Telecom-band-integrated multimode photonic quantum memory

Telecom-band-integrated quantum memory is an elementary building block for developing quantum networks compatible with fiber communication infrastructures. Toward such a network with large capacity, an integrated multimode photonic quantum memory at telecom band has yet been demonstrated. Here, we report a fiber-integrated multimode quantum storage of single photon at telecom band on a laser-written chip. The storage device is a fiber-pigtailed Er3+:LiNbO3 waveguide and allows a storage of up to 330 temporal modes of heralded single photon with 4-GHz-wide bandwidth at 1532 nm and a 167-fold increasing of coincidence detection rate with respect to single mode. Our memory system with all-fiber addressing is performed using telecom-band fiber-integrated and on-chip components. The results represent an important step for the future quantum networks using integrated photonics devices.

Automated summary

We report an integrated multimode photonic quantum memory for single photon storage at the telecom band. Using a fiber-pigtailed Er3+:LiNbO3 waveguide, the device can store up to 330 temporal modes of heralded single photon, with a 4-GHz-wide bandwidth at 1532 nm and a 167-fold increasing of coincidence detection rate compared to single mode. This research represents an important advancement towards future quantum networks using integrated photonics devices.