Coherent Storage of Temporally Multimode Light Using a Spin-Wave Atomic Frequency Comb Memory

We report on coherent and multi-temporal mode storage of light using the full atomic frequency comb memory scheme. The scheme involves the transfer of optical atomic excitations in Pr3+:Y2SiO5 to spin-waves in the hyperfine levels using strong single-frequency transfer pulses. Using this scheme, a total of 5 temporal modes are stored and recalled on-demand from the memory. The coherence of the storage and retrieval is characterized using a time-bin interference measurement resulting in visibilities higher than 80%, independent of the storage time. This coherent and multimode spin-wave memory is promising as a quantum memory for light.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figure

A solid state spin-wave quantum memory for time-bin qubits

We demonstrate the first solid-state spin-wave optical quantum memory with on-demand read-out. Using the full atomic frequency comb scheme in a \PrYSO crystal, we store weak coherent pulses at the single-photon level with a signal to noise ratio $> 10$. Narrow-band spectral filtering based on spectral hole burning in a second \PrYSO crystal is used to filter out the excess noise created by control pulses to reach an unconditional noise level of $(2.0 \pm 0.3) \times10^{-3}$ photons per pulse. We also report spin-wave storage of photonic time-bin qubits with conditional fidelities higher than a measure and prepare strategy, demonstrating that the spin-wave memory operates in the quantum regime. This makes our device the first demonstration of a quantum memory for time-bin qubits, with on demand read-out of the stored quantum information. These results represent an important step for the use of solid-state quantum memories in scalable quantum networks.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figure

Storage of up-converted telecom photons in a doped crystal

We report on an experiment that demonstrates the frequency up-conversion of telecommunication wavelength single-photon-level pulses to be resonant with a $\mathrm{Pr}^{3+}$:$\mathrm{Y}_2\mathrm{Si}\mathrm{O}_5$ crystal. We convert the telecom photons at $1570\,\mathrm{nm}$ to $606\,\mathrm{nm}$ using a periodically-poled potassium titanyl phosphate nonlinear waveguide. The maximum device efficiency (which includes all optical loss) is inferred to be $\eta_{\mathrm{dev}}^{\mathrm{max}} = 22 \pm 1\,$ (internal efficiency $\eta_{\mathrm{int}} = 75\pm8\,$) with a signal to noise ratio exceeding 1 for single-photon-level pulses with durations of up to 560$\,$ns. The converted light is then stored in the crystal using the atomic frequency comb scheme with storage and retrieval efficiencies exceeding $\eta_{\mathrm{AFC}} = 20\,$ for predetermined storage times of up to $5\,\mu\mathrm{s}$. The retrieved light is time delayed from the noisy conversion process allowing us to measure a signal to noise ratio exceeding 100 with telecom single-photon-level inputs. These results represent the first demonstration of single-photon-level optical storage interfaced with frequency up-conversion

A spectral hole memory for light at the single photon level

We demonstrate a solid state spin-wave optical memory based on stopped light in a spectral hole. A long lived narrow spectral hole is created by optical pumping in the inhomogeneous absorption profile of a Pr$^{3+}$:Y$_2$SiO$_5$ crystal. Optical pulses sent through the spectral hole experience a strong reduction of their group velocity and are spatially compressed in the crystal. A short Raman pulse transfers the optical excitation to the spin state before the light pulse exits the crystal, effectively stopping the light. After a controllable delay, a second Raman pulse is sent, which leads to the emission of the stored photons. We reach storage and retrieval efficiencies for bright pulses of up to $39\,\%$ in a $5 \,\mathrm{mm}$-long crystal. We also show that our device works at the single photon level by storing and retrieving $3\,\mathrm{\mu s}$-long weak coherent pulses with efficiencies up to $31\,\%$, demonstrating the most efficient spin-wave solid state optical memory at the single-photon level so far. We reach an unconditional noise level of $(9\pm1)\times 10^{-3}$ photons per pulse in a detection window of $4\,\mathrm{\mu s}$ leading to a signal-to-noise ratio of $33 \pm 4$ for an average input photon number of 1, making our device promising for long-lived storage of non-classical light.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Mediastinoscopy and mediastinal biopsy in lung sarcoidosis

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La toracotomia d'urgenza nelle emergenze cardiache e dei grossi vasi

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Tomografia computerizzata e patologia del mediastino. Considerazioni in 60 casi.

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Quantum correlations between single telecom photons and a multimode on-demand solid-state quantum memory

Quantum correlations between long-lived quantum memories and telecom photons that can propagate with low loss in optical fibers are an essential resource for the realization of large-scale quantum information networks. Significant progress has been realized in this direction with atomic and solid-state systems. Here, we demonstrate quantum correlations between a telecom photon and a multimode ondemand solid state quantum memory. This is achieved by mapping a correlated single photon onto a spin collective excitation in a Pr 3+ :Y 2 SiO 5 crystal for a controllable time. The stored single photons are generated by cavity-enhanced spontaneous parametric down-conversion and heralded by their partner photons at telecom wavelength. These results represent the first demonstration of a multimode on-demand solid state quantum memory for external quantum states of light. They provide an important resource for quantum repeaters and pave the way for the implementation of quantum information networks with distant solid state quantum nodes.We acknowledge financial support by the ERC Starting Grant QuLIMA, by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) (FIS2015-69535-R), by MINECO Severo Ochoa through Grant No. SEV-2015-0522 and through the Ph.D. Fellowship Program (for A. S.), by AGAUR via 2014 SGR 1554, by Fundació Cellex, and by CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya

Quantum storage of heralded single photons in a praseodymium-doped crystal

We report on experiments demonstrating the reversible mapping of heralded single photons to long-lived collective optical atomic excitations stored in a Pr3+:Y2SiO5 crystal. A cavity-enhanced spontaneous down-conversion source is employed to produce widely nondegenerate narrow-band (≈2 MHz) photon pairs. The idler photons, whose frequency is compatible with telecommunication optical fibers, are used to herald the creation of the signal photons, compatible with the Pr3þ transition. The signal photons are stored and retrieved using the atomic frequency comb protocol. We demonstrate storage times up to 4.5 μs while preserving nonclassical correlations between the heralding and the retrieved photon. This is more than 20 times longer than in previous realizations in solid state devices, and implemented in a system ideally suited for the extension to spin-wave storage

A preliminary assessment of PM10 and TSP concentrations in Tuticorin, India

The respirable particulate matter (RPM; PM10) and total suspended particulate matter (TSP) concentrations in ambient air in Tuticorin, India, were preliminarily estimated. Statistical analyses on so-generated database were performed to infer frequency distributions and to identify dominant meteorological factor affecting the pollution levels. Both the RPM and TSP levels were well below the permissible limits set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. As expected, lognormal distribution always fit the data during the study period. However, fit with the normal was also acceptable except for very few seasons. The RPM concentrations ranged between 20.9 and 198.2 μg/m3, while the TSP concentrations varied from 51.5 to 333.3 μg/m3 during the study period. There was a better correlation between PM10–100 and TSP concentrations than that of PM10 (RPM) and TSP concentrations, but the correlation of RPM fraction was also acceptable. It was found that wind speed was the most important meteorological factor affecting the concentrations of the pollutants of present interest. Significant seasonal variations in the pollutant concentrations of present interest were found at 5% significance level except for TSP concentrations in the year 2006