Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Center for Ultracold Atoms

Single and paired photons from many atoms

Abstract: We create quantized spin gratings in a sample of laser-cooled atoms by single-photon detection, and convert them on demand at a later time into single photons with retrieval efficiencies exceeding 50%. The source can also be used to generate non-classical pairs of identical narrowband photons. We discuss prospects for generating photon number states, entangled-photon pairs, and a holographic quantum memory that allows the coherent conversion of stored quantum bits into photons.

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