A solid state spin-wave quantum memory for time-bin qubits

Abstract

We demonstrate the first solid-state spin-wave optical quantum memory with on-demand read-out. Using the full atomic frequency comb scheme in a \PrYSO crystal, we store weak coherent pulses at the single-photon level with a signal to noise ratio $>10$. Narrow-band spectral filtering based on spectral hole burning in a second \PrYSO crystal is used to filter out the excess noise created by control pulses to reach an unconditional noise level of $(2.0\pm 0.3)\times 10^{-3}$ photons per pulse. We also report spin-wave storage of photonic time-bin qubits with conditional fidelities higher than a measure and prepare strategy, demonstrating that the spin-wave memory operates in the quantum regime. This makes our device the first demonstration of a quantum memory for time-bin qubits, with on demand read-out of the stored quantum information. These results represent an important step for the use of solid-state quantum memories in scalable quantum networks.

10 pages, 10 figures

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• Cavity enhanced telecom heralded single photons for spin-wave solid state quantum memories
• High Resolution Optical Spectroscopy and Magnetic Properties of Yb3+ in Y2SiO5
• Time-bin to Polarization Conversion of Ultrafast Photonic Qubits
• Correlation function of spin noise due to atomic diffusion
• Semihierarchical quantum repeaters based on moderate lifetime quantum memories