Single-photon-level optical storage in a solid-state spin-wave memory
Abstract
A long-lived quantum memory is a firm requirement for implementing a quantum repeater scheme. Recent progress in solid-state rare-earth-ion-doped systems justifies their status as very strong candidates for such systems. Nonetheless an optical memory based on spin-wave storage at the single-photon level has not been shown in such a system to date, which is crucial for achieving the long storage times required for quantum repeaters. In this paper we show that it is possible to execute a complete atomic frequency comb (AFC) scheme, including spin-wave storage, with weak coherent pulses of n¯=2.5±0.6 photons per pulse. We discuss in detail the experimental steps required to obtain this result and demonstrate the coherence of a stored time-bin pulse. We show a noise level of (7.1±2.3)×10-3 photons per mode during storage, and this relatively low noise level paves the way for future quantum optics experiments using spin waves in rare-earth-doped crystals.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review A
- Pub Date:
- August 2013
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevA.88.022324
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1301.6924
- Bibcode:
- 2013PhRvA..88b2324T
- Keywords:
-
- 03.67.Hk;
- 42.50.Ex;
- 42.50.Md;
- Quantum communication;
- Optical implementations of quantum information processing and transfer;
- Optical transient phenomena: quantum beats photon echo free-induction decay dephasings and revivals optical nutation and self-induced transparency;
- Quantum Physics
- E-Print:
- Phys. Rev. A 88, 022324 Published 20 August 2013