Rare Earth-Doped Crystals for Quantum Information Processing

Observation of the hyperfine structure and anticrossings of hyperfine levels in the luminescence spectra of LiYF4:Ho3

Resolved hyperfine structure and narrow inhomogeneously broadened lines in the optical spectra of a rare-earth-doped crystal are favorable for the implementation of various sensors. Here, a well-resolved hyperfine structure in the photoluminescence spectra of LiYF₄:Ho single crystals and the anticrossings of hyperfine levels in a magnetic field are demonstrated using a self-made setup based on a Bruker 125HR high-resolution Fourier spectrometer. This is the first observation of the resolved hyperfine structure and anticrossing hyperfine levels in the luminescence spectra of a crystal. The narrowest spectral linewidth is only 0.0022 cm^-1. This fact together with a large value of the magnetic g factor of several crystal-field states creates prerequisites for developing magnetic field sensors, which can be in demand in modern quantum information technology devices operating at low temperatures. Very small random lattice strains characterizing the quality of a crystal can be detected using anticrossing points.

Ultra-narrow optical linewidths in rare-earth molecular crystals

Rare-earth ions (REIs) are promising solid-state systems for building light-matter interfaces at the quantum level^1,2. This relies on their potential to show narrow optical and spin homogeneous linewidths, or, equivalently, long-lived quantum states. This enables the use of REIs for photonic quantum technologies such as memories for light, optical-microwave transduction and computing^3-5. However, so far, few crystalline materials have shown an environment quiet enough to fully exploit REI properties. This hinders further progress, in particular towards REI-containing integrated nanophotonics devices^6,7. Molecular systems can provide such capability but generally lack spin states. If, however, molecular systems do have spin states, they show broad optical lines that severely limit optical-to-spin coherent interfacing^8-10. Here we report on europium molecular crystals that exhibit linewidths in the tens of kilohertz range, orders of magnitude narrower than those of other molecular systems. We harness this property to demonstrate efficient optical spin initialization, coherent storage of light using an atomic frequency comb, and optical control of ion-ion interactions towards implementation of quantum gates. These results illustrate the utility of rare-earth molecular crystals as a new platform for photonic quantum technologies that combines highly coherent emitters with the unmatched versatility in composition, structure and integration capability of molecular materials.

Optical spin-state polarization in a binuclear europium complex towards molecule-based coherent light-spin interfaces

The success of the emerging field of solid-state optical quantum information processing (QIP) critically depends on the access to resonant optical materials. Rare-earth ion (REI)-based molecular systems, whose quantum properties could be tuned taking advantage of molecular engineering strategies, are one of the systems actively pursued for the implementation of QIP schemes. Herein, we demonstrate the efficient polarization of ground-state nuclear spins-a fundamental requirement for all-optical spin initialization and addressing-in a binuclear Eu(III) complex, featuring inhomogeneously broadened ⁵D₀ →⁷F₀ optical transition. At 1.4 K, long-lived spectral holes have been burnt in the transition: homogeneous linewidth (Γ_h) = 22 ± 1 MHz, which translates as optical coherence lifetime (T_2opt) = 14.5 ± 0.7 ns, and ground-state spin population lifetime (T_1spin) = 1.6 ± 0.4 s have been obtained. The results presented in this study could be a progressive step towards the realization of molecule-based coherent light-spin QIP interfaces.

A Frequency-Multiplexed Coherent Electro-optic Memory in Rare Earth Doped Nanoparticles

Quantum memories for light are essential components in quantum technologies like long-distance quantum communication and distributed quantum computing. Recent studies have shown that long optical and spin coherence lifetimes can be observed in rare earth doped nanoparticles, opening exciting possibilities over bulk materials, e.g., for enhancing coupling to light and other quantum systems, and material design. Here, we report on coherent light storage in Eu³⁺:Y₂O₃ nanoparticles using the Stark echo modulation memory (SEMM) quantum protocol. We first measure a nearly constant Stark coefficient of 50 kHz/(V/cm) across a bandwidth of 15 GHz, which is promising for broadband operation. Storage of light is then demonstrated with an effective coherence lifetime of 5 μs. Pulses with two different frequencies are also stored, confirming frequency-multiplexing capability, and are used to demonstrate the memory high phase fidelity. These results open the way to nanoscale optical quantum memories with increased efficiency, bandwidth, and processing capabilities.

Defect Engineering for Quantum Grade Rare-Earth Nanocrystals

Nanostructured systems that combine optical and spin transitions offer new functionalities for quantum technologies by providing efficient quantum light-matter interfaces. Rare-earth (RE) ion-doped nanoparticles are promising in this field as they show long-lived optical and spin quantum states. However, further development of their use in highly demanding applications, such as scalable single-ion-based quantum processors, requires controlling defects that currently limit coherence lifetimes. In this work, we show that a post-treatment process that includes multistep high-temperature annealing followed by high-power microwave oxygen plasma processing advantageously improves key properties for quantum technologies. We obtain single crystalline Eu³⁺:Y₂O₃ nanoparticles (NPs) of 100 nm diameter, presenting bulk-like inhomogeneous line widths (Γ_inh) and population lifetimes (T₁). Furthermore, a significant coherence lifetime (T₂) extension, up to a factor of 5, is successfully achieved by modifying the oxygen-related point defects in the NPs by the oxygen plasma treatment. These promising results confirm the potential of engineered RE NPs to integrate devices such as cavity-based single-photon sources, quantum memories, and processors. In addition, our strategy could be applied to a large variety of oxides to obtain outstanding crystalline quality NPs for a broad range of applications.

Controlled size reduction of rare earth doped nanoparticles for optical quantum technologies

Chemical etching is a promising way to synthesize RE:Y₂O₃ nanoparticles with controlled size and long coherence lifetimes, opening the way to optical micro/nano-cavities coupling and efficient nanoscale quantum memories and processors.

Unique optical properties of Eu3+ doped l-histidine hydrochloride mono hydrate single crystals from low temperature growth technique

A low-temperature solution method was utilized to grow single crystals of Eu³⁺doped l-histidine hydrochloride monohydrate. The quality of the crystals was confirmed by high-resolution X-ray diffraction measurements with full width at half maximum (FWHM) of rocking curve at 8arc per sec. The incorporation of Eu³⁺ ions into the lattice was confirmed by functional group analysis using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The amount of Eu³⁺ ions was found to be 0.08 weight (%) using energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The crystal's thermal and mechanical properties were tested as well. The unique spectral properties such as UV-Vis transmittance, nonlinear optical efficiency (NLO), photoluminescence (PL) and its lifetime were measured. The PL study revealed that the intensity of ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ emission of Eu³⁺ is stronger than that of ⁵D₀→⁷F₁ emission and the decay measurement showed a life time of 7.2410μs. The photoluminescence results prove that l-histidine hydrochloride monohydrate is a new, highly efficient host material for europium ion red emissions.

Single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer scanning near-field optical microscopy: potentials and challenges

A few years ago, single molecule Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscope (FRET SNOM) images were demonstrated using CdSe semiconductor nanocrystal-dye molecules as donor-acceptor pairs. Corresponding experiments reveal the necessity to exploit much more photostable fluorescent centers for such an imaging technique to become a practically used tool. Here we report the results of our experiments attempting to use nitrogen vacancy (NV) color centers in nanodiamond (ND) crystals, which are claimed to be extremely photostable, for FRET SNOM. All attempts were unsuccessful, and as a plausible explanation we propose the absence (instability) of NV centers lying close enough to the ND border. We also report improvements in SNOM construction that are necessary for single molecule FRET SNOM imaging. In particular, we present the first topographical images of single strand DNA molecules obtained with fiber-based SNOM. The prospects of using rare earth ions in crystals, which are known to be extremely photostable, for single molecule FRET SNOM at room temperature and quantum informatics at liquid helium temperatures, where FRET is a coherent process, are also discussed.