High efficiency coherent optical memory with warm rubidium vapour

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a highly efficient coherent optical memory using warm rubidium vapour, achieving record recall efficiency and multi-pulse storage, highlighting its potential for quantum communication and computing.

Contribution

It presents the highest efficiency to date for a coherent optical memory using warm rubidium vapour and demonstrates multi-pulse storage capability.

Findings

87% recall efficiency achieved

Storage and recall of up to 20 pulses

Potential for quantum memory applications

Abstract

By harnessing aspects of quantum mechanics, communication and information processing could be radically transformed. Promising forms of quantum information technology include optical quantum cryptographic systems and computing using photons for quantum logic operations. As with current information processing systems, some form of memory will be required. Quantum repeaters, which are required for long distance quantum key distribution, require optical memory as do deterministic logic gates for optical quantum computing. In this paper we present results from a coherent optical memory based on warm rubidium vapour and show 87% efficient recall of light pulses, the highest efficiency measured to date for any coherent optical memory. We also show storage recall of up to 20 pulses from our system. These results show that simple warm atomic vapour systems have clear potential as a platform for quantum memory.