Coherent control of single-photon absorption and reemission in a two-level atomic ensemble

Universal relation between the conditional auto-correlation function and the cross-correlation function of biphotons

We systematically studied the relation between the conditional auto-correlation function (CACF) and cross-correlation function (CCF) of biphotons or pairs of single photons. The biphotons were generated from a heated atomic vapor via the spontaneous four-wave mixing (SFWM) process. In practical usage, one single photon of a pair is utilized as the heralding photon, and another is employed as the heralded photon. Motivated by the data of CACF of the heralded photons versus CCF, we proposed a universal formula to predict the CACF. The derived formula was based on general theory and is also valid for the biphoton generation process of spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC). With the formula, we utilized the experimentally determined parameters to predict CACFs, which can well agree with the measured CACFs. The proposed formula enables one to quantitatively know the CACF of heralded single photons without the measurement of Hanbury-Brown-Twiss-type three-fold coincidence count. This study provides a better understanding of biphoton generation using the SFWM or SPDC process. Our work demonstrates a valuable tool for analyzing a vital property of how the heralded photons are close to Fock-state single photons.

Superradiant Detection of Microscopic Optical Dipolar Interactions

The interaction between light and cold atoms is a complex phenomenon potentially featuring many-body resonant dipole interactions. A major obstacle toward exploring these quantum resources of the system is macroscopic light propagation effects, which not only limit the available time for the microscopic correlations to locally build up, but also create a directional, superradiant emission background whose variations can overwhelm the microscopic effects. In this Letter, we demonstrate a method to perform "background-free" detection of the microscopic optical dynamics in a laser-cooled atomic ensemble. This is made possible by transiently suppressing the macroscopic optical propagation over a substantial time, before a recall of superradiance that imprints the effect of the accumulated microscopic dynamics onto an efficiently detectable outgoing field. We apply this technique to unveil and precisely characterize a density-dependent, microscopic dipolar dephasing effect that generally limits the lifetime of optical spin-wave order in ensemble-based atom-light interfaces.

Deterministic Loading of Microwaves onto an Artificial Atom Using a Time-Reversed Waveform

Loading quantum information deterministically onto a quantum node is an important step toward a quantum network. Here, we demonstrate that coherent-state microwave photons with an optimal temporal waveform can be efficiently loaded onto a single superconducting artificial atom in a semi-infinite one-dimensional (1D) transmission-line waveguide. Using a weak coherent state (the number of photons (N) contained in the pulse ≪1) with an exponentially rising waveform, whose time constant matches the decoherence time of the artificial atom, we demonstrate a loading efficiency of 94.2% ± 0.7% from 1D semifree space to the artificial atom. The high loading efficiency is due to time-reversal symmetry: the overlap between the incoming wave and the time-reversed emitted wave is up to 97.1% ± 0.4%. Our results open up promising applications in realizing quantum networks based on waveguide quantum electrodynamics.

Superradiance-Mediated Photon Storage for Broadband Quantum Memory

Superradiance, characterized by the collective, coherent emission of light from an excited ensemble of emitters, generates photonic signals on timescales faster than the natural lifetime of an individual atom. The rapid exchange of coherence between atomic emitters and photonic fields in the superradiant regime enables a fast, broadband quantum memory. We demonstrate this superradiance memory mechanism in an ensemble of cold rubidium atoms and verify that this protocol is suitable for pulses on timescales shorter than the atoms' natural lifetime. Our simulations show that the superradiance memory protocol yields the highest bandwidth storage among protocols in the same system. These high-bandwidth quantum memories provide unique opportunities for fast processing of optical and microwave photonic signals, with applications in large-scale quantum communication and quantum computing technologies.

Spatio-temporal ultrafast pulse shaping at the femtosecond-nanometer scale

Optical pulse shaping is a fundamental tool for coherent control of the light-matter interaction. While such control enables the measurement of ultrafast temporal dynamics, simultaneous spatiotemporal control is required for studying non-local ultrafast charge dynamics at the nanoscale. However, obtaining accurate spatial control at a sub-wavelength resolution with conventional optical elements poses significant difficulty. Here, we use the spatiotemporal coupling naturally arising in a spatial light modulator based pulse shaping apparatus to achieve accurate control with femto-nano spatiotemporal resolution. We experimentally demonstrate spatial steering at the sub-micron scale of second harmonic generation from nanostructures. In addition, we apply an absolute-value spectral phase to achieve controlled double pulses for nanoscale excitation. We introduce a novel, to the best of our knowledge, scheme for accurate tunable spatiotemporal pump-probe experiments. This method offers rich insight into materials with ultrafast transport phenomena at the femtosecond-nanometer regimes.

Quantum interference control of perfect photon absorption in a three-level atom-cavity system

We propose a scheme for controlling coherent photon absorption by electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in a three-level atom-cavity system. Coherent perfect absorption (CPA) occurs when time-reversed symmetry of lasing process is obtained with the destructive interference at the cavity interfaces. The frequency range of CPA is generally dependent on the decay rates of the cavity mirrors. The smaller decay rate of the cavity mirror causes the wider frequency range of CPA, and the needed intensity of the probe fields is larger to satisfy CPA condition for a given frequency. Although Rabi frequency of the control laser has little effect on the frequency range of CPA, with EIT-type quantum interference, the CPA mode is tunable by the control laser. In addition, with the relative phase, the probe fields can be perfectly transmitted and/or reflected. Therefore, the system can be used as a controllable coherent perfect absorber or transmitter (reflector), and our work may have practical applications in optical logic devices.

Manipulation of multipartite entanglement in an array of quantum dots

Multipartite entanglement is indispensable in the implementation of quantum technologies and the fundamental test of quantum mechanics. Here we study how the W state and W-like state may be generated in a quantum-dot array by controlling the coupling between an incident photon and the quantum dots on a waveguide. We also discuss how the coupling may be controlled to observe the sudden death of entanglement. Our work can find potential applications in quantum information processing.

Frequency-Multiplexed Photon Pairs Over 1000 Modes from a Quadratic Nonlinear Optical Waveguide Resonator with a Singly Resonant Configuration

We demonstrate a frequency multiplexed photon pair generation based on a quadratic nonlinear optical waveguide inside a cavity which confines only signal photons without confining idler photons and the pump light. We monolithically constructed the photon pair generator by a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide with a high reflective coating for the signal photons around 1600 nm and with antireflective coatings for the idler photons around 1520 nm and the pump light at 780 nm at the end faces of the PPLN waveguide. We observed a comblike photon pair generation with a mode spacing of the free spectral range of the cavity. Unlike the conventional multiple resonant photon pair generation experiments, the photon pair generation was incessant within a range of 80 nm without missing teeth due to a mismatch of the energy conservation and the cavity resonance condition of the photons, resulting in over 1000-mode frequency multiplexed photon pairs in this range.

Revival of Quantum Interference by Modulating the Biphotons

The possibility to manipulate the wave packets of single photons or biphotons has enriched quantum optics and quantum information science, with examples ranging from faithful quantum-state mapping and high-efficiency quantum memory to the purification of single photons. Here we demonstrate another fascinating use of wave packet manipulation on restoring quantum interference. By modulating the photons' temporal wave packet, we observe the revival of postselected entanglement that would otherwise be degraded or lost due to poor quantum interference. Our study shows that the amount of the restored entanglement is only limited by the forms of modulation and can achieve full recovery if the modulation function is properly designed. Our work has potential applications in long-distance quantum communication and linear optical quantum computation, particularly for quantum repeaters and large cluster states.

Photon-Assisted Perfect Conductivity Between Arrays of Two-Level Atoms

We investigate interactions between two (parallel) arrays of two-level atoms (2LA) via photons through quantum electrodynamical interaction with one array (the source array) connected to a particle source, and we study the (photo-)resistivity of the other array (the measured array). The wave function of the interacted photon propagating in an array is a Bloch wave with a gap in its eigenvalue (the photonic dispersion). Due to interactions between arrayed 2LA and the dressed photonic field with non-linear dispersion, the conduction behaviors of the measured array can be very diversified according to the input energy of the particle source connected to the source array, and their relative positions. As a result, the resistivity of the measured array can be zero or negative, and can also be oscillatory with respect to the incoming energy of the particle source of the source array, and the separation between arrays.

Transport of Photonic Bloch Wave in Arrayed Two-Level Atoms

In a quantum system of arrayed two-level atoms interacting with light, the interacted (dressed) photon is propagating in a periodic medium and its eigenstate ought to be of Bloch type with lattice symmetry. As the energy of photon is around the spacing between the two atomic energy levels, the photon will be absorbed and is not in the propagating mode but the attenuated mode. Therefore an energy gap exists in the dispersion relation of the photonic Bloch wave of dressed photon in addition to the nonlinear behaviors due to atom-light interactions. There follows several interesting results which are distinct from those obtained through a linear dispersion relation of free photon. For example, slow light can exist, the density of state of dressed photon is non-Lorentzian and is very large around the energy gap; the Rabi oscillations become monotonically decreasing in some cases; and besides the superradiance occurs at long wavelengths, the spontaneous emission is also very strong near the energy gap because of the high density of state.

Subnatural-linewidth biphotons from a Doppler-broadened hot atomic vapour cell

Entangled photon pairs, termed as biphotons, have been the benchmark tool for experimental quantum optics. The quantum-network protocols based on photon-atom interfaces have stimulated a great demand for single photons with bandwidth comparable to or narrower than the atomic natural linewidth. In the past decade, laser-cooled atoms have often been used for producing such biphotons, but the apparatus is too large and complicated for engineering. Here we report the generation of subnatural-linewidth (<6 MHz) biphotons from a Doppler-broadened (530 MHz) hot atomic vapour cell. We use on-resonance spontaneous four-wave mixing in a hot paraffin-coated ⁸⁷Rb vapour cell at 63 °C to produce biphotons with controllable bandwidth (1.9-3.2 MHz) and coherence time (47-94 ns). Our backward phase-matching scheme with spatially separated optical pumping is the key to suppress uncorrelated photons from resonance fluorescence. The result may lead towards miniature narrowband biphoton sources.

Real-Time Quadrature Measurement of a Single-Photon Wave Packet with Continuous Temporal-Mode Matching

Real-time controls based on quantum measurements are powerful tools for various quantum protocols. However, their experimental realization has been limited by mode mismatch between the temporal mode of quadrature measurement and that heralded by photon detection. Here, we demonstrate real-time quadrature measurement of a single-photon wave packet induced by photon detection by utilizing continuous temporal-mode matching between homodyne detection and an exponentially rising temporal mode. Single photons in exponentially rising modes are also expected to be useful resources for interactions with other quantum systems.

Shaping the Biphoton Temporal Waveform with Spatial Light Modulation

We demonstrate a technique for shaping the temporal wave function of biphotons generated from spatially modulated spontaneous four-wave mixing in cold atoms. We show that the spatial profile of the pump field can be mapped onto the biphoton temporal wave function in the group delay regime. The spatial profile of the pump laser beam is shaped by using a spatial light modulator. This spatial-to-temporal mapping enables the generation of narrow-band biphotons with controllable temporal waveforms.

Measuring the biphoton temporal wave function with polarization-dependent and time-resolved two-photon interference

We propose and demonstrate an approach to measuring the biphoton temporal wave function with polarization-dependent and time-resolved two-photon interference. Through six sets of two-photon interference measurements projected onto different polarization subspaces, we can reconstruct the amplitude and phase functions of the biphoton temporal waveform. For the first time, we apply this technique to experimentally determine the temporal quantum states of the narrow-band biphotons generated from the spontaneous four-wave mixing in cold atoms.

Reversing the temporal envelope of a heralded single photon using a cavity

We demonstrate a way to prepare single photons with a temporal envelope that resembles the time reversal of photons from the spontaneous decay process. We use the photon pairs generated from a time-ordered cascade decay: the detection of the first photon of the cascade is used as a herald for the ground-state transition resonant second photon. We show how the interaction of the heralding photon with an asymmetric Fabry-Perot cavity reverses the temporal shape of its twin photon from a decaying to a rising exponential envelope. This single photon is expected to be ideal for interacting with two-level systems.

Efficiently loading a single photon into a single-sided Fabry-Perot cavity

We demonstrate that a single photon with an optimal temporal waveform can be efficiently loaded into a cavity. Using heralded narrow-band single photons with exponential growth wave packet shaped by an electro-optical amplitude modulator, whose time constant matches the photon lifetime in the cavity, we demonstrate a loading efficiency of (87±2)% from free space to a single-sided Fabry-Perot cavity. We further demonstrate directly loading heralded single Stokes photons into the cavity with an efficiency of (60±5)% without the electro-optical amplitude modulator and verify the time reversal between the frequency-entangled paired photons. Our result and approach may enable promising applications in realizing large-scale quantum networks based on cavity quantum electrodynamics.

Coherent perfect absorption of path entangled single photons

We examine the question of coherent perfect absorption (CPA) of single photons, and more generally, of the quantum fields by a macroscopic medium. We show the CPA of path entangled single photons in a Fabry-Perot interferometer containing an absorptive medium. The frequency of perfect absorption can be controlled by changing the interferometer parameters like the reflectivity and the complex dielectric constant of the material. We exhibit similar results for path entangled photons in micro-ring resonators. For entangled fields like the ones produced by a down converter the CPA aspect is evident in phase sensitive detection schemes such as in measurements of the squeezing spectrum.

Subnatural-linewidth polarization-entangled photon pairs with controllable temporal length

We demonstrate an efficient experimental scheme for producing polarization-entangled photon pairs from spontaneous four-wave mixing (SFWM) in a laser-cooled (85)Rb atomic ensemble, with a bandwidth (as low as 0.8 MHz) much narrower than the rubidium atomic natural linewidth. By stabilizing the relative phase between the two SFWM paths in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer configuration, we are able to produce all four Bell states. These subnatural-linewidth photon pairs with polarization entanglement are ideal quantum information carriers for connecting remote atomic quantum nodes via efficient light-matter interaction in a photon-atom quantum network.

Fast accurate state measurement with superconducting qubits

Faster and more accurate state measurement is required for progress in superconducting qubit experiments with greater numbers of qubits and advanced techniques such as feedback. We have designed a multiplexed measurement system with a bandpass filter that allows fast measurement without increasing environmental damping of the qubits. We use this to demonstrate simultaneous measurement of four qubits on a single superconducting integrated circuit, the fastest of which can be measured to 99.8% accuracy in 140 ns. This accuracy and speed is suitable for advanced multiqubit experiments including surface-code error correction.