Abstract
Reversible entanglement transfer between light and matter is a crucial requisite for the ongoing developments of quantum information technologies. Quantum networks and their envisioned applications, e.g., secure communications beyond direct transmission, distributed quantum computing, or enhanced sensing, rely on entanglement distribution between nodes. Although entanglement transfer has been demonstrated, a current roadblock is the limited efficiency of this process that can compromise the scalability of multi-step architectures. Here we demonstrate the efficient transfer of heralded single-photon entanglement into and out of two quantum memories based on large ensembles of cold cesium atoms. We achieve an overall storage-and-retrieval efficiency of 85% together with a preserved suppression of the two-photon component of about 10% of the value for a coherent state. Our work constitutes an important capability that is needed toward large scale networks and increased functionality.
Highlights
Quantum networks rely on the transfer of quantum states of light and their mapping into stationary quantum nodes [1,2]
Central to this endeavor is the distribution of entanglement between the material nodes, which opens a variety of major applications [3,4,5]
For long-distance quantum communications, the distance can be decomposed into shorter quantum repeater links connecting entangled memories
Summary
Quantum networks rely on the transfer of quantum states of light and their mapping into stationary quantum nodes [1,2]. An increase in storage-and-retrieval efficiency from 60% to 90% drastically decreases—typically by 2 orders of magnitude—the average time for entanglement distribution over a distance of 600 kilometers [7]. In this endeavor, quantum state transfer and entanglement mapping between photonic modes and stationary quantum nodes has been demonstrated in different physical platforms [8,9,10,11]. Seminal experiments based on quantum memories with cold neutral atoms [12,13] or doped crystals [14] have enabled the storage and retrieval of heralded single-photon entanglement. The demonstrated capability required operating at a very large optical depth (OD) of the atomic ensembles on the D1 line of cesium, and with a strong and preserved suppression of the two-photon component
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