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Photon‐echo quantum memory in solid state systems
Author(s) -
Tittel W.,
Afzelius M.,
Chaneliére T.,
Cone R.L.,
Kröll S.,
Moiseev S.A.,
Sellars M.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
laser and photonics reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.778
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1863-8899
pISSN - 1863-8880
DOI - 10.1002/lpor.200810056
Subject(s) - quantum information science , quantum , repeater (horology) , physics , quantum network , photon , quantum imaging , quantum state , quantum sensor , quantum technology , quantum mechanics , quantum information , open quantum system , computer science , quantum entanglement , artificial intelligence , encoding (memory)
Many applications of quantum communication crucially depend on reversible transfer of quantum states between light and matter. Motivated by rapid recent developments in theory and experiment, we review research related to quantum memory based on a photon‐echo approach in solid state material with emphasis on use in a quantum repeater. After introducing quantum communication, the quantum repeater concept, and properties of a quantum memory required to be useful in a quantum repeater, we describe the historical development from spin echoes, discovered in 1950, to photon‐echo quantum memory. We present a simple theoretical description of the ideal protocol, and comment on the impact of a non‐ideal realization on its quantum nature. We extensively discuss rare‐earth‐ion doped crystals and glasses as material candidates, elaborate on traditional photon‐echo experiments as a test‐bed for quantum state storage, and describe the current state‐of‐the‐art of photon‐echo quantum memory. Finally, we give a brief outlook on current research.