Single-photon-level light storage in cold atoms using the Autler-Townes splitting protocol

Broadband spin-photon interfaces for the long-lived storage of photonic quantum states are key elements for quantum information technologies. Yet, the reliable operation of such memories in the quantum regime is challenging due to photonic noise arising from technical and/or fundamental limitations...

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Main Authors: Erhan Saglamyurek, Taras Hrushevskyi, Logan Cooke, Anindya Rastogi, Lindsay J. LeBlanc
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2019-09-01
Series:Physical Review Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.1.022004
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author Erhan Saglamyurek
Taras Hrushevskyi
Logan Cooke
Anindya Rastogi
Lindsay J. LeBlanc
author_facet Erhan Saglamyurek
Taras Hrushevskyi
Logan Cooke
Anindya Rastogi
Lindsay J. LeBlanc
author_sort Erhan Saglamyurek
collection DOAJ
description Broadband spin-photon interfaces for the long-lived storage of photonic quantum states are key elements for quantum information technologies. Yet, the reliable operation of such memories in the quantum regime is challenging due to photonic noise arising from technical and/or fundamental limitations in the storage-and-recall processes controlled by strong electromagnetic fields. Here, we experimentally implement a single-photon-level spin-wave memory in a laser-cooled rubidium gas, based on the recently proposed Autler-Townes splitting (ATS) protocol. We demonstrate the storage of 20-ns-long laser pulses, each containing an average of 0.1 photons, for 200 ns with an efficiency of 12.5% and a signal-to-noise ratio above 30. Notably, the robustness of ATS spin-wave memory against motional dephasing allows for an all-spatial filtering of the control-field noise, yielding an ultralow unconditional noise probability of 3.3×10^{−4}, without the complexity of spectral filtering. These results highlight that broadband ATS memory in ultracold atoms is a preeminent option for storing quantum light.
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spelling doaj.art-4a1f1203e0f34d44bcc76d981cf8204c2024-04-12T16:45:37ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642019-09-011202200410.1103/PhysRevResearch.1.022004Single-photon-level light storage in cold atoms using the Autler-Townes splitting protocolErhan SaglamyurekTaras HrushevskyiLogan CookeAnindya RastogiLindsay J. LeBlancBroadband spin-photon interfaces for the long-lived storage of photonic quantum states are key elements for quantum information technologies. Yet, the reliable operation of such memories in the quantum regime is challenging due to photonic noise arising from technical and/or fundamental limitations in the storage-and-recall processes controlled by strong electromagnetic fields. Here, we experimentally implement a single-photon-level spin-wave memory in a laser-cooled rubidium gas, based on the recently proposed Autler-Townes splitting (ATS) protocol. We demonstrate the storage of 20-ns-long laser pulses, each containing an average of 0.1 photons, for 200 ns with an efficiency of 12.5% and a signal-to-noise ratio above 30. Notably, the robustness of ATS spin-wave memory against motional dephasing allows for an all-spatial filtering of the control-field noise, yielding an ultralow unconditional noise probability of 3.3×10^{−4}, without the complexity of spectral filtering. These results highlight that broadband ATS memory in ultracold atoms is a preeminent option for storing quantum light.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.1.022004
spellingShingle Erhan Saglamyurek
Taras Hrushevskyi
Logan Cooke
Anindya Rastogi
Lindsay J. LeBlanc
Single-photon-level light storage in cold atoms using the Autler-Townes splitting protocol
Physical Review Research
title Single-photon-level light storage in cold atoms using the Autler-Townes splitting protocol
title_full Single-photon-level light storage in cold atoms using the Autler-Townes splitting protocol
title_fullStr Single-photon-level light storage in cold atoms using the Autler-Townes splitting protocol
title_full_unstemmed Single-photon-level light storage in cold atoms using the Autler-Townes splitting protocol
title_short Single-photon-level light storage in cold atoms using the Autler-Townes splitting protocol
title_sort single photon level light storage in cold atoms using the autler townes splitting protocol
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.1.022004
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