LIMAStruct · Light-matter interaction with structured light

Light-matter interaction with structured light

The full structuration of light in the transverse plane, including intensity, phase and polarization, holds the promise of unprecedented capabilities for applications in classical optics as well as in quantum optics and information sciences. Harnessing special topologies can lead to enhanced focusing, data multiplexing or advanced sensing and metrology. The capability to coherently interact structured light with atoms could open a variety of applications, which can extend these promises to applications such as quantum networks, including multiplexed long-distance quantum repeaters. The LIMAStruct project realized at Laboratoire Kastler Brossel in Paris aimed at demonstrating multiplexed light-matter interface experiments based on a large-optical-depth cold atomic ensemble. Firstly, a large optical depth of 300 with a very long cloud of cold atoms, up to 3 cm long, was achieved. Then by using this large atomic ensemble and dual-rail storage, a quantum memory for polarization qubits with a record efficiency of 70%, while maintaining a fidelity with the initial quantum bit beyond 99%, was realized. Finally, a few-mode spatial multiplexer has been aligned and characterized to be integrated into the memory setup.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union