Work

Zero-Area Single-Photon Pulses

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: Broadband single photons are usually considered not to couple efficiently to atomic gases because of the large mismatch in bandwidth. Contrary to this intuitive picture, here we demonstrate that the interaction of ultrashort single photons with a dense resonant atomic sample deeply modifies the temporal shape of their wave packet mode without degrading their nonclassical character, and effectively generates zero-area single-photon pulses. This is a clear signature of strong transient coupling between single broadband (THz-level) light quanta and atoms, with intriguing fundamental implications and possible new applications to the storage of quantum information.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.116.023602

Authors: L. S. Costanzo, A. S. Coelho, D. Pellegrino, M. S. Mendes, L. Acioli, K. N. Cassemiro, D. Felinto, A. Zavatta, M. Bellini

Institutions: European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, National Institute of Optics, University of Florence, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

Language: English

Topic: Quantum optics and atomic interactions

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Seventh Framework Programme, CHIST-ERA

OpenAlex ID: W2205709895

FWCI: 0.952

Cites: 33

Cited by: 26

Related to: 10