Tunable ion―photon entanglement in an optical cavity

Proposed quantum networks require both a quantum interface between light and matter and the coherent control of quantum states. A quantum interface can be realized by entangling the state of a single photon with the state of an atomic or solid-state quantum memory, as demonstrated in recent experime...

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Published inNature (London) Vol. 485; no. 7399; pp. 482 - 485
Main Authors STUTE, A, CASABONE, B, SCHINDLER, P, MONZ, T, SCHMIDT, P. O, BRANDSTÄTTER, B, NORTHUP, T. E, BLATT, R
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London Nature Publishing Group 24.05.2012
Subjects
Amplitudes
Atomic structure
Classical and quantum physics: mechanics and fields
Coherence
Entangled states
Exact sciences and technology
Holes
Joining
Networks
Photons
Physics
Properties
Quantum information
Quantum theory
Raman effect
Austria
Polarization
Quantum entanglement
Optical cavity
Quantum solids
Entangled states
Quantum information
Atomic structure
Calcium 40
Calcium ions
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Summary:Proposed quantum networks require both a quantum interface between light and matter and the coherent control of quantum states. A quantum interface can be realized by entangling the state of a single photon with the state of an atomic or solid-state quantum memory, as demonstrated in recent experiments with trapped ions, neutral atoms, atomic ensembles and nitrogen-vacancy spins. The entangling interaction couples an initial quantum memory state to two possible light-matter states, and the atomic level structure of the memory determines the available coupling paths. In previous work, the transition parameters of these paths determined the phase and amplitude of the final entangled state, unless the memory was initially prepared in a superposition state (a step that requires coherent control). Here we report fully tunable entanglement between a single (40)Ca(+) ion and the polarization state of a single photon within an optical resonator. Our method, based on a bichromatic, cavity-mediated Raman transition, allows us to select two coupling paths and adjust their relative phase and amplitude. The cavity setting enables intrinsically deterministic, high-fidelity generation of any two-qubit entangled state. This approach is applicable to a broad range of candidate systems and thus is a promising method for distributing information within quantum networks.
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Author Contributions Experiments were performed by A.S., B.C., and T.E.N., with contributions from P.S. to the setup. Data analysis was performed by A.S., B.C., and T.M. The experiment was conceived by P.O.S. and R.B. and further developed in discussions with A.S., B.B., B.C., and T.E.N. All authors contributed to the discussion of results and participated in manuscript preparation.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/nature11120