Spectroscopic investigations of Eu3+:Y2SiO5 for quantum memory applications

B. Lauritzen, N. Timoney, N. Gisin, M. Afzelius, H. de Riedmatten, Y. Sun, R. M. Macfarlane, and R. L. Cone
Phys. Rev. B 85, 115111 – Published 14 March 2012

Abstract

Rare-earth-ion-doped solids are promising materials as light-matter interfaces for quantum applications. Europium doped into an yttrium orthosilicate crystal in particular has interesting coherence properties and a suitable ground-state energy-level structure for a quantum memory for light. In this paper we report on spectroscopic investigations of this material from the perspective of implementing an atomic frequency comb (AFC)-type quantum memory with spin-wave storage. For this goal we determine the order of the hyperfine levels in the 7F0 ground state and 5D0 excited state, and we measure the relative strengths of the optical transitions between these levels. We also apply spectral hole burning techniques in order to prepare the system as a well-defined Λ system, as required for further quantum memory experiments. Furthermore, we measure the optical Rabi frequency on one of the strongest hyperfine transitions, a crucial experimental parameter for the AFC protocol. From this we also obtain a value for the transition dipole moment which is consistent with that obtained from absorption measurements.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
1 More
  • Received 31 October 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.85.115111

©2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

B. Lauritzen, N. Timoney, N. Gisin, and M. Afzelius*

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

H. de Riedmatten

  • ICFO - Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, Mediterranean Technology Park, 08860 Castelldefels, Spain and ICREA - Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Lluis Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain

Y. Sun

  • Department of Physics, The University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota 57069, USA and Department of Physics, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA

R. M. Macfarlane

  • Department of Physics, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA and IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, California 95120, USA

R. L. Cone

  • Department of Physics, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA

  • *mikael.afzelius@unige.ch

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 85, Iss. 11 — 15 March 2012

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 B

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×