No Arabic abstract
We create a multi-partite entangled state by storing a single photon in a crystal that contains many large atomic ensembles with distinct resonance frequencies. The photon is re-emitted at a well-defined time due to an interference effect analogous to multi-slit diffraction. We derive a lower bound for the number of entangled ensembles based on the contrast of the interference and the single-photon character of the input, and we experimentally demonstrate entanglement between over two hundred ensembles, each containing a billion atoms. In addition, we illustrate the fact that each individual ensemble contains further entanglement. Our results are the first demonstration of entanglement between many macroscopic systems in a solid and open the door to creating even more complex entangled states.
Entanglement measures quantify nonclassical correlations present in a quantum system, but can be extremely difficult to calculate, even more so, when information on its state is limited. Here, we consider broad families of entanglement criteria that are based on variances of arbitrary operators and analytically derive the lower bounds these criteria provide for two relevant entanglement measures: the best separable approximation (BSA) and the generalized robustness (GR). This yields a practical method for quantifying entanglement in realistic experimental situations, in particular, when only few measurements of simple observables are available. As a concrete application of this method, we quantify bipartite and multipartite entanglement in spin-squeezed Bose-Einstein condensates of $sim 500$ atoms, by lower bounding the BSA and the GR only from measurements of first and second moments of the collective spin operator.
Establishing quantum entanglement between individual nodes is crucial for building large-scale quantum networks, enabling secure quantum communication, distributed quantum computing, enhanced quantum metrology and fundamental tests of quantum mechanics. However, the shared entanglements have been merely observed in either extremely low-temperature or well-isolated systems, which limits the quantum networks for the real-life applications. Here, we report the realization of heralding quantum entanglement between two atomic ensembles at room temperature, where each of them contains billions of motional atoms. By measuring the mapped-out entangled state with quantum interference, concurrence and correlation, we strongly verify the existence of a single excitation delocalized in two atomic ensembles. Remarkably, the heralded quantum entanglement of atomic ensembles can be operated with the feature of delay-choice, which illustrates the essentiality of the built-in quantum memory. The demonstrated building block paves the way for constructing quantum networks and distributing entanglement across multiple remote nodes at ambient conditions.
Spin coherent states are the matter equivalent of optical coherent states, where a large number of two component particles form a macroscopic state displaying quantum coherence. Here we give a detailed study of entanglement generated between two spin-1/2 BECs due to an Sz1 Sz2 interaction. The states that are generated show a remarkably rich structure showing fractal characteristics. In the limit of large particle number N, the entanglement shows a strong dependence upon whether the entangling gate times are a rational or irrational multiple of pi/4. We discuss the robustness of various states under decoherence and show that despite the large number of particles in a typical BEC, entanglement on a macroscopic scale should be observable as long as the gate times are less than hbar/J sqrt[N], where J is the effective BEC-BEC coupling energy. Such states are anticipated to be useful for various quantum information applications such as quantum teleportation and quantum algorithms.
In analog to counterparts widely used in electronic circuits, all optical non-reciprocal devices are basic building blocks for both classical and quantum optical information processing. Approaching the fundamental limit of such devices, where the propagation of a single photon exhibits a good non-reciprocal characteristic, requires an asymmetric strong coupling between a single photon and a matter. Unfortunately it has been not realized yet. Here, we propose and experimentally realize a quantum non-reciprocity device with low optical losses and a high isolation of larger than 14 dB based on the cold atoms. Besides, the non-reciprocal transmission of a quantum qubit and non-reciprocal quantum storage of a true single photon are also realized. All results achieved would be very promising in building up quantum non-reciprocal devices for quantum networks.
We consider an ensemble of atoms with $Lambda$-type level structure trapped in a single-mode cavity, and propose a geometric scheme of coherent manipulation of quantum states on the subspace of zero-energy states within the quantum Zeno subspace of the system. We find that the particular subspace inherits the decoherence-free nature of the quantum Zeno subspace and features a symmetry-protected degeneracy, fulfilling all the conditions for a universal scheme of arbitrary unitary operations on it.