Cavity-assisted Raman Transitions Research Articles

Generation of time-bin-encoded photons in an ion-cavity system

We investigate two single-photon generation schemes and compare their suitability for use in time-bin entanglement encoding. A trapped ion coupled to an optical cavity produces single photons through a cavity-assisted Raman transition. By manipulating the phase relationship between time-bins of successive photons, distinct features in the interference pattern of a Hong–Ou–Mandel measurement emerge. Through careful selection of the initial state, detrimental effects of spontaneous emission can be significantly reduced. We demonstrate that this reduction allows us to impart a measurable phase profile onto the emitted photons making time-bin entanglement encoding feasible with an ion-cavity system.

Improving the indistinguishability of single photons from an ion-cavity system

We investigate schemes for generating indistinguishable single photons, a key feature of quantum networks, from a trapped ion coupled to an optical cavity. Through selection of the initial state in a cavity-assisted Raman transition, we suppress the detrimental effect of spontaneous emission present in previously demonstrated schemes in similar systems. We measure a visibility of 72(2)% without correction for background counts in a Hong-Ou-Mandel interference measurement for the new scheme, with 51(2)% for a commonly-used scheme with similar parameters. Schemes such as the one demonstrated here have applications in distributed quantum computing and communications, where high fidelities are vital, and depend on the mutual indistinguishability of single photons.

Preparing the spin-singlet state of a spinor gas in an optical cavity

We propose a method to prepare the spin singlet in an ensemble of integer-spin atoms confined within a high-finesse optical cavity. Using a cavity-assisted Raman transition to produce an effective Tavis-Cummings model, we show that a high fidelity spin singlet can be produced probabilistically, although with low efficiency, heralded by the \emph{absence} of photons escaping the cavity. In a different limit, a similar configuration of laser and cavity fields can be used to engineer a model that emulates spinor collisional dynamics. Borrowing from techniques used in spinor Bose-Einstein condensates, we show that adiabatic transformation of the system Hamiltonian (via a time-dependent, effective quadratic Zeeman shift) can be used to produce a low fidelity spin singlet. Then, by following this method with the aforementioned heralding technique, we show that it is possible to prepare the singlet state with both high fidelity and good efficiency for a large ensemble.

Dicke-model simulation via cavity-assisted Raman transitions

The Dicke model is of fundamental importance in quantum mechanics for understanding the collective behaviour of atoms coupled to a single electromagnetic mode. In this paper, we demonstrate a Dicke-model simulation using cavity-assisted Raman transitions in a configuration using counter-propagating laser beams. The observations indicate that motional effects should be included to fully account for the results and these results are contrasted with the experiments using single-beam and co-propagating configurations. A theoretical description is given that accounts for the beam geometries used in the experiments and indicates the potential role of motional effects. In particular a model is given that highlights the influence of Doppler broadening on the observed thresholds.

Cavity QED Engineering of Spin Dynamics and Squeezing in a Spinor Gas.

We propose a method for engineering spin dynamics in ensembles of integer-spin atoms confined within a high-finesse optical cavity. Our proposal uses cavity-assisted Raman transitions to engineer a Dicke model for integer-spin atoms, which, in a dispersive limit, reduces to effective atom-atom interactions within the ensemble. This scheme offers a promising and flexible new avenue for the exploration of a wide range of spinor many-body physics. As an example of this, we present results showing that this method can be used to generate spin-nematic squeezing in an ensemble of spin-1 atoms. With realistic parameters, the scheme should enable substantial squeezing on time scales much shorter than current experiments with spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensates.

Squeezing giant spin states via geometric phase control in cavity-assisted Raman transitions

Squeezing ensemble of spins provides a way to surpass the standard quantum limit in quantum metrology and test the fundamental physics as well, and therefore attracts broad interest. Here we propose an experimentally accessible protocol to squeeze a giant ensemble of spins via the geometric phase control (GPC). Using the cavity-assisted Raman transition (CART) in a double Λ-type system, we realize an effective Dicke model. Under the condition of vanishing effective spin transition frequency, we find a particular evolution time where the cavity decouples from the spins and the spin ensemble is squeezed considerably. Our scheme combines the CART and the GPC, and has the potential to improve the sensitivity in quantum metrology with spins by about two orders.

Tunable two-axis spin model and spin squeezing in two cavities**Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11422433, 11447028, 61227902, 11434007, and 61275211), the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province, China (Grant No. LY13A040001), and the Scientific Research Foundation of the Education Department of Zhejiang Province, China (Grant No. Y201122352).

Multi-mode cavities have now attracted much attention both experimentally and theoretically. In this paper, inspired by recent experiments of cavity-assisted Raman transitions, we realize a two-axis spin Hamiltonian in two cavities. This realized Hamiltonian has a distinct property that all parameters can be tuned independently. For proper parameters, the well-studied one- and two-axis twisting Hamiltonians are recovered, and the scaling of N−1 of the maximal squeezing factor can occur naturally. On the other hand, in the two-axis twisting Hamiltonian, spin squeezing is usually reduced when increasing the atomic resonant frequency ω0. Surprisingly, we find that by combining with the dimensionless parameter χ (> −1), this atomic resonant frequency ω0 can enhance spin squeezing greatly. These results are beneficial for achieving the required spin squeezing in experiments.

Photon-Induced Spin-Orbit Coupling in Ultracold Atoms inside Optical Cavity

We consider an atom inside a ring cavity, where a plane-wave cavity field together with an external coherent laser beam induces a two-photon Raman transition between two hyperfine ground states of the atom. This cavity-assisted Raman transition induces effective coupling between atom’s internal degrees of freedom and its center-of-mass motion. In the meantime, atomic dynamics exerts a back-action to cavity photons. We investigate the properties of this system by adopting a mean-field and a full quantum approach, and show that the interplay between the atomic dynamics and the cavity field gives rise to intriguing nonlinear phenomena.

Realization of the Dicke model using cavity-assisted Raman transitions.

We realize an open version of the Dicke model by coupling two hyperfine ground states using two cavity-assisted Raman transitions. The interaction due to only one of the couplings is described by the Tavis-Cummings model and we observe a normal mode splitting in the transmission around the dispersively shifted cavity. With both couplings present the dynamics are described by the Dicke model and we measure the onset of superradiant scattering into the cavity above a critical coupling strength.

Toward an ion–photon quantum interface in an optical cavity

We demonstrate several building blocks for an ion-photon interface based on a trapped Ca ion in an optical cavity. We identify a favorable experimental configuration and measure system parameters, including relative motion of the trapped ion and the resonator mode. A complete spectrum of cavity-assisted Raman transitions between the $4^{2}S_{1/2}$ and $3^{2}D_{5/2}$ manifolds is obtained. On two of these transitions, we generate orthogonally polarized cavity photons, and we demonstrate coherent manipulation of the corresponding pair of atomic states. Possible implementations of atom-photon entanglement and state mapping within the ion-cavity system are discussed.

Long-term stability of continuous-wave emission from an ion-cavity system

Combining the technologies of ion-trapping and cavity quantum-electrodynamics, we have achieved uninterrupted coupling of a single ion to a mode of an optical resonator up to a time-scale of 103 seconds. The interaction of ion and field was implemented as a cavity-assisted Raman-transition from the ground state to an excited metastable state. The coupling was probed by detecting the photons emitted from the resonator upon excitation of the cavity mode. We have optimized the system parameters to obtain a high emission-rate. The experiment provides a basis for the controlled generation of single-photon pulses and other cavity quantum-electrodynamics effects relying on the continuous interaction of a single particle with a quantized field.