Optimal storage of a single photon by a single intra-cavity atom

We theoretically analyze the efficiency of a quantum memory for single photons. The photons propagate along a transmission line and impinge on one of the mirrors of a high-finesse cavity. The quantum memory is constituted by a single atom within the optical resonator. Photon storage is realized by t...

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Main Authors: Luigi Giannelli, Tom Schmit, Tommaso Calarco, Christiane P Koch, Stephan Ritter, Giovanna Morigi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2018-01-01
Series:New Journal of Physics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/aae725
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author Luigi Giannelli
Tom Schmit
Tommaso Calarco
Christiane P Koch
Stephan Ritter
Giovanna Morigi
author_facet Luigi Giannelli
Tom Schmit
Tommaso Calarco
Christiane P Koch
Stephan Ritter
Giovanna Morigi
author_sort Luigi Giannelli
collection DOAJ
description We theoretically analyze the efficiency of a quantum memory for single photons. The photons propagate along a transmission line and impinge on one of the mirrors of a high-finesse cavity. The quantum memory is constituted by a single atom within the optical resonator. Photon storage is realized by the controlled transfer of the photonic excitation into a metastable state of the atom and occurs via a Raman transition with a suitably tailored laser pulse, which drives the atom. Our study is supported by numerical simulations, in which we include the modes of the transmission line and we use the experimental parameters of existing experimental setups. It reproduces the results derived using input–output theory in the corresponding regimes and can be extended to compute dynamics where the input–output formalism cannot be straightforwardly applied. Our analysis determines the maximal storage efficiency, namely, the maximal probability to store the photon in a stable atomic excitation, in the presence of spontaneous decay and cavity parasitic losses. It further delivers the form of the laser pulse that achieves the maximal efficiency by partially compensating parasitic losses. We numerically assess the conditions under which storage based on adiabatic dynamics is preferable to non-adiabatic pulses. Moreover, we systematically determine the shortest photon pulse that can be efficiently stored as a function of the system parameters.
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spelling doaj.art-dae3116f2d654537953c05ed69ad46de2023-08-08T14:54:42ZengIOP PublishingNew Journal of Physics1367-26302018-01-01201010500910.1088/1367-2630/aae725Optimal storage of a single photon by a single intra-cavity atomLuigi Giannelli0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9704-7304Tom Schmit1Tommaso Calarco2Christiane P Koch3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6285-5766Stephan Ritter4Giovanna Morigi5Theoretische Physik, Universität des Saarlandes , D-66123 Saarbrücken, GermanyTheoretische Physik, Universität des Saarlandes , D-66123 Saarbrücken, GermanyInstitute for Complex Quantum Systems & Centre for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology, Universität Ulm , D-89069 Ulm, GermanyTheoretische Physik, Universität Kassel , Heinrich-Plett-Str. 40, D-34132 Kassel, GermanyMax-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik , Hans-Kopfermann-Strasse 1, D-85748 Garching, GermanyTheoretische Physik, Universität des Saarlandes , D-66123 Saarbrücken, GermanyWe theoretically analyze the efficiency of a quantum memory for single photons. The photons propagate along a transmission line and impinge on one of the mirrors of a high-finesse cavity. The quantum memory is constituted by a single atom within the optical resonator. Photon storage is realized by the controlled transfer of the photonic excitation into a metastable state of the atom and occurs via a Raman transition with a suitably tailored laser pulse, which drives the atom. Our study is supported by numerical simulations, in which we include the modes of the transmission line and we use the experimental parameters of existing experimental setups. It reproduces the results derived using input–output theory in the corresponding regimes and can be extended to compute dynamics where the input–output formalism cannot be straightforwardly applied. Our analysis determines the maximal storage efficiency, namely, the maximal probability to store the photon in a stable atomic excitation, in the presence of spontaneous decay and cavity parasitic losses. It further delivers the form of the laser pulse that achieves the maximal efficiency by partially compensating parasitic losses. We numerically assess the conditions under which storage based on adiabatic dynamics is preferable to non-adiabatic pulses. Moreover, we systematically determine the shortest photon pulse that can be efficiently stored as a function of the system parameters.https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/aae725quantum memorysingle photonsingle atomthree level systemoptical cavitystorage efficiency
spellingShingle Luigi Giannelli
Tom Schmit
Tommaso Calarco
Christiane P Koch
Stephan Ritter
Giovanna Morigi
Optimal storage of a single photon by a single intra-cavity atom
New Journal of Physics
quantum memory
single photon
single atom
three level system
optical cavity
storage efficiency
title Optimal storage of a single photon by a single intra-cavity atom
title_full Optimal storage of a single photon by a single intra-cavity atom
title_fullStr Optimal storage of a single photon by a single intra-cavity atom
title_full_unstemmed Optimal storage of a single photon by a single intra-cavity atom
title_short Optimal storage of a single photon by a single intra-cavity atom
title_sort optimal storage of a single photon by a single intra cavity atom
topic quantum memory
single photon
single atom
three level system
optical cavity
storage efficiency
url https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/aae725
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