Scalable photonic network architecture based on motional averaging in room temperature gas

Johannes Borregaard, Michael Viktor Alban Zugenmaier, Jonas Meyer Petersen, Heng Shen, Georgios Vasilakis, Kasper Jensen, Eugene Simon Polzik, Anders Søndberg Sørensen

21 Citations (Scopus)
230 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Quantum interfaces between photons and atomic ensembles have emerged as powerful tools for quantum technologies. Efficient storage and retrieval of single photons requires long-lived collective atomic states, which is typically achieved with immobilized atoms. Thermal atomic vapours, which present a simple and scalable resource, have only been used for continuous variable processing or for discrete variable processing on short timescales where atomic motion is negligible. Here we develop a theory based on motional averaging to enable room temperature discrete variable quantum memories and coherent single-photon sources. We demonstrate the feasibility of this approach to scalable quantum memories with a proof-of-principle experiment with room temperature atoms contained in microcells with spin-protecting coating, placed inside an optical cavity. The experimental conditions correspond to a few photons per pulse and a long coherence time of the forward scattered photons is demonstrated, which is the essential feature of the motional averaging.

Original languageEnglish
Article number11356
JournalNature Communications
Volume7
ISSN2041-1723
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Apr 2016

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Scalable photonic network architecture based on motional averaging in room temperature gas'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this