Quantum Communication and Computing With Atomic Ensembles Using Light-Shift Imbalance Induced Blockade

Recently, we have shown that for conditions under which the so-called light-shift imbalance induced blockade (LSIIB) occurs, the collective excitation of an ensemble of a multi-level atom can be treated as a closed two level system. In this paper, we describe how such a system can be used as a quantum bit (qubit) for quantum communication and quantum computing. Specifically, we show how to realize a C-NOT gate using the collective qubit and an easily accessible ring cavity, via an extension of the so-called Pellizzari scheme. We also describe how multiple, small-scale quantum computers realized using these qubits can be linked effectively for implementing a quantum internet. We describe the details of the energy levels and transitions in 87Rb atom that could be used for implementing these schemes.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures. Accepted in Phys. Rev.

Fast-Light in a Photorefractive Crystal for Gravitational Wave Detection

We demonstrate superluminal light propagation using two frequency multiplexed pump beams to produce a gain doublet in a photorefractive crystal of Ce:BaTiO3. The two gain lines are obtained by two-wave mixing between a probe field and two individual pump fields. The angular frequencies of the pumps are symmetrically tuned from the frequency of the probe. The frequency difference between the pumps corresponds to the separation of the two gain lines; as it increases, the crystal gradually converts from normal dispersion without detuning to an anomalously dispersive medium. The time advance is measured as 0.28 sec for a pulse propagating through a medium with a 2Hz gain separation, compared to the same pulse propagating through empty space. We also demonstrate directly anomalous dispersion profile using a modfied experimental configuration. Finally, we discuss how anomalous dispersion produced this way in a faster photorefractive crystal (such as SPS: Sn2P2S6) could be employed to enhance the sensitivity-bandwidth product of a LIGO type gravitational wave detector augmented by a White Light Cavity.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure

Demonstration of a Tunable-Bandwidth White Light Interferometer using Anomalous Dispersion in Atomic Vapor

Recently, the design of a white-light-cavity has been proposed using negative dispersion in an intra-cavity medium to make the cavity resonate over a large range of frequencies and still maintain a high cavity build-up. This paper presents the demonstration of this effect in a free-space cavity. The negative dispersion of the intra-cavity medium is caused by bi-frequency Raman gain in an atomic vapor cell. A significantly broad cavity response over a bandwidth greater than 20 MHz has been observed. The experimental results agree well with the theoretical model, taking into account effects of residual absorption. A key application of this device would be in enhancing the sensitivity-bandwidth product of the next generation gravitational wave detectors that make use of the so-called signal-recycling mirror.Comment: 11 Pages, 2 figure

Number(s): 42.50.Ct, 42.50.Gy, 42.60

In this paper, we study several designs for interferometric gravitational wave detectors, and the potential for enhancing their performance with a fast-light medium. First, we explore the effect of such a medium on designs similar to those already planned for Advanced LIGO. Then we review the zero-area Sagnac interferometer for GW detection, comparing its properties against the more conventional GW detector based on a Michelson interferometer. We next describe a modified version of such a detector where the Sagnac interferometer is replaced by a zero-area Sagnac ring resonator fed by an external laser. We then consider a GW detector based on an active, zero-area Sagnac ring resonator, where a gain medium is present inside the cavity. Finally, we show that if a medium with negative dispersion, which yields the fast-light effect, is also present inside this detector, then its sensitivity to GW strain is enhanced by the inverse of the group index of the dispersive medium. We describe conditions under which this enhancement factor could be as large as 10 5

Light-Shift Imbalance Induced Blockade of Collective Excitations Beyond the Lowest Order

Current proposals focusing on neutral atoms for quantum computing are mostly based on using single atoms as quantum bits (qubits), while using cavity induced coupling or dipole-dipole interaction for two-qubit operations. An alternative approach is to use atomic ensembles as qubits. However, when an atomic ensemble is excited, by a laser beam matched to a two-level transition (or a Raman transition) for example, it leads to a cascade of many states as more and more photons are absorbed^1. In order to make use of an ensemble as a qubit, it is necessary to disrupt this cascade, and restrict the excitation to the absorption (and emission) of a single photon only. Here, we show how this can be achieved by using a new type of blockade mechanism, based on the light-shift imbalance (LSI) in a Raman transition. We describe first a simple example illustrating the concept of light shift imbalanced induced blockade (LSIIB) using a multi-level structure in a single atom, and show verifications of the analytic prediction using numerical simulations. We then extend this model to show how a blockade can be realized by using LSI in the excitation of an ensemble. Specifically, we show how the LSIIB process enables one to treat the ensemble as a two level atom that undergoes fully deterministic Rabi oscillations between two collective quantum states, while suppressing excitations of higher order collective states.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Plasmon dispersion in semimetallic armchair graphene nanoribbons

The dispersion relations for plasmons in intrinsic and extrinsic semimetallic armchair graphene nanoribbons (acGNR) are calculated in the random phase approximation using the orthogonal p_z-orbital tight binding method. Our model predicts new plasmons for acGNR of odd atomic widths N=5,11,17,... Our model further predicts plasmons in acGNR of even atomic width N=2,8,14,... related to those found using a Dirac continuum model, but with different quantitative dispersion characteristics. We find that the dispersion of all plasmons in semimetallic acGNR depends strongly on the localization of the p_z electronic wavefunctions. We also find that overlap integrals for acGNR behave in a more complex way than predicted by the Dirac continuum model, suggesting that these plasmons will experience a small damping for all q not equal to 0. Plasmons in extrinsic semimetallic acGNR with the chemical potential in the lowest (highest) conduction (valence) band are found to have dispersion characteristics nearly identical to their intrinsic counterparts, with negligible differencs in dispersion arising from the slight differences in overlap integrals for the interband and intraband transitions.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figure