Phase modulation at the few-photon level for weak-nonlinearity-based quantum computing

Venkataraman, Vivek; Saha, Kasturi; Gaeta, Alexander L.

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2012.283

Cited by 176 publications

(152 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…By operating in a dispersive regime away from the intermediate atomic resonance (Fig. 1b), where atomic absorption is low and only weakly nonlinear 22 , we realize a situation where Rydberg-atom-mediated coherent interactions between individual photons dominate the propagation dynamics of weak light pulses. Previous theoretical studies have proposed various scenarios for inducing strong interactions between individual photons 2,3, 23 and for creating bound states of a few quanta 4,5,7,24 , a feature generic to strongly interacting quantum field theories.…”

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confidence: 97%

Attractive photons in a quantum nonlinear medium

Firstenberg¹,

Peyronel²,

Liang³

et al. 2013

Nature

411

493

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* These authors contributed equally to this workThe fundamental properties of light derive from its constituent particles (photons) that are massless and do not interact with one another 1 . At the same time, it has been long known that the realization of coherent interactions between individual photons, akin to those associated with conventional massive particles, could enable a wide variety of unique scientific and engineering applications 2,3 . Here, by coupling light to strongly interacting atomic Rydberg states in a dispersive regime, we demonstrate a quantum nonlinear medium inside which individual photons travel as massive particles with strong mutual attraction, such that the propagation of photon pairs is dominated by a two-photon bound state 4-7 . We measure the dynamical evolution of the two-photon wavefunction using time-resolved quantum state tomography, and demonstrate a conditional phase shift 8 exceeding one radian, resulting in polarization-entangled photon pairs. Unique applications include all-optical switching, deterministic photonic quantum logic, and the generation of strongly correlated states of light 9 .Interactions between individual photons are being explored in cavity quantum electrodynamics, where a single, confined electromagnetic mode is coupled to an atomic system 10-12 . Our approach is to couple a light field propagating in a dispersive medium to highly excited atomic states with strong mutual interactions (Rydberg states) 13,14 . Similar to previous studies of quantum nonlinearities via Rydberg states that were based on dissipation 15-19 rather than dispersion 20 , we make use of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) to slow down the propagation of light 21 in a cold atomic gas. By operating in a dispersive regime away from the intermediate atomic resonance (Fig. 1b), where atomic absorption is low and only weakly nonlinear 22 , we realize a situation where Rydberg-atom-mediated coherent interactions between individual photons dominate the propagation dynamics of weak light pulses. Previous theoretical studies have proposed various scenarios for inducing strong interactions between individual photons 2,3,23 and for creating bound states of a few quanta 4,5,7,24 , a feature generic to strongly interacting quantum field theories. The first experimental realization of a photonic system with strong attractive interactions, including evidence for a predicted two-photon bound state, represents the main result of this work.Our experiment (outlined in Fig. 1a) makes use of an ultracold rubidium gas loaded into a dipole trap, as described previously 19 . The probe light of interest is σ + polarized, coupling the ground state |g to the Rydberg state |r via an intermediate state |e of linewidth Γ/(2π) = 6.1 MHz by means of a control field that is detuned by ∆ below the resonance frequency of the upper transition |e → |r (Fig. 1b). Under these conditions, for a very weak probe field with mean incident photon rate R i = 0.5 µs −1 , EIT is established when the probe detuning matches...

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mentioning

confidence: 97%

Attractive photons in a quantum nonlinear medium

Firstenberg¹,

Peyronel²,

Liang³

et al. 2013

Nature

411

493

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show abstract

“…In particular,, by exploiting the unprecedented field enhancement in plasmonic structures, nonlinear interactions may be enhanced to remarkable levels 23 . In this context, one should mention that enhancing the interaction of light with thermal alkali vapours can also be achieved by using photonic-guided modes, as demonstrated in hollow core photonic crystal fibres 24,25 , hollow core antireflecting optical waveguides 26,27 , and tapered nanofibres 28,29 .…”

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confidence: 99%

Fano resonances and all-optical switching in a resonantly coupled plasmonic–atomic system

2014

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The possibility of combining atomic and plasmonic resonances opens new avenues for tailoring the spectral properties of materials. Following the rapid progress in the field of plasmonics, it is now possible to confine light to unprecedented nanometre dimensions, enhancing light-matter interactions at the nanoscale. However, the resonant coupling between the relatively broad plasmonic resonance and the ultra-narrow fundamental atomic line remains challenging. Here we demonstrate a resonantly coupled plasmonic-atomic platform consisting of a surface plasmon resonance and rubidium ( 85 Rb) atomic vapour. Taking advantage of the Fano interplay between the atomic and plasmonic resonances, we are able to control the lineshape and the dispersion of this hybrid system. Furthermore, by exploiting the plasmonic enhancement of light-matter interactions, we demonstrate alloptical control of the Fano resonance by introducing an additional pump beam.

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“…The EIT has various important applications in quantum and nonlinear optics, such as slow and stored light [7][8][9][10][11][12], stationary light [13,14], multiwave mixing [15][16][17], optical solitons [18][19][20][21][22][23], optical bistability [24,25] and Kerr nonlinearity [26][27][28][29][30]. Using the slow light greatly enhances the light-matter interaction and enables nonlinear optical processes to achieve significant efficiency even at a singlephoton level [26,[31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electromagnetically induced transparency and nonlinear pulse propagation in a combined tripod and Λ atom-light coupling scheme

Hamedi

Ruseckas

Juzeliūnas

2017

J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys.

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Abstract. We consider propagation of a probe pulse in an atomic medium characterized by a combined tripod and Lambda (Λ) atom-light coupling scheme. The scheme involves three atomic ground states coupled to two excited states by five light fields. It is demonstrated that dark states can be formed for such an atomlight coupling. This is essential for formation of the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and slow light. In the limiting cases the scheme reduces to conventional Λ-or N -type atom-light couplings providing the EIT or absorption, respectively. Thus the atomic system can experience a transition from the EIT to the absorption by changing the amplitudes or phases of control lasers. Subsequently the scheme is employed to analyze the nonlinear pulse propagation using the coupled Maxwell-Bloch equations. It is shown that generation of stable slow light optical solitons is possible in such a five-level combined tripod and Λ atomic system.

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Phase modulation at the few-photon level for weak-nonlinearity-based quantum computing

Cited by 176 publications

References 29 publications

Attractive photons in a quantum nonlinear medium

Attractive photons in a quantum nonlinear medium

Fano resonances and all-optical switching in a resonantly coupled plasmonic–atomic system

Electromagnetically induced transparency and nonlinear pulse propagation in a combined tripod and Λ atom-light coupling scheme

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