A multiplexed quantum memory

TLDR

A quantum repeater uses quantum memory elements to mitigate optical fiber losses, and a multiplexed quantum memory has been theoretically shown to reduce memory time requirements. The study presents an initial implementation of a multiplexed quantum memory element. The implementation employs a cold rubidium gas. The experiment demonstrates that atomic excitations can be created in arbitrary memory element pairs and that Bell's inequality is violated for light fields during the write and read processes. Citation: Collins et al., Phys.

Abstract

A quantum repeater is a system for long-distance quantum communication that employs quantum memory elements to mitigate optical fiber transmission losses. The multiplexed quantum memory (O. A. Collins, S. D. Jenkins, A. Kuzmich, and T. A. B. Kennedy, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 060502 (2007)) has been shown theoretically to reduce quantum memory time requirements. We present an initial implementation of a multiplexed quantum memory element in a cold rubidium gas. We show that it is possible to create atomic excitations in arbitrary memory element pairs and demonstrate the violation of Bell's inequality for light fields generated during the write and read processes.