New opportunities for photon storage and detection: an exploration of a high-efficiency optical quantum memory and the quantum capabilities of the human eye

The field of quantum information has grown in recent years, due to tremendous technological advancements toward quantum networking and quantum computation. Nevertheless, there is still a great need for creative research that explores possibilities for new capabilities. Particularly, we look towards quantum optics research to develop new ways of manipulating and detecting photons. Here, we discuss our efforts toward developing two separate quantum optics experiments that can provide great insight into the development of quantum devices. We begin by discussing our work to investigate the lower threshold of human vision and the eye's potential as a single-photon detector, using a custom-built single-photon source, and a novel two-alternative forced-choice experimental design. Our preliminary findings show promising data that support previous results found from a similar experiment using a somewhat different approach. We then discuss our second project, where we have developed a robust reconfigurable optical delay line quantum memory that compares favorably with competing methods. Our memory is capable of photon storage with an unprecedentedly high time-bandwidth product, high free-space transmission over the range of 10 μs, and high fidelity. These attributes, plus the memory's capability for multi-mode storage, make this system a strong candidate for a critical component in the large-scale heterogeneous quantum networks we hope to see developed in the next ten years.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Physics

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2020

Author dc:creator

• Victora, Michelle M

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kwiat, Paul G
• Gadway, Bryce
• Chemla, Yann
• Wang, Ranxiao Frances D.

• Single photons
• Single-photon sources
• Human vision
• Visual perception
• Visual threshold
• Quantum optics
• Quantum memory

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2020 Michelle Victora

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/108478

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/108478