Optical and spin manipulation of non-Kramers rare-earth ions under weak magnetic field for quantum memory applications

TL;DR

This paper investigates how weak magnetic fields influence the optical and spin manipulation of non-Kramers rare-earth ions, crucial for optimizing quantum memory protocols in solid-state systems.

Contribution

It introduces a simple theoretical model to analyze the effects of dc magnetic fields on non-Kramers ions, explaining experimental results and guiding optimal magnetic field configurations.

Findings

Magnetic fields affect population manipulation in non-Kramers ions.

The model explains experimental observations in Eu:Y2SiO5.

Insights on optimizing AFC spin-wave protocols under magnetic fields.

Abstract

Rare-earth ion doped crystals have proven to be solid platforms for implementing quantum memories. Their potential use for integrated photonics with large multiplexing capability and unprecedented coherence times is at the core of their attractiveness. The best performances of these ions are however usually obtained when subject to a dc magnetic field, but consequences of such fields on the quantum memory protocols have only received little attention. In this article, we focus on the effect of a dc bias magnetic field on the population manipulation of non-Kramers ions with nuclear quadrupole states, both in the spin and optical domains, by developing a simple theoretical model. We apply this model to explain experimental observations in a ${}^{151}$Eu:Y$_2$SiO$_5$ crystal, and highlight specific consequences on the AFC spin-wave protocol. The developed analysis should allow to predict optimal magnetic field configurations for various protocols.