Electromagnetically Induced Transparency and Light Storage in an Atomic Mott Insulator

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate electromagnetically induced transparency and light storage with ultracold 87Rb atoms in a Mott insulating state in a three-dimensional optical lattice. We have observed light storage times of approximately 240 ms, to our knowledge the longest ever achieved in ultracold atomic samples. Using the differential light shift caused by a spatially inhomogeneous far detuned light field we imprint a "phase gradient" across the atomic sample, resulting in controlled angular redirection of the retrieved light pulse.

Quantum repeaters based on atomic ensembles and linear optics

“…24). A light storage experiment with bright coherent pulses based on Electro-magnetically induced transparency (EIT) has also been recently demonstrated with Rb atoms confined in a 3 dimensional optical lattice, leading to a storage lifetime of 240 ms (Schnorrberger et al, 2009). Another possibility may be to use colder atoms, for example a Bose Einstein condensate where collective coherences in the high excitation number (> 10 4 ) regime have been created and stored recently (Yoshikawa et al, 2007(Yoshikawa et al, , 2009).…”

Towards high-speed optical quantum memories

“…The difficulty that many photonic networks successfully produce a result only rarely is overcome if photons can be stored, because this allows complex protocols to be orchestrated by holding the output of successful operations until all have been correctly executed 1 . Quantum memories are therefore an active area of research, with much interest being focused on reversibly mapping photons into collective atomic excitations 5,12 .The key characteristics for quantum memories are long storage time, high memory efficiency, the ability to store multiple modes (multiple distinct photons) 11,13 and high bandwidth. High bandwidth allows the storage of temporally short photons, enabling quantum information to be processed at a higher 'clock rate'.…”

“…The difficulty that many photonic networks successfully produce a result only rarely is overcome if photons can be stored, because this allows complex protocols to be orchestrated by holding the output of successful operations until all have been correctly executed 1 . Quantum memories are therefore an active area of research, with much interest being focused on reversibly mapping photons into collective atomic excitations 5,12 .…”

“…A. Walmsley 1 * Quantum memories, capable of controllably storing and releasing a photon, are a crucial component for quantum computers 1 and quantum communications 2 . To date, quantum memories [3][4][5][6] have operated with bandwidths that limit data rates to megahertz. Here we report the coherent storage and retrieval of sub-nanosecond low-intensity light pulses with spectral bandwidths exceeding 1 GHz in caesium vapour.…”

Nondispersive optics using storage of light

“…when the light is slowed down by say a factor two, as is possible by variation of the signal beam frequency by a few kHz in the spectrally sharp EIT transparency window, the deflection doubles. In another experiment, the deflection of an optical beam has been achieved by means of phase imprinting from a spatially inhomogeneous off-resonant optical field during light storage [17].…”