Controlled multi-photon subtraction with cascaded Rydberg superatoms as single-photon absorbers

Nina Stiesdal, Hannes Busche, Kevin Kleinbeck, Jan Kumlin, Mikkel G. Hansen, Hans Peter Büchler and Sebastian Hofferberth ()
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Nina Stiesdal: University of Southern Denmark
Hannes Busche: University of Southern Denmark
Kevin Kleinbeck: University of Stuttgart
Jan Kumlin: University of Stuttgart
Mikkel G. Hansen: University of Southern Denmark
Hans Peter Büchler: University of Stuttgart
Sebastian Hofferberth: University of Southern Denmark

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The preparation of light pulses with well-defined quantum properties requires precise control at the individual photon level. Here, we demonstrate exact and controlled multi-photon subtraction from incoming light pulses. We employ a cascaded system of tightly confined cold atom ensembles with strong, collectively enhanced coupling of photons to Rydberg states. The excitation blockade resulting from interactions between Rydberg atoms limits photon absorption to one per ensemble and rapid dephasing of the collective excitation suppresses stimulated re-emission of the photon. We experimentally demonstrate subtraction with up to three absorbers. Furthermore, we present a thorough theoretical analysis of our scheme where we identify weak Raman decay of the long-lived Rydberg state as the main source of infidelity in the subtracted photon number and investigate the performance of the multi-photon subtractor for increasing absorber numbers in the presence of Raman decay.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24522-w

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