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Development of building blocks for new European quantum communication network

Slovenian-Croatian joined bilateral project
ARRS project J2-2514 – Development of building blocks for new European quantum communication network
Project leaders: prof. dr. Anton Ramšak and dr. Mario Stipčević
Project team at the Jožef Stefan Institute: Vesna Pirc Jevšenak, Katja Gosar, Tadej Mežnaršič, Erik Zupanič, Peter Jeglič (PI)

Apart from its use for fundamental tests of physics, entanglement is an essential resource for quantum technologies. For example, it allows for quantum cryptography, for measurement-based quantum computing, for quantum-enhanced measurements and for quantum communication schemes like quantum teleportation. Our proposed project is a step towards enabling tools for a wide-spread use of quantum technologies.
As a part of this project we are developing a quantum memory based on electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in a cloud of cesium atoms. The idea is to store an entangled photon and have the ability to recall it on demand. So far we have achieved a few microseconds long storage time of classical light pulses with atomic vapor and almost a microsecond of storage time with ultracool cesium atoms. We are now working towards longer storage times and higher storage efficiency in both mediums.