Heralded single-photon absorption by a single atom
Heralded single-photon absorption by a single atom
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DOI：
10.1038/nphys1805
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发表时间：
2011-01-01
期刊：
影响因子：
19.6
通讯作者：
Eschner, J.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Piro, N.;Rohde, F.;Eschner, J.
单原子对单个光子的发射和吸收是物质-光相互作用的基本极限，体现了其量子力学性质。作为受控过程，它也是量子光学信息技术中的关键工具(1-3)。受控的单光子发射是很先进的(4-14)；对于单原子的受控的单光子吸收，有一些建议，但只采取了初步的实验步骤(15-19)。在这里，我们报告了单个囚禁离子对单个光子的吸收：利用光子对源，检测到与量子相关的伙伴光子预示着原子上存在共振光子。我们发现先驱体的探测与原子中的吸收过程之间存在明显的关联，并演示了这一过程的偏振控制。我们的实验证明了以前未曾探索过的单个吸收体与量子光源之间的相互作用；随着对耦合的改进控制，它将开辟量子技术的新途径。
Emission and absorption of single photons by single atoms is a fundamental limit of matter-light interaction, manifesting its quantum mechanical nature. As a controlled process, it is also a key tool in quantum optical information technology(1-3). Controlled single-photon emission is well advanced(4-14); for controlled single-photon absorption by a single atom, proposals exist but only preliminary experimental steps have been taken(15-19). Here we report the absorption of single photons by a single trapped ion: employing a photon pair source, detection of the quantum-correlated partner photon heralds the presence of the resonant photon at the atom. We find clear correlations between the detection of the herald and the absorption process in the atom; we also demonstrate polarization control of this process. Our experiment evidences previously unexplored interaction between a single absorber and a quantum light source; with improved control over the coupling, it will open up new avenues in quantum technology.