Ian Walmsley

Abstract:

We present the first demonstration of velocity-selective pumping in an atomic vapour to preserve light-matter coherence. Control is illustrated by a subsequent demonstration of an atomic frequency comb quantum memory realised in the vapour.

Abstract:

We demonstrate coherent storage and retrieval of pulsed light using the atomic frequency comb protocol in a room temperature alkali vapor. We utilize velocity-selective optical pumping to prepare multiple velocity classes in the 𝐹=4 hyperfine ground state of cesium. The frequency spacing of the classes is chosen to coincide with the 𝐹′=4−𝐹′=5 hyperfine splitting of the 62P3/2 excited state, resulting in a broadband periodic absorbing structure consisting of two usually Doppler-broadened optical transitions. Weak coherent states of duration 2ns are mapped into this atomic frequency comb with pre-programmed recall times of 8ns and 12ns, with multi-temporal mode storage and recall demonstrated. Utilizing two transitions in the comb leads to an additional interference effect upon rephasing that enhances the recall efficiency.

Abstract:

We experimentally study a broadband implementation of the atomic frequency comb (AFC) rephasing protocol with a cryogenically cooled Pr³⁺:Y₂SiO₅ crystal. To allow for storage of broadband pulses, we explore a novel, to the best of our knowledge, regime where the input photonic bandwidth closely matches the inhomogeneous broadening of the material (∼5GHz), thereby significantly exceeding the hyperfine ground and excited state splitting (∼10MHz). Through an investigation of different AFC preparation parameters, we measure a maximum efficiency of 10% after a rephasing time of 12.5 ns. With a suboptimal AFC, we witness up to 12 rephased temporal modes.

Abstract:

The discrimination of coherent states is a key task in optical communication and quantum key distribution protocols. In this work, we use a photon-number-resolving detector, the transition-edge sensor, to discriminate binary-phase-shifted coherent states at a telecom wavelength. Owing to its dynamic range and high efficiency, we achieve a bit error probability that unconditionally exceeds the standard quantum limit (SQL) by up to 7.7 dB. The improvement to the SQL persists for signals containing up to approximately seven photons on average and is achieved in a single shot (i.e., without measurement feedback), thus making our approach compatible with larger bandwidths.