title: Coherent optical memory with high storage efficiency and large fractional delay.
abstract: A high-storage efficiency and long-lived quantum memory for photons is an essential component in long-distance quantum communication and optical quantum computation. Here, we report a 78% storage efficiency of light pulses in a cold atomic medium based on the effect of electromagnetically induced transparency. At 50% storage efficiency, we obtain a fractional delay of 74, which is the best up-to-date record. The classical fidelity of the recalled pulse is better than 90% and nearly independent of the storage time, as confirmed by the direct measurement of phase evolution of the output light pulse with a beat-note interferometer. Such excellent phase coherence between the stored and recalled light pulses suggests that the current result may be readily applied to single photon wave packets. Our work significantly advances the technology of electromagnetically induced transparency-based optical memory and may find practical applications in long-distance quantum communication and optical quantum computation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Frontier Research Center on Fundamental and Applied Sciences of Matters, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Hsin
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Meng-Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: I-Chung
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shengwang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Yong-Fan
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ying-Cheng
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ite A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Yu