Quantum Light Storage in Solid State Atomic Ensembles

TL;DR

This paper reviews methods and experimental results for storing and retrieving quantum light in solid-state atomic ensembles, focusing on rare-earth ion doped crystals and protocols for reversible quantum light mapping.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of quantum light storage techniques in solid-state systems, highlighting recent experimental advancements with rare-earth doped crystals.

Findings

Successful storage of heralded single photons in rare-earth crystals

Demonstration of reversible quantum light mapping protocols

Experimental progress in quantum light storage in neodymium and praseodymium

Abstract

In this chapter, we will describe the storage and retrieval of quantum light (heralded single photons and entangled photons) in atomic ensembles in a solid state environment. We will consider ensembles of rare-earth ions embedded in dielectric crystals. We will describe the methods used to create quantum light spectrally compatible with the narrow atomic transitions, as well as possible protocols based on dipole rephasing that can be used to reversibly map the quantum light onto collective atomic excitations. We will review the experimental state of the art and describe in more detail quantum light storage experiments in neodymium and praseodymium doped crystals.