Taking the non-Markovian effect into account, we study how to store a single photon of arbitrary temporal shape in a single atom coupled to an optical cavity. Our model applies to Raman transitions in three-level atoms, with one branch of the transition controlled by a driving pulse, and the other coupled to the cavity. For any couplings of input field to the optical cavity and detunings of the atom from the driving pulse and cavity, we extend the input-output relation from Markovian to non-Markovian dynamics. For most possible photon shapes, we derive an analytic expression for the driving pulse in order to completely map the input photon into the atom. We find that the amplitude of the driving pulse depends only on the detuning of the atom from the frequency of the cavity, i.e., the detuning of the atom to the driving pulse has no effect on the strength of the driving pulse.

• Received 24 June 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.88.033835