arXiv subjects

Nasser Gohari Kamel

Publications and source records attributed to Nasser Gohari Kamel.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

On-Demand Millisecond Storage of Spectro-Temporal Multimode Telecom Photons

The realization of scalable quantum networks for distribution of entanglement over long distances hinges on quantum repeaters. To outperform the exponential transmission loss in optical fibers, quantum repeaters must employ multiplexing schemes in the temporal, spectral, or spatial domain. The performance of such a multiplexed scheme is contingent on efficient quantum memories offering both extended storage times and large multimode capacities. Towards this goal, we experimentally demonstrate a memory platform operating at telecom wavelength using an Er$^{3+}$:Y$_{2}$SiO$_{5}$ crystal. We record on-demand storage and recall of weak coherent pulses for up to $1$ ms, exceeding by an order of magnitude that of previously reported demonstrations based on Er$^{3+}$. The memory exhibits an efficiency of 10.36 % at 300 $μ$s storage time with a signal-to-noise ratio of $10.9$, mainly limited by spontaneous emission noise. We also store two spectral modes representing a frequency-bin encoding and retrieve the state with an overlap of 81.8 %. Furthermore, we demonstrate multimode capacity by simultaneously storing 20 temporal and 3 spectral modes with on-demand and selective recall capabilities, serving as a promising step toward a scalable quantum repeater architecture.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Coherent microwave-to-optical transduction with Yb:YSO spins strongly coupled to a 3D resonator

Microwave-to-optical quantum transducers are essential for entangling remote superconducting qubits. Among the available transduction platforms, ensembles of Er$^{3+}$ and Yb$^{3+}$ ions doped into solids have emerged as leading candidates. While external magnetic fields are needed to split the Zeeman levels of erbium ions and enable a microwave--qubit interface, superconducting qubits suffer decoherence in such fields. In contrast, ytterbium ions exhibit zero-first-order Zeeman transitions and large hyperfine splittings at zero magnetic field (when doped into inorganic crystals). Owing to its long optical and spin coherence times, Yb:YSO has been widely used as a quantum memory, yet its potential for quantum transduction remains largely unexplored. Investigating this material could enable the integration of quantum memory and transduction in a single platform. Here, we demonstrate microwave-to-optical transduction in the continuous-wave regime using a 5\,ppm doped Yb:YSO crystal. The internal transduction efficiency is $2\times10^{-8}$ with a bandwidth of 200\,kHz, achieved using a 3D loop-gap microwave resonator (LGR) and a single-pass optical configuration. We explore all the ground states that form a V-type three-level system with the first and second optical excited states and assert the use of the ground state, which provides the highest efficiency and isolated optical transition. We further establish strong spin-microwave coupling from avoided crossing measurements. With a strong microwave drive to saturate the spin transition, we estimate the spin population pumped into the excited state, close to the simulated value. Finally, we calculate target parameter values for maximum efficiency with our system and suggest using 50\,ppm doped Yb:YSO crystal. With the calculated target parameters, the internal transduction efficiency is predicted to reach up to $10^{-4}$ in the current LGR.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Memory-assisted multimode microwave-to-optical transduction

Microwave-to-optical quantum transducers will enable coherent interconnection between distant superconducting quantum devices. Ongoing explorations with several platforms have shown promising results at single-photon levels. However, in all these demonstrations, elimination of noise due to the concurrence of the weak transduced signal with intense pump pulses remains a challenge, requiring high suppression filtering setups. A memory-assisted transducer, on the other hand, offers a versatile approach that not only mitigates the noise but also enables the on-demand retrieval of the transduced signal. Here, we integrate a quantum memory protocol with transduction in a three-level atomic system to demonstrate on-demand retrieval of transduced signals. Due to the zero-first-order Zeeman transitions at zero magnetic fields, providing long optical and spin coherence times, and GHz range hyperfine splitting, we use a low-doping concentration $^{171}{\rm Yb}^{3+}$:${\rm Y}_2{\rm SiO}_5$ crystal at 30\,mK temperature. We achieve on-demand transduction assisted by memory with $0.4\ (\text{and }0.3)$ noise photons in the detection window at a storage duration of $460\ (\text{and }620) \, μ\textrm{s}$. To demonstrate the coherent nature of the protocol, we show interference patterns resulting from transduced signals due to varying phase or frequency of the input microwave pulses. Further, multimode transduction capacity is demonstrated, utilizing the spin and optical inhomogeneous broadening. The on-demand capability of the protocol allows synchronizing qubits in a quantum repeater protocol, while multimode capacity increases the entanglement generation rate. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of an on-demand microwave-to-optical transducer assisted by memory.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Hole burning experiments and modeling in erbium-doped silica glass fibers down to millikelvin temperatures: evidence for ultra-long population storage

We use spectral hole burning to investigate spin dynamics within the electronic Zeeman sublevels of the ground state of the erbium ions in erbium-doped fibers (EDF). Conducted at ultra-low temperatures and under varying magnetic fields, our study reveals distinct changes in spin relaxation dynamics across different conditions. We identified three decay components at approximately 7 mK, with one achieving spin lifetimes of over 9 hours under optimal conditions, while two components were observed at higher temperatures. The fairly stable relative weights of the decay components across conditions suggest distinct ion populations contributing to the observed relaxation dynamics. While earlier studies struggled to account for all decay components at higher temperatures, our approach successfully models spin dynamics across all observed decay components, using a consistent set of underlying mechanisms, including spin flip-flop interactions, direct coupling to two-level systems, and Raman-type processes, and distinguishes the decay components by the strengths with which these mechanisms contribute. These results suggest EDFs' potential as a promising candidate for quantum memory applications, with further room for optimization.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Ultra-narrow homogeneous linewidths of erbium-doped silica glass fibers at millikelvin temperatures: magnetic field and temperature dependence

Erbium-doped solids are promising candidates for fiber-based quantum networks due to their emission wavelength, which aligns with the telecom band over which optical fibers exhibit minimal loss. Among these, erbium-doped silica fiber (EDF) stands out for its availability, ease of use, and seamless integration with existing fiber-optic infrastructure. In this work, using the two-pulse photon-echo (2PPE) technique, we measured the homogeneous linewidth of the 4I13/2 <-> 4I15/2 optical transition under varying magnetic fields and temperatures. We observed an effective homogeneous linewidth of approximately 8 kHz at approximately 7mK at an optimal magnetic field of 0.09 T, representing over two orders of magnitude improvement compared to earlier reports measured at T = 700 mK. We also present a comprehensive model for the combined magnetic field and temperature dependency of the effective homogeneous linewidth. Additionally, we employed three-pulse photon-echo (3PPE) measurements to investigate spectral diffusion and decoherence processes, and conclude that Two-Level System (TLS) effects are significantly suppressed at sufficiently low temperatures, below approximately 100 mK.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Erbium-Doped Fibre Quantum Memory for Chip-Integrated Quantum-Dot Single Photons at 980 nm

The realization of long-distance quantum communication and the envisioned quantum internet relies on coherent hybrid light-matter interfaces connecting quantum light emitters with quantum memory (QM) systems. Unlike probabilistic photon pair sources such as spontaneous parametric down-conversion, deterministic quantum light emitters enable the on-demand production of pure and bright single and entangled photons, essential for scalable quantum networks. In this work, we present the first experimental realization of a coherent hybrid light-matter interface between a chip-integrated InAsP/InP nanowire quantum dot (QD) and a solid-state QM based on Er$^{3+}$ ions doped in a glass silica fiber (erbium-doped fiber, EDF). The emission spectrum of the InAsP/InP nanowire QD aligns with the absorption bandwidth of the EDF at 980 nm at cryogenic temperatures, allowing efficient interaction between the two systems. To demonstrate this, we present a spectroscopic characterization of the $^{4}I_{15/2} \leftrightarrow ^{4}I_{11/2}$ optical transition in EDF at 980 nm. Our measurements reveal substantial inhomogeneous broadening of this optical transition and a long spin population lifetime, underscoring EDFs potential for broadband QM implementation. We implement an 8 GHz bandwidth multimode QM based on the Atomic Frequency Comb protocol, enabling the storage and retrieval of 59 weak coherent pulses. Furthermore, we characterize single-photon emission from an InAsP/InP nanowire QD at 980 nm and demonstrate its deterministic storage and recall in the EDF QM. Notably, this is achieved without spectral tuning of the QD emission, demonstrating its direct compatibility with a solid-state QM.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Multimode and Random-Access Optical Quantum Memory via Adiabatic Phase Imprinting

A photonic quantum memory capable of simultaneously storing multiple qubits and subsequently recalling any randomly selected subset of the qubits, is essential for large-scale quantum networking and computing. Such functionality, akin to classical Random-Access Memory (RAM), has proven difficult to implement due to the absence of a versatile random-access mechanism and limited multimode capacity in existing quantum memory protocols. A potential path to developing the quantum analog to RAM is offered by photon-echo protocols in rare-earth ion-doped materials, such as Revival Of Silenced Echo. These can utilize optical rephasing pulses to selectively read-out frequency multiplexed photonic qubits within an inhomogeneously broadened optical transition. However, the conventional non-adiabatic nature of the rephasing pulses requires intense, short-duration pulses, impeding their fidelity and multimode capacity. To address these critical limitations, we introduce an alternate protocol that employs Rapid Adiabatic Passage (RAP) rephasing pulses, to realize quantum memory, which invokes phase-imprints to suppress undesirable echoes. Using the optical transitions of a $^{171}{\rm Yb}^{3+}$:${\rm Y}_2{\rm SiO}_5$ crystal, we demonstrate the storage and retrieval of multiple intricate spectro-temporally photonic modes and achieve optical random access memory across eight distinct spectral modes. This protocol yields greatly enhanced mode-mapping versatility while substantially lowering the required rephasing pulse intensity, providing a more efficient and reliable approach for high-fidelity qubit storage and retrieval.

quant-ph↗