Preparing narrow velocity distributions for quantum memories in room-temperature alkali-metal vapors

Quantum memories are a crucial technology for enabling large-scale quantum networks through synchronization of probabilistic operations. Such networks impose strict requirements on quantum memory, such as storage time, retrieval efficiency, bandwidth, and scalability. On- and off-resonant ladder protocols on warm atomic vapor platforms are promising candidates, combining efficient high-bandwidth operation with low-noise on-demand retrieval. However, their storage time is severely limited by motion-induced dephasing caused by the broad velocity distribution of atoms composing the vapor. In this paper, we demonstrate velocity selective optical pumping to overcome this decoherence mechanism. This will increase the achievable memory storage time of vapor memories. This technique can also be used for preparing arbitrarily shaped absorption profiles, for instance, preparing an atomic frequency comb absorption feature.

10.1103/PhysRevA.103.043105

1050-2947

Main, D.

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Hird, T.M.

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Gao, S.

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Oguz, E.

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Saunders, D. J.

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Walmsley, I.A.

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Ledingham, P.

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12 April 2021

Main, D.

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Hird, T.M.

1ac1ef60-3c1b-4ed1-bb89-a376878bd815

Gao, S.

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Oguz, E.

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Saunders, D. J.

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Walmsley, I.A.

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Ledingham, P.

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Main, D., Hird, T.M., Gao, S., Oguz, E., Saunders, D. J., Walmsley, I.A. and Ledingham, P. (2021) Preparing narrow velocity distributions for quantum memories in room-temperature alkali-metal vapors. Physical Review A, 103 (4), [043105]. (doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.103.043105).

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Preparing narrow velocity distributions for quantum memories in room-temperature alkali-metal vapors - Accepted Manuscript

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Accepted/In Press date: 29 March 2021

e-pub ahead of print date: 12 April 2021

Published date: 12 April 2021

Additional Information: Funding Information: The authors would like to thank X. Peng and H. Guo for kindly providing the paraffin-coated cell for this work. This work was supported by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) through a Standard Grant No. EP/J000051/1, a Programme Grant No. EP/K034480/1, and the EPSRC Hub for Networked Quantum Information Technologies (NQIT) Grant No. EP/M013243/1. We also acknowledge the European Union's FP7 under Grant Agreement ID 339918 (MOQUACINO), and the Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No. 899814 (Qurope). T.M.H. is supported via the EPSRC Training and Skills Hub InQuBATE Grant No. EP/P510270/1. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 American Physical Society.