Experimental demonstration of spinor slow light

Abstract

Slow light based on the effect of electromagnetically induced transparency is of great interest due to its applications in low-light-level nonlinear optics and quantum information manipulation. The previous experiments all dealt with the single-component slow light. Here, we report the experimental demonstration of two-component or spinor slow light using a double-tripod atom-light coupling scheme. The scheme involves three atomic ground states coupled to two excited states by six light fields. The oscillation due to the interaction between the two components was observed. On the basis of the stored light, our data showed that the double-tripod scheme behaves like the two outcomes of an interferometer enabling precision measurements of frequency detuning. We experimentally demonstrated a possible application of the double-tripod scheme as quantum memory/rotator for the two-colour qubit. Our study also suggests that the spinor slow light is a better method than a widely used scheme in the nonlinear frequency conversion.

Coherent and dynamic beam splitting based on light storage in cold atoms

“…Recently, controllable beam splitting in frequency or time modes has been demonstrated by using the gradient echo memory scheme [15], with a double-tripod EIT scheme [16], and with a tripod EIT scheme [17]. Dynamic beam splitting in the spatial modes which functions as a variable beam splitter [18], however, has not been implemented in a long-coherence atomic medium.…”

Increasing decoherence rate of Rydberg polaritons due to accumulating dark Rydberg atoms

“…1 F = 2, m F = 2 , the Rydberg state |32D 5/2 , m J = 5/2 , and the excited state |5P 3/2 , F = 3, m F = 3 of 87 Rb atoms, respectively. We prepared all population in a single Zeeman state |5S 1/2 , F = 2, m F = 2 by optical pumping [32]. In the experiment, the σ +polarized probe and coupling fields were used.…”

Electromagnetically Induced Transparency in Media with Rydberg Excitons 1: Slow Light

“…Recently, a highly efficient quantum memory protocol based on EIT has been experimentally demonstrated for cold rubidium [ 13 ] and cesium atoms [ 14 ]. Experimental evidence of spinor slow light as a quantum memory for two-color qubits in cold rubidium has also been presented [ 15 ].…”