Heralded photonic interaction between distant single ions

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates heralded quantum interaction between two distant single ions via controlled single-photon exchange, showing absorption events and quantum jumps, advancing quantum communication capabilities.

Contribution

It introduces a method for heralded photon-mediated interaction between remote ions with controlled photon shaping and detection of absorption events.

Findings

Successful transmission of shaped single photons between ions

Detection of quantum jumps indicating photon absorption

Reduced D_5/2 state lifetime during photon transmission

Abstract

We establish heralded interaction between two remotely trapped single 40Ca+ ions through the exchange of single photons. In the sender ion, we release single photons with controlled temporal shape on the P_3/2 to D_5/2 transition and transmit them to the distant receiver ion. Individual absorption events in the receiver ion are detected by quantum jumps. For continuously generated photons, the absorption reduces significantly the lifetime of the long-lived D_5/2 state. For triggered single-photon transmission, we observe coincidence between the emission at the sender and quantum jump events at the receiver.