Cooperative single-photon subradiant states

We propose a set of subradiant states which can be prepared and detected in a one-dimensional optical lattice. We find that the decay rates are highly dependent on the spatial phases imprinted on the atomic chain, which allows systematic investigations of the subradiance in fluorescence experiments. The time evolution of these states can have a long decay time where up to 100 ms of lifetime is predicted for 100 atoms. They can also show decayed Rabi-like oscillations with a beating frequency determined by the difference of the cooperative Lamb shift in the subspace. Experimental requirements are also discussed for practical implementation of the subradiant states. Our proposal provides a scheme for quantum storage of photons in arrays of two-level atoms through the preparation and detection of subradiant states, which offers opportunities for quantum many-body state preparation and quantum information processing in optical lattices.