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Interfacing Collective Atomic Excitations and Single Photons

J. Simon·H. Tanji·J. K. Thompson·V. Vuletic
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Abstract

We study the performance and limitations of a coherent interface between collective atomic states and single photons. A quantized spin-wave excitation of an atomic sample inside an optical resonator is prepared probabilistically, stored, and adiabatically converted on demand into a sub-Poissonian photonic excitation of the resonator mode. The measured peak single-quantum conversion efficiency of 0.84(11) and its dependence on various parameters are well described by a simple model of the mode geometry and multilevel atomic structure, pointing the way towards implementing high-performance stationary single-photon sources.

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J. Simon, H. Tanji, J. K. Thompson, V. Vuletic. 2007-02-01. Interfacing Collective Atomic Excitations and Single Photons. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.98.183601

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