10 research outputs found
Towards non-classical light storage via atomic-vapor Raman scattering
We present experimental work that investigates whether quantum information carried by light can be stored via reversible mapping of the quantum state of such light onto a collective atomic coherence. Such a quantum memory could be utilized to allow quantum communication over long, lossy channels. Current efforts concentrate on writing a photon-number-squeezed state of light onto a collective coherence between the ground-state hyperfine levels of 87Rb atoms in a warm vapor cell, and subsequent on-demand retrieval of this light. In this approach, intensity squeezing between the written and retrieved photon fields provides evidence for storage of a photon-number-squeezed state of light. The scheme is based on spontaneous Raman transitions that create the atomic coherence, and at the same time convert control fields into signal fields that propagate under conditions of electromagnetically induced transparency. We present experimental results demonstrating the storage and retrieval of light using this method, and discuss techniques for measuring intensity squeezing between these photon fields
Coherent Control of Stationary Light Pulses
We present a detailed analysis of the recently demonstrated technique to
generate quasi-stationary pulses of light [M. Bajcsy {\it et al.}, Nature
(London) \textbf{426}, 638 (2003)] based on electromagnetically induced
transparency. We show that the use of counter-propagating control fields to
retrieve a light pulse, previously stored in a collective atomic Raman
excitation, leads to quasi-stationary light field that undergoes a slow
diffusive spread. The underlying physics of this process is identified as pulse
matching of probe and control fields. We then show that spatially modulated
control-field amplitudes allow us to coherently manipulate and compress the
spatial shape of the stationary light pulse. These techniques can provide
valuable tools for quantum nonlinear optics and quantum information processing.Comment: 27 pages, 10 figure
Generation of a wave packet tailored to efficient free space excitation of a single atom
We demonstrate the generation of an optical dipole wave suitable for the
process of efficiently coupling single quanta of light and matter in free
space. We employ a parabolic mirror for the conversion of a transverse beam
mode to a focused dipole wave and show the required spatial and temporal
shaping of the mode incident onto the mirror. The results include a proof of
principle correction of the parabolic mirror's aberrations. For the application
of exciting an atom with a single photon pulse we demonstrate the creation of a
suitable temporal pulse envelope. We infer coupling strengths of 89% and
success probabilities of up to 87% for the application of exciting a single
atom for the current experimental parameters.Comment: to be published in Europ. Phys. J.
Entanglement generation and transfer between remote atomic qubits interacting with squeezed field
A pair of two level atoms A1A2, prepared either in a separable state or in an
entangled state, interacts with a single mode of two mode squeezed cavity field
while a third atomic qubit B interacts with the second mode of the squeezed
field in a remote cavity. We analyze, numerically, the generation, sudden death
and revival of three qubit entanglement as a function of initial entanglement
of qubits A1A2 and degree of squeezing of electromagnetic field. Global
negativity of partially transposed state operator is used to quantify the
entanglement of three atom state. It is found that the initial entanglement of
two mode field as well as that of the pair A1A2, both, contribute to three atom
entanglement. A maximally entangled single excitation Bell pair in first cavity
and two mode field with squeeze parameter s=0.64 are the initial conditions
that optimize the peak value of three qubit mixed state entanglement. A smaller
value of s=0.4 under similar conditions is found to generate a three qubit
mixed state with comparable entanglement dynamics free from entanglement sudden
death.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, sections III and IV merged with section II and
analytic expressions moved to Appendices A and B. Figures improved and
corrected typo
Toward Manipulating Quantum Information with Atomic Ensembles
We review several ideas for manipulation of quantum information using atomic ensembles and photons and describe some preliminary experiments toward their implementation. In particular, we review a technique that allows for robust transfer of quantum states between light fields and metastable states of matter. Next we discuss the use of Raman scattering to produce robust entanglement of atomic ensembles via realistic (i.e., absorbing) channels. Finally, we present preliminary experimental results related to the implementation of entanglement via Raman scattering. Specifically, we present experimental studies of the intensity fluctuations in resonantly enhanced Raman scattering from a warm 85Rb vapor cell under conditions of EIT. A crossover between the Bose-Einstein and Poisson statistics of Raman light is observed and it is shown that the noise properties of Raman fields can be mirrored in transmitted pump beams.