From photons to phonons and back: a THz optical memory in diamond.
Optical quantum memories are vital for the scalability of future quantum technologies, enabling long-distance secure communication and local synchronization of quantum components. We demonstrate a THz-bandwidth memory for light using the optical phonon modes of a room temperature diamond. This large bandwidth makes the memory compatible with down-conversion-type photon sources. We demonstrate that four-wave mixing noise in this system is suppressed by material dispersion. The resulting noise floor is just 7×10(-3) photons per pulse, which establishes that the memory is capable of storing single quanta. We investigate the principle sources of noise in this system and demonstrate that high material dispersion can be used to suppress four-wave mixing noise in Λ-type systems.
National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada.
D G
DG
England
National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada.
P J
PJ
Bustard
National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada.
J
J
Nunn
National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada.
R
R
Lausten
National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada.
B J
BJ
Sussman