Telecommunication-Wavelength Solid-State Memory at the Single Photon Level

Björn Lauritzen, Jiří Minář, Hugues de Riedmatten, Mikael Afzelius, Nicolas Sangouard, Christoph Simon, and Nicolas Gisin
Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 080502 – Published 24 February 2010

Abstract

We demonstrate experimentally the storage and retrieval of weak coherent light fields at telecommunication wavelengths in a solid. Light pulses at the single photon level are stored for a time up to 600 ns in an erbium-doped Y2SiO5 crystal at 2.6 K and retrieved on demand. The memory is based on photon echoes with controlled reversible inhomogeneous broadening, which is realized here for the first time at the single photon level. This is implemented with an external field gradient using the linear Stark effect. This experiment demonstrates the feasibility of a solid-state quantum memory for single photons at telecommunication wavelengths, which would represent an important resource in quantum information science.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 11 August 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.080502

©2010 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Björn Lauritzen*, Jiří Minář, Hugues de Riedmatten, Mikael Afzelius, Nicolas Sangouard, Christoph Simon, and Nicolas Gisin

  • Group of Applied Physics, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland

  • *bjorn.lauritzen@unige.ch

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 104, Iss. 8 — 26 February 2010

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×