Quantum interference in the absorption and emission of single photons by a single ion

Abstract

We investigate quantum beats in the arrival-time distribution of single photons from a single trapped ${}^{40}$Ca${}^{+}$ ion, revealing their fundamentally different physical origins in two distinct experimental situations: In a $\Lambda$-type level scheme the interference of two 854-nm absorption amplitudes suppresses and enhances the emission process of Raman-scattered 393-nm photons; in a V-type level scheme the interference of two 393-nm emission amplitudes causes a rotation of their dipole emission pattern resulting in a temporal modulation of the detected photons. For both cases we demonstrate coherent control over the quantum-beat phase through the phases of the atomic and photonic input states, which also allows controlled adjustment of the total photon detection efficiency.

arXiv comment8 pages, 10 figures

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• A Quantum Repeater Node with Trapped Ions: A Realistic Case Example
• Control of spontaneous emission of qubits from weak to strong coupling