Ming-Xin Dong

Experimental realization of entanglement in multiple degrees of freedom between two quantum memories

Entanglement in multiple degrees of freedom has many benefits over entanglement in a single one. The former enables quantum communication with higher channel capacity and more efficient quantum information processing and is compatible with diverse quantum networks. Establishing multi-degree-of-freedom entangled memories is not only vital for high-capacity quantum communication and computing, but also promising for enhanced violations of nonlocality in quantum systems. However, there have been yet no reports of the experimental realization of multi-degree-of-freedom entangled memories. Here we experimentally established hyper- and hybrid entanglement in multiple degrees of freedom, including path (K-vector) and orbital angular momentum, between two separated atomic ensembles by using quantum storage. The results are promising for achieving quantum communication and computing with many degrees of freedom.

Transverse azimuthal dephasing of a vortex spin wave in a hot atomic gas

Optical fields with orbital angular momentum (OAM) interact with medium have many remarkable properties with its unique azimuthal phase, showing many potential applications in high capacity information processing, high precision measurement etc. The dephasing mechanics of optical fields with OAM in an interface between light and matter plays a vital role in many areas of physics. In this work, we study the transverse azimuthal dephasing of OAM spin wave in a hot atomic gas via OAM storage. The transverse azimuthal phase difference between the control and probe beams is mapped onto the spin wave, which essentially results in dephasing of atomic spin wave. The dephasing of OAM spin wave can be controlled by the parameters of OAM topological charge and beam waist. Our results are helpful for studying OAM light interaction with matter, maybe hold a promise in OAM-based quantum information processing.

Entanglement between low- and high-lying atomic spin waves

Building up quantum network depends on the combination of different systems. Establishing a quantum interface that combines different functions of a network is of special importance. Highly excited collective state (Rydberg polariton) is ideal for quantum computing because of strong dipole-dipole interaction between Rydberg atoms, while the atomic spin wave consisted of atomic ground levels is an ideal candidate for a quantum memory in long-distance quantum communications due to the long coherence time of spin wave. To date, there is no any report about building up a hybrid entanglement between these two disparate atomic systems. Here, we report on the successful storage of a true single photon using the Rydberg polariton and establishment of the entanglement between Rydberg excited state and the ground state spin wave experimentally, making a primary step towards the construction of a hybrid quantum interface.

Orbital Angular Momentum embedded Einstein Podolsky Rosen Entanglement Generated from Cold Atoms

The Einstein Podolsky Rosen (EPR) entangled quantum state is of special importance not only for fundamental research in quantum mechanics, but also for information processing in the field of quantum information. Previous EPR entangled state demonstrations were constructed with photons of equal phase wave fronts. More complex scenarios with structured wave fronts have not been investigated. Here, we report the first experimental demonstration of EPR entanglement for photon pairs carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) information, resulting in an OAM embedded EPR entangled state. We measured the dynamics of the dependence of the ghost interference on relative phase under projection. In addition, the reconstructed matrix in the OAM and EPR position momentum spaces shows a specific hyper entanglement in high dimension.

Two-color hyper-entangled photon pairs generation in a cold 85 Rb atomic ensemble

Hyper-entangled photon pairs are very promising in the quantum information field for enhancing the channel capacity in communication and improving compatibility for networks. Here we report on the experimental generation of a hyper-entangled photon pair at a wavelength of 795 nm and 1475 nm via the spontaneous four-wave mixing process in a cold 85Rb atomic ensemble. The photons in each pair generated are entangled in both the time-frequency and polarization degrees of freedom. Such hyper-entangled photon pairs with special wavelength have potential applications in high-dimensional quantum communication and quantum physics.