Coherent storage and phase modulation of single hard x-ray photons using nuclear excitons

TL;DR

This paper proposes a theoretical method for storing and phase-modulating single x-ray photons using nuclear excitons, advancing quantum optics into the keV regime for potential quantum information applications.

Contribution

It introduces a technique for phase-sensitive storage and modulation of x-ray photons via magnetic field switching in nuclear resonant scattering.

Findings

Achieves phase-sensitive storage of keV x-ray photons.

Demonstrates π phase modulation through magnetic field rotation.

Provides a theoretical foundation for x-ray quantum optics applications.

Abstract

Coherent storage and phase modulation of x-ray single-photon wave packets in resonant scattering of light off nuclei is investigated theoretically. We show that by switching off and on again the magnetic field in the nuclear sample, phase-sensitive storage of photons in the keV regime can be achieved. Corresponding $\pi$ phase modulation of the stored photon can be accomplished if the retrieving magnetic field is rotated by $180^{\circ}$. The development of such x-ray single-photon control techniques is a first step towards forwarding quantum optics and quantum information to shorter wavelengths and more compact photonic devices.