Field-deployable Quantum Memory for Quantum Networking

TL;DR

This paper introduces a room-temperature quantum memory using warm rubidium vapor, achieving high fidelity and extended storage times, suitable for real-world quantum networking applications.

Contribution

The work presents a practical, scalable quantum memory device that operates at room temperature with high fidelity, long storage times, and robustness for field deployment.

Findings

High-fidelity retrieval of 95% at 160 μs storage time

Extended storage time up to 1 ms with classical light

Device operates reliably in noisy environments

Abstract

High-performance quantum memories are an essential component for regulating temporal events in quantum networks. As a component in quantum-repeaters, they have the potential to support the distribution of entanglement beyond the physical limitations of fiber loss. This will enable key applications such as quantum key distribution, network-enhanced quantum sensing, and distributed quantum computing. Here, we present a quantum memory engineered to meet real-world deployment and scaling challenges. The memory technology utilizes a warm rubidium vapor as the storage medium, and operates at room temperature, without the need for vacuum- and/or cryogenic- support. We demonstrate performance specifications of high-fidelity retrieval (95\%) and low operation error $(10^{-2})$ at a storage time of 160 $\mu s$ for single-photon level quantum memory operations. We further show a substantially improved storage time (with classical-level light) of up to 1 ms by suppressing atomic diffusions. The device is housed in an enclosure with a standard 2U rackmount form factor, and can robustly operate on a day scale in a noisy environment. This result marks an important step toward implementing quantum networks in the field.