Optimization of photon storage fidelity in ordered atomic arrays

Area of Science:

• Quantum optics
• Atomic physics
• Quantum information science

Background:

• Atomic ensembles are crucial for quantum memory, storing optical states as atomic excitations.
• Current Maxwell-Bloch equations are semi-phenomenological, limiting storage error bounds.
• Ordered atomic arrays offer potential for improved error bounds via spatial interference.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a general formalism for quantum memory in discrete atomic arrays.
• To account for spatial interference effects in light storage.
• To determine maximum storage efficiency for single photons in atomic arrays.

Main Methods:

• Developed a formalism for discrete atomic arrays with known positions.
• Fully incorporated spatial interference of emitted light.
• Applied the formalism to a 2D square atomic array.

Main Results:

• Derived a novel scaling for storage error with atom number N_a: ~ (log N_a)^2 / N_a^2.
• Demonstrated that a 4x4 atomic array can achieve <1% storage error.
• Showed comparable performance to disordered ensembles with optical depth of 600.

Conclusions:

• Ordered atomic arrays with spatial interference offer superior quantum memory performance.
• This formalism provides a pathway to engineer better quantum memories.
• Discrete atomic arrays present a promising platform for efficient quantum information storage.