Eur. Phys. J. D (2012) 66: 294
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2012-20732-2

Regular Article

Efficiency of quantum volume hologram

¹ Institute for Theoretical Physics and Institute for Gravitational Physics, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Callinstr. 38, 30167 Hannover, Germany
² Faculty of Physics, St. Petersburg State University, Ul’janovskaya 3, 198504 Petrodvorets, St. Petersburg, Russia

^a e-mail: sokolov.i.v@gmail.com

Received: 15 December 2011
Received in final form: 21 September 2012
Published online: 27 November 2012

Abstract

We discuss storage and retrieval efficiency of parallel spatially multimode quantum memory for light – quantum volume hologram. The introduced in [D.V. Vasyliev, I.V. Sokolov, E.S. Polzik, Phys. Rev. A 81, 020302(R) (2010)] scheme is based on the counter-propagating (non-collinear in general case) quantum signal wave and strong classical reference wave in presence of the Raman-type off-resonant interaction with atomic spins rotating in the magnetic field. By the forward-propagating retrieval the quantum volume hologram is less sensitive to diffraction [D.V. Vasyliev, I.V. Sokolov, E.S. Polzik, Phys. Rev. A 81, 020302(R) (2010)] and therefore is capable of achieving high density of storage of spatial modes. We propose to use for the forward-propagating retrieval the signal temporal eigenmodes of the whole write-in and readout memory cycle. As compared to the approach when there are used the eigenmodes optimal only for the write-in stage of the memory, our proposal allows for better efficiencies for given physical parameters of the scheme, and, hence, for higher quantum capacity of parallel quantum memory. We also demonstrate that for the backward-propagating retrieval of quantum volume hologram the collective spin wave momentum inversion is needed, which is achieved by means of the π-pulse of stimulated Raman scattering of counter-propagating classical waves.