Light-induced fictitious magnetic fields for quantum storage in cold atomic ensembles

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that optically generated fictitious magnetic fields can significantly enhance quantum memory lifetime in cold atomic ensembles by enabling precise control over magnetic field effects, with potential broad applications.

Contribution

The authors introduce a novel method to generate and control fictitious magnetic fields optically, improving quantum storage in cold atomic gases.

Findings

Extended quantum memory lifetime using fictitious magnetic fields.

Precise control over AC Stark shift parameters achieved.

Compensation of inhomogeneities in cold atomic ensembles.

Abstract

In this work, we have demonstrated that optically generated fictitious magnetic fields can be utilized to extend the lifetime of quantum memories in cold atomic ensembles. All the degrees of freedom of an AC Stark shift such as polarization, spatial profile, and temporal waveform can be readily controlled in a precise manner. Temporal fluctuations over several experimental cycles, and spatial inhomogeneities along a cold atomic gas have been compensated by an optical beam. The advantage of the use of fictitious magnetic fields for quantum storage stems from the speed and spatial precision that these fields can be synthesized. Our simple and versatile technique can find widespread application in coherent pulse and single-photon storage in any atomic species.