Quantum interference of a single spin excitation with a macroscopic atomic ensemble

Stefan Lund Christensen; J.-B. Béguin; E. Bookjans; H. L. Sørensen; J. H. Müller; J. Appel; E. S. Polzik

doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.89.033801

Quantum interference of a single spin excitation with a macroscopic atomic ensemble

Stefan Lund Christensen, J.-B. Béguin, E. Bookjans, H. L. Sørensen, J. H. Müller, J. Appel, E. S. Polzik

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22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report on the observation of quantum interference of a collective single spin excitation with a spin ensemble of Na≈105 atoms. Detection of a single photon scattered from the atoms creates the single spin excitation, a Fock state embedded in the collective spin of the ensemble. The state of the atomic ensemble is then detected by a quantum nondemolition measurement of the collective spin. A macroscopic difference of the order of Na in the marginal distribution of the collective spin state arises from the interference between the single excited spin and Na atoms. These hybrid discrete-continuous manipulation and measurement procedures of collective spin states in an atomic ensemble pave the road towards generation of even more exotic ensemble states for quantum information processing, precision measurements, and communication.

Original language	English
Article number	033801
Journal	Physical Review A (Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics)
Volume	89
Issue number	3
Number of pages	1
ISSN	2469-9926
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.89.033801
Publication status	Published - 3 Mar 2014

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title = "Quantum interference of a single spin excitation with a macroscopic atomic ensemble",

abstract = "We report on the observation of quantum interference of a collective single spin excitation with a spin ensemble of Na≈105 atoms. Detection of a single photon scattered from the atoms creates the single spin excitation, a Fock state embedded in the collective spin of the ensemble. The state of the atomic ensemble is then detected by a quantum nondemolition measurement of the collective spin. A macroscopic difference of the order of Na in the marginal distribution of the collective spin state arises from the interference between the single excited spin and Na atoms. These hybrid discrete-continuous manipulation and measurement procedures of collective spin states in an atomic ensemble pave the road towards generation of even more exotic ensemble states for quantum information processing, precision measurements, and communication.",

author = "Christensen, {Stefan Lund} and J.-B. B{\'e}guin and E. Bookjans and S{\o}rensen, {H. L.} and M{\"u}ller, {J. H.} and J. Appel and Polzik, {E. S.}",

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doi = "10.1103/PhysRevA.89.033801",

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T1 - Quantum interference of a single spin excitation with a macroscopic atomic ensemble

AU - Christensen, Stefan Lund

AU - Béguin, J.-B.

AU - Bookjans, E.

AU - Sørensen, H. L.

AU - Müller, J. H.

AU - Appel, J.

AU - Polzik, E. S.

PY - 2014/3/3

Y1 - 2014/3/3

N2 - We report on the observation of quantum interference of a collective single spin excitation with a spin ensemble of Na≈105 atoms. Detection of a single photon scattered from the atoms creates the single spin excitation, a Fock state embedded in the collective spin of the ensemble. The state of the atomic ensemble is then detected by a quantum nondemolition measurement of the collective spin. A macroscopic difference of the order of Na in the marginal distribution of the collective spin state arises from the interference between the single excited spin and Na atoms. These hybrid discrete-continuous manipulation and measurement procedures of collective spin states in an atomic ensemble pave the road towards generation of even more exotic ensemble states for quantum information processing, precision measurements, and communication.

AB - We report on the observation of quantum interference of a collective single spin excitation with a spin ensemble of Na≈105 atoms. Detection of a single photon scattered from the atoms creates the single spin excitation, a Fock state embedded in the collective spin of the ensemble. The state of the atomic ensemble is then detected by a quantum nondemolition measurement of the collective spin. A macroscopic difference of the order of Na in the marginal distribution of the collective spin state arises from the interference between the single excited spin and Na atoms. These hybrid discrete-continuous manipulation and measurement procedures of collective spin states in an atomic ensemble pave the road towards generation of even more exotic ensemble states for quantum information processing, precision measurements, and communication.

U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevA.89.033801

DO - 10.1103/PhysRevA.89.033801

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2469-9926

VL - 89

JO - Physical Review A (Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics)

JF - Physical Review A (Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics)

IS - 3

M1 - 033801

ER -

Quantum interference of a single spin excitation with a macroscopic atomic ensemble

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