Long optical storage times are an essential requirement to establish high-rate entanglement distribution over large distances using memory-based quantum repeaters. Rare earth ion-doped crystals are arguably well-suited candidates for building such quantum memories. Toward this end, we investigate the 795.32 nm 3H6 ↔ 3H4 transition of 1% thulium-doped yttrium gallium garnet crystal (Tm3+:Y3Ga5O12 : Tm3+:YGG). Most essentially, we find that the optical coherence time can reach 1.1 ms, and, using laser pulses, we demonstrate optical storage based on the atomic frequency comb (AFC) protocol up to 100 µs. In addition, we demonstrate multiplexed storage, including feed-forward selection, shifting, and filtering of spectral modes, as well as quantum state storage using members of non-classical photon pairs. Our results show that Tm:YGG can be a potential candidate for creating multiplexed quantum memories with long optical storage times.@en

We characterize the optical coherence and energy-level properties of the 795-nm H63 to H43 transition of Tm3+ in a Ti4+:LiNbO3 waveguide at temperatures as low as 0.65 K. Coherence properties are measured with varied temperature, magnetic field, optical excitation power and wavelength, and measurement timescale. We also investigate nuclear spin-induced hyperfine structure and population dynamics with varying magnetic field and laser excitation power. Except for accountable differences due to different Ti4+- and Tm3+-doping concentrations, we find that the properties of Tm3+:Ti4+:LiNbO3 produced by indiffusion doping are consistent with those of a bulk-doped Tm3+:LiNbO3 crystal measured under similar conditions. Our results, which complement previous work in a narrower parameter space, support using rare-earth ions for integrated optical and quantum signal processing.@en

Efficient generation, guiding, and detection of phonons, or mechanical vibrations, are of interest in various fields, including radio-frequency communication, sensing, and quantum information. Diamond is a useful platform for phononics because of the presence of strain-sensitive spin qubits, and its high Young's modulus, which allows for low-loss gigahertz devices. We demonstrate a diamond phononic waveguide platform for generating, guiding, and detecting gigahertz-frequency surface acoustic wave (SAW) phonons. We generate SAWs using interdigital transducers integrated on AlN/diamond and observe SAW transmission at 4-5 GHz through both ridge and suspended waveguides, with wavelength-scale cross sections (approximately 1 m2) to maximize spin-phonon interaction. This work is a crucial step for developing acoustic components for quantum phononic circuits with strain-sensitive color centers in diamond.@en

We demonstrate the transmission of a ∼4-GHz surface acoustic wave across a suspended diamond waveguide. This enables simultaneous coherent mechanical driving of, and optical access to, diamond-based color centers.@en

Long-lived sub-levels of the electronic ground-state manifold of rare-earth ions in crystals can be used as atomic population reservoirs for photon echo-based quantum memories. We measure the dynamics of the Zeeman sublevels of erbium ions that are doped into a lithium niobate waveguide, finding population lifetimes at cryogenic temperatures down to 0.7 K as long as seconds. Then, using these levels, we prepare and characterize atomic frequency combs (AFCs), which can serve as a memory for quantum light at 1532 nm wavelength. The results allow predicting a 0.1% memory efficiency, limited mainly by unwanted background absorption that we believe to be caused by excitation-induced erbium spin flips and frequency shifting due to two-level systems or non-equilibrium phonons. Hence, while it should be possible to create an AFC-based quantum memory in Er3 +:Ti4 +:LiNbO3, improved crystal growth together with optimized AFC preparation will be required to make it suitable for applications in quantum communication.@en

Large-scale fiber-based quantum networks will likely employ telecommunication-wavelength photons of around 1550 nm wavelength to exchange quantum information between remote nodes, and quantum memories, ideally operating at the same wavelength, that allow the transmission distances to be increased, as key elements of a quantum repeater. However, the development of a suitable memory remains an ongoing challenge. Here, we demonstrate the storage and reemission of single heralded 1532-nm-wavelength photons using a crystal waveguide. The photons are emitted from a photon-pair source based on spontaneous parametric down-conversion and the memory is based on an atomic frequency comb of 6 GHz bandwidth, prepared through persistent spectral-hole burning of the inhomogeneously broadened absorption line of a cryogenically cooled erbium-doped lithium niobate waveguide. Despite currently limited storage time and efficiency, this demonstration represents an important step toward quantum networks that operate in the telecommunication band and the development of integrated (on-chip) quantum technology using industry-standard crystals.@en

In this work, we fabricate a multimode quantum memory out of a thulium-doped crystal and demonstrate storage of laser pulses of up to 100 µsec. A significant step forward for creating quantum memories with long optical storage times.@en

In this work, we fabricate a multimode quantum memory out of a thulium-doped crystal and demonstrate storage of laser pulses of up to 100 µsec. A significant step forward for creating quantum memories with long optical storage times.@en