Nonlinear Quantum Optics in a Waveguide: Distinct Single Photons Strongly Interacting at the Single Atom Level

Pavel Kolchin, Rupert F. Oulton, and Xiang Zhang

Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 113601 – Published 15 March 2011; Erratum Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 139902 (2011)

Abstract

We propose a waveguide-QED system where two single photons of distinct frequency or polarization interact strongly. The system consists of a single ladder-type three level atom coupled to a waveguide. When both optical transitions are coupled strongly to the waveguide’s mode, we show that a control photon tuned to the upper transition induces a $π$ phase shift and tunneling of a probe photon tuned to the otherwise reflective lower transition. Furthermore, the system exhibits single photon scattering by a classical control beam. Waveguide-QED schemes could be an alternative to high quality cavities or dense atomic ensembles in quantum information processing.

Received 12 November 2010
Corrected 21 March 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.113601

Corrections

21 March 2011

Erratum

Publisher’s Note: Nonlinear Quantum Optics in a Waveguide: Distinct Single Photons Strongly Interacting at the Single Atom Level [Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 113601 (2011)]

Pavel Kolchin, Rupert F. Oulton, and Xiang Zhang

Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 139902 (2011)

Authors & Affiliations

Pavel Kolchin¹, Rupert F. Oulton¹, and Xiang Zhang^1,2,*

¹Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center, 3112 Etcheverry Hall, University of California, Berkeley California 94720, USA
²Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, USA