Storage and retrieval of quantum states of light

Abstract

While photons do not interact with each other and are difficult to localize, they are the fastest and the most robust carriers of quantum information. In contrast, atoms can interact with each other and can even be stopped by conventional laser cooling techniques, but they are not fast carriersof information. We can eliminate the disadvantages of both systems and utilize their advantages if the quantum information of photonscan be coherently transferred to atoms. Here I introduce current activities to communicate quantum information between light fields and atomic systems in unitary manner.