Atomic vapor-based turnstile device for single photons

Informazioni relative al progetto

AVATURN

ID dell’accordo di sovvenzione: 101029304

DOI

10.3030/101029304

Progetto chiuso

Data della firma CE 12 Marzo 2021

Data di avvio 1 Luglio 2021

Data di completamento 30 Giugno 2023

Finanziato da

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Costo totale

€ 174 806,40

Contributo UE

€ 174 806,40

Coordinato da

HUMBOLDT-UNIVERSITAET ZU BERLIN
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AVATURN (Atomic vapor-based turnstile device for single photons)

Periodo di rendicontazione: 2021-07-01 al 2023-06-30

Sintesi del contesto e degli obiettivi generali del progetto

Quantum information science has the potential to significantly improve our modern technologies. In this rapid-growing field, the common ability to encode, communicate and manipulate quantum bits are the necessary condition on the roadmap towards the development of quantum technologies. Due to their weak coupling with the environment, photons can be used as the so-called flying qubits, carrying the quantum information within a device or in between two nodes of a larger-scale quantum network.
As quantum science is developing toward technologies, it is essential to have practical and scalable photon sources that can operate well, outside of laboratories. Until now, it has been particularly demanding to meet the requirement of, simultaneously, having a source emitting a high rate of indistinguishable Fourier-transform limited single photons with wavelengths and linewidths matching those of matter qubits, while being compact and easy to use (= no cooling, no complex system). The current proposal aims at developing a practical atom-based, source of non-classical light devoid of cooling system or ultra-high vacuum. Based on a novel theoretical proposal, our source can generate narrow linewidth in a thermal atomic vapor.

Lavoro eseguito dall’inizio del progetto fino alla fine del periodo coperto dalla relazione e principali risultati finora ottenuti

In this project, we explred a new fundamental concept, nonlinear photon transport, and used it to develop a new type of quantum light source based on the interference between laser light and the scattered light from an atomic ensemble. As one of the main results, we demonstrated this intriguing fundamental quantum interference phenomenon occurring at the single atom scale (Masters et al. Nature Photonics, 2023). We then exploit this interference effect with a large ensemble of hundreds of atoms to create quantum states with tailored photon-statistics (Cordier et al., to be published in Physical Review Letters).

Progressi oltre lo stato dell’arte e potenziale impatto previsto (incluso l’impatto socioeconomico e le implicazioni sociali più ampie del progetto fino ad ora)

These results are of interest to the broader field of quantum light-matter interaction as they validate a new technique for engineering quantum states of light. This work paves the way for a new generation of quantum light sources that are scalable, operate at room temperature and that are intrinsically compatible with atomic quantum system. In this respect, a source that provides such quantum states could become a key enabling resource for the development of quantum technologies.

Illustration of the photon turnstile