Broadband single-photon-level memory in a hollow-core photonic crystal fibre

M. R. Sprague, P. S. Michelberger, T. F M Champion, D. G. England, J. Nunn, X. M. Jin, W. S. Kolthammer, A. Abdolvand, P. St J Russell, I. A. Walmsley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

155 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Storing information encoded in light is critical for realizing optical buffers for all-optical signal processing and quantum memories for quantum information processing. These proposals require efficient interaction between atoms and a well-defined optical mode. Photonic crystal fibres can enhance light-matter interactions and have engendered a broad range of nonlinear effects; however, the storage of light has proven elusive. Here, we report the first demonstration of an optical memory in a hollow-core photonic crystal fibre. We store gigahertz-bandwidth light in the hyperfine coherence of caesium atoms at room temperature using a far-detuned Raman interaction. We demonstrate a signal-to-noise ratio of 2.6:1 at the single-photon level and a memory efficiency of 27 ± 1%. Our results demonstrate the potential of a room-temperature fibre-integrated optical memory for implementing local nodes of quantum information networks.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)287-291
Number of pages5
JournalNature Photonics
Volume8
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Mar 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Broadband single-photon-level memory in a hollow-core photonic crystal fibre'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this