Deterministic Shaping and Reshaping of Single-Photon Temporal Wave Functions

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates precise control over the temporal wave function of a single photon using cavity quantum electrodynamics, enabling advanced quantum information processing and distributed quantum systems.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive method for deterministic shaping and reshaping of single-photon wave functions with high accuracy and flexibility.

Findings

Achieved absolute control over single-photon temporal wave functions.

Demonstrated flexibility in shaping photon wave functions over multiple orders of magnitude.

Provided a theoretical framework supporting experimental results.

Abstract

Thorough control of the optical mode of a single photon is essential for quantum information applications. We present a comprehensive experimental and theoretical study of a light-matter interface based on cavity quantum electrodynamics. We identify key parameters like the phases of the involved light fields and demonstrate absolute, flexible, and accurate control of the time-dependent complex-valued wave function of a single photon over several orders of magnitude. This capability will be an important tool for the development of distributed quantum systems with multiple components that interact via photons.