathrm{D}_{0}Eu3+ 7F0​\ensuremath↔5D0​ optical transition. This transition has a linear Stark shift, and we induce inhomogeneous broadening by applying an external electric field gradient. After optical excitation, reversing the polarity of the field rephases the ensemble, resulting in a photon echo. This is the first demonstration of such a photon echo, and its application as a quantum memory is discussed.
This paper presents a simple quantum memory method for efficient storage and retrieve of light. The technique is based on the principle of controlled reversible inhomogeneous broadening for which the information of the quantum state light is imprinted in a two-level atoms ensemble and recalled by flipping the external nonuniform electric field. In present work, the induced Stark shift varied linearly with position, and a numerical analysis for this protocol has been studied. It shows that the storage efficiency can nearly reach 100% with a large enough optical depth, and the optimal broadening for a given pulse width is also analyzed.
The photon-echo quantum memory is based on a controlled rephasing of the atomic coherence excited by a signal light field in the inhomogeneously broadened resonant line. Here, we demonstrate an active mechanism of the atomic rephasing that provides a perfect retrieval of the stored light field in the photon-echo quantum memory based on the use of arbitrary initial inhomogeneous broadening of the resonant line. We show that the rephasing mechanism can exploit all resonant atoms, thereby maximally increasing an optical depth of the resonant transition, which is one of the critical parameters for the realization of highly efficient quantum memory. We also demonstrate that the rephasing mechanism can be used for various realizations of the photon-echo quantum memory, thereby creating many possibilities for its practical realization.
The 1538-nm ${}^{4}{\mathrm{I}}_{15/2} \ensuremath{\rightarrow} {}^{4}{\mathrm{I}}_{13/2}$ transition of Er3+{\mathrm{Er}}^{3+}Er3+ has an unusual hybrid electric-magnetic dipole character, and signatures of the hybrid moment can be expected in coherent transient measurements. Here, we investigate the effect of the hybrid moment in both sites of Er3+{\mathrm{Er}}^{3+}Er3+:Y2SiO5{\mathrm{Y}}_{2}{\mathrm{SiO}}_{5}Y2​SiO5​ on Stark-modulated photon echo measurements, showing that it results in a reduction of visibility of the modulated signal as well as phase and polarization shifts. We interpret these effects using a simple optical Bloch equation model, showing that site 1 has a strongly mixed moment and site 2 is predominantly magnetic dipole. We discuss the implications of the hybrid moment for quantum information applications of quantum memories. We also use the echo measurements to extract the Stark shift of the optical transition along three orthogonal directions, finding values between 10.50 and $11.93\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{kHz}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{V}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{cm}$ for site 1 and 1.61 and $15.35\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{kHz}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{V}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{cm}$ for site 2, dependent on the direction of the electric field. We observe a modification of the Zeeman shift by the electric field in both sites and discuss how this may be used to electrically control Er3+{\mathrm{Er}}^{3+}Er3+ spin qubits.
Here, we propose a solid-state quantum memory that does not require spectral holeburning, instead using strong rephasing pulses like traditional photon-echo techniques. The memory uses external broadening fields to reduce the optical depth and so switch off the collective atom-light interaction when desired. The proposed memory should allow operation with reasonable efficiency in a much broader range of material systems, for instance Er3+{}^{3+}3+ doped crystals which have a transition at 1.5 $\ensuremath{\mu}\text{m}$. We present analytic theory supported by numerical calculations and initial experiments.
Working on the 7F0^{7}\mathrm{F}_{0}7F0​${\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}^{5}$D0{\mathrm{D}}_{0}D0​ transition of Eu3+{\mathrm{Eu}}^{3+}Eu3+ in Y2{\mathrm{Y}}_{2}Y2​O3{\mathrm{O}}_{3}O3​, we provide the first detailed characterization of excitation-induced shifts in optical transition frequencies and demonstrate their exaggeration of nominally homogeneous dephasing rates. The shifts (found to vary in rough proportion to the number of Eu3+{\mathrm{Eu}}^{3+}Eu3+ ions excited and to be as small as one part in 1012{10}^{12}1012) were identified through their unique signature in specially designed photon-echo experiments. The effects reported may constitute a rather general complication in optical measurements of homogeneous relaxation rates in solids.
We demonstrate fast and accurate control of the evolution of collective atomic coherences in an Erbium doped solid using external electric fields. This is achieved by controlling the inhomogeneous broadening of Erbium ions emitting at 1536 nm using an electric field gradient and the linear Stark effect. The manipulation of atomic coherence is characterized with the collective spontaneous emission (optical free induction decay) emitted by the sample after an optical excitation, which does not require any previous preparation of the atoms. We show that controlled dephasing and rephasing of the atoms by the electric field result in collapses and revivals of the optical free induction decay. Our results show that the use of external electric fields does not introduce any substantial additional decoherence and enables the manipulation of collective atomic coherence with a very high degree of precision on the time scale of tens of ns. This provides an interesting resource for photonic quantum state storage and quantum state manipulation.