Quantum optics with diamond defects

Point defects in diamond are atomic-like systems embedded in a solid matrix. This combination enables the manipulation of light through light-matter interactions, as with isolated atoms, in addition to enabling spatial manipulations using photonic structures embedded into the solid matrix.  Specific examples include sources of quantum light, linear optical quantum gates, and quantum-optical memories (QOMs). In this talk I will focus on QOMs. These are key elements for the scaling-up of optical quantum information processing (OQIP), useful for both repeat-until success schemes of quantum computation, and for the synchronization of multiple photon events for the creation of large-scale quantum states of light, a required resource for OQIP. I’ll present our work towards the use of an ensemble of point defects in diamond for the controlled storage of quantum light. Based on previous work with atomic ensembles, I’ll explain the principles of such QOMs, and the adaptations needed for their implementation with two types of diamond defects. I’ll then present preliminary experimental results towards this goal.