Stefan Kröll

Quantum memories : a review based on the European integrated project "Qubit Applications (QAP)"

AbstractWe perform a review of various approaches to the implementation of quantum memories, with an emphasis on activities within the quantum memory sub-project of the EU integrated project “Qubit Applications”. We begin with a brief overview over different applications for quantum memories and different types of quantum memories. We discuss the most important criteria for assessing quantum memory performance and the most important physical requirements. Then we review the different approaches represented in “Qubit Applications” in some detail. They include solid-state atomic ensembles, NV centers, quantum dots, single atoms, atomic gases and optical phonons in diamond. We compare the different approaches using the discussed criteria.

Demonstration of Atomic Frequency Comb Memory for Light with Spin-Wave Storage

We present a light-storage experiment in a praseodymium-doped crystal where the light is mapped onto an inhomogeneously broadened optical transition shaped into an atomic frequency comb. After absorption of the light, the optical excitation is converted into a spin-wave excitation by a control pulse. A second control pulse reads the memory (on-demand) by reconverting the spin-wave excitation to an optical one, where the comb structure causes a photon-echo-type rephasing of the dipole moments and directional retrieval of the light. This combination of photon-echo and spin-wave storage allows us to store submicrosecond (450 ns) pulses for up to 20 mus. The scheme has a high potential for storing multiple temporal modes in the single-photon regime, which is an important resource for future long-distance quantum communication based on quantum repeaters.

A test of different rotational Raman linewidth models: Accuracy of rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering thermometry in nitrogen from 295 to 1850 K

Rotational Raman linewidths calculated from three different models have been used in temperature measurements by rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS)—a semiclassical ab initio model, the modified exponential energy gap model (MEG), and the energy corrected sudden scaling law (ECS). Experimental rotational CARS spectra were generated, using the dual-broadband approach, in pure nitrogen at atmospheric pressure in a heat pipe in the temperature range from 295 to 1850 K. Below 1500 K, the temperatures evaluated using the ECS linewidths agreed with the heat-pipe temperatures to within 20 K. Above 1500 K, the errors in the evaluated temperatures increased steeply for all linewidth models, reaching errors of several hundreds of Kelvins at 1850 K. This behavior of the evaluated temperature is probably caused by the uncertainty in the values of the rotational Raman linewidths for high rotational states at high temperatures. This work therefore illustrates that rotational CARS can be used for experimentally studying Raman linewidths and in particular their dependence on temperature and rotational quantum number. The influence of different experimental parameters on the evaluated temperatures is discussed, and the spectral synthesis program is presented. The Journal of Chemical Physics is copyrighted by The American Institute of Physics. (Less)

Quantum computer hardware based on rare-earth-ion-doped inorganic crystals

We present a scheme for generating multiple, strongly interacting qubits in rare-earth-ion-doped inorganic crystals at cryogenic temperatures. Two ground state hyperfine levels, with hour long lifetimes and ms decoherence times are chosen as qubit states. Controlled logic between the qubits is accomplished using the change in permanent dipole moment induced by an optical transition between the ground and excited state of these ions. The scheme is based on existing material data and established measurement techniques and should therefore be straightforward to realise in practice. The procedure used for creating the qubits can be generalised also to other solid state systems.

Quantum memory for nonstationary light fields based on controlled reversible inhomogeneous broadening

We propose a method for efficient storage and recall of arbitrary nonstationary light fields, such as, for instance, single photon time-bin qubits or intense fields, in optically dense atomic ensembles. Our approach to quantum memory is based on controlled, reversible, inhomogeneous broadening and relies on a hidden time-reversal symmetry of the optical Bloch equations describing the propagation of the light field. We briefly discuss experimental realizations of our proposal.

Hole-burning techniques for isolation and study of individual hyperfine transitions in inhomogeneously broadened solids demonstrated in Pr3+: Y2SiO5

A sequence of optical holeburning pulses is used to isolate transitions between hyperfine levels, which are initially buried within an inhomogeneously broadened absorption line. Using this technique selected transitions can be studied with no background absorption on other transitions. This makes it possible to directly study properties of the hyperfine transitions, e.g. transition strengths, and gives access to information that is difficult to obtain in standard holeburning spectroscopy, such as the ordering of hyperfine levels. The techniques introduced are applicable to absorbers in a solid with long-lived sublevels in the ground state and where the homogeneous linewidth and sublevel separations are smaller than the inhomogeneous broadening of the optical transition. In particular, this includes rare-earth ions doped into inorganic crystals and in the present work the techniques are used for spectroscopy of Pr3+ in Y2SiO5. New information on the hyperfine structure and relative transition strengths of the 3H4 - 1D2 hyperfine transitions in Pr3+:Y2SiO5 has been obtained from frequency resolved absorption measurements, in combination with coherent and incoherent driving of the transitions.

Rotational CARS: a comparison of different techniques with emphasis on accuracy in temperature determination.

Different rotational CARS techniques have been evaluated in terms of single-shot temperature accuracy and signal intensity in room temperature nitrogen and in flames. The different techniques include both dual broadband techniques, using one or two broadband dye lasers, and conventional rotational CARS with different dye lasers. These techniques are also compared with vibrational CARS concerning temperature accuracy and with theoretical predictions. The results indicate that the dual broadband techniques are to be preferred over conventional rotational CARS and also over vibrational CARS at room temperature. At flame temperatures the vibrational CARS technique seems to be the technique yielding highest temperature accuracy. The experimental results are also generally in good agreement with the calculated values.

Vibrational CARS thermometry in sooty flames: Quantitative evaluation of C2 absorption interference☆

The application of nitrogen vibrational CARS thermometry to sooty, premixed, atmospheric pressure flames has been investigated using a Nd:YAG laser based system. It was found that laser-produced C2 radicals strongly absorb part of the fundamental band peak in the CARS spectrum. This was the most severe interference to the CARS signal. A quantitative investigation of temperature errors caused by the C2 absorption effect is presented. The correlation between the absorption interference and the soot volume fraction was examined for different flame conditions. Also, the increase of the nonresonant susceptibility in sooty flame regions is clearly illustrated and its effect on thev evaluated temperature is quantitatively determined. The single-shot temperature standard deviation has also been investigated in flames with different soot loadings. Finally, other interference effects to the CARS signals in sooty flames are described and discussed.

Efficient Quantum Memory Using a Weakly Absorbing Sample

A light-storage experiment with a total (storage and retrieval) efficiency η=56% is carried out by enclosing a sample, with a single-pass absorption of 10%, in an impedance-matched cavity. The experiment is carried out using the atomic frequency comb (AFC) technique in a praseodymium-doped crystal (0.05%Pr(3+):Y2SiO5) and the cavity is created by depositing reflection coatings directly onto the crystal surfaces. The AFC technique has previously by far demonstrated the highest multimode capacity of all quantum memory concepts tested experimentally. We claim that the present work shows that it is realistic to create efficient, on-demand, long storage time AFC memories.

Rotational cars thermometry in sooting flames

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering of pure rotational transitions, rotational CARS, is demonstrated as an efficient method for temperature determination in sooting flames. The dual broadband CARS approach was used to measure temperature profiles in premixed, sooting ethylene flames at atmospheric pressure by probing the nitrogen gas. The recorded spectra were of equally high quality in non-sooting and sooting flames with volume fractions of soot of up to 7 x 10 7 cm3 soot/cm3The advantages of rotational CARS in comparison with several other techniques for the measurement of temperatures in sooting flames, and the general applicability of the technique to different combustion conditions, are discussed. Potential limitations in the application of rotational CARS to sooting flames that are more heavily sooting than the ones investigated in this study, are outlined.