Project description
New approaches to quantum interfaces between light and matter
Realising efficient interfaces between photons and atoms forms the basis for a wide range of applications such as quantum memories for light and nonlinear optics at the single-photon level. Despite many spectacular demonstrations of atom–light interactions, current interfaces still face major limitations. Bringing together theoretical and experimental expertise in atomic physics, quantum optics and photonics, the EU-funded DAALI project aims to overcome these challenges. In particular, the researchers will develop new physical platforms such as nano-photonic systems that offer unprecedented atom–photon coupling strengths, and develop novel paradigms, such as based on atomic arrays in order to harness the power of wave interference.
Objective
Realizing an efficient, controllable interface between photons and atoms or atom-like emitters forms the basis for wide-ranging applications, such as quantum memories for light and nonlinear optics at the single-photon level. However, despite many spectacular demonstrations of quantum atom-light interactions, such interfaces still face two major bottlenecks. First, the error bounds for most protocols scale unfavorably with system resources. Second, it is extremely difficult to improve these figures of merit in conventional systems.
Within this context, DAALI will pursue new, disruptive platforms and protocols, which offer novel solutions to boost important system parameters and/or reduce the resources needed for applications. In particular, we will:
• Develop state-of-the-art interfaces between atomic media and nano/micro-photonic systems. Such systems offer excellent potential for scalability and large atom-photon coupling strengths. Moreover, the flexibility to engineer their spatial modes and dispersion enables new, powerful paradigms that have no obvious analogue in macroscopic interfaces.
• Demonstrate novel protocols for quantum memories and photon-photon gates. These protocols will take advantage of novel mechanisms such as those found in nanophotonic interfaces, “selective radiance,” and strong atom-atom interactions. These novel effects can even enable error rates that scale exponentially better as a function of physical resources than previously known bounds.
DAALI brings together partners with theoretical and experimental expertise in atomic physics, quantum optics, and photonics, who will work together to solve the multi-disciplinary challenges needed to design and construct real systems that can maximally utilize and exploit these disparate concepts. Our results have the potential to completely re-define the technological possibilities of light-matter interfaces.
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Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
08860 Castelldefels
Spain