Fast, noise-free memory for photon synchronization at room temperature

E. Poem; R. Finkelstein; O. Michel; O. Lahad; O. Firstenberg

doi:10.1117/12.2320508

18 September 2018 Fast, noise-free memory for photon synchronization at room temperature

E. Poem, R. Finkelstein, O. Michel, O. Lahad, O. Firstenberg

Proceedings Volume 10771, Quantum Communications and Quantum Imaging XVI; 107710A (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2320508
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2018, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Future quantum photonic networks require coherent optical memories, preferably operating at room temperature, for synchronizing quantum sources and gates of probabilistic nature. Until now, however, room-temperature atomic memories have suffered from an intrinsic read-out noise. Here we demonstrate a fast ladder memory (FLAME) mapping the optical field onto the superposition between electronic orbitals of rubidium vapor. Employing a ladder level-system of orbital transitions with nearly degenerate frequencies simultaneously enables high bandwidth, low noise, and long memory lifetime. We store and retrieve 1.7-ns-long pulses, containing 0.5 photons on average, and observe short-time external efficiency of 25%, memory lifetime (1/e) of 86 ns, and below 10⁻⁴ added noise photons. Consequently, coupling this memory to a probabilistic source would enhance the on-demand photon generation probability by a factor of 12, the highest number yet reported for a noise-free, room-temperature memory. This paves the way towards the controlled production of large quantum states of light from probabilistic photon sources.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

E. Poem, R. Finkelstein, O. Michel, O. Lahad, and O. Firstenberg "Fast, noise-free memory for photon synchronization at room temperature", Proc. SPIE 10771, Quantum Communications and Quantum Imaging XVI, 107710A (18 September 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2320508

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