Single photon absorption by a single atom: from heralded absorption to polarization state mapping

Together with photon emission, the absorption of a single photon by a single atom is a fundamental process in matter-light interaction that manifests its quantum mechanical nature. As an experimentally controlled process, it is a key tool for the realization of quantum technologies. In particular, in an atom/photon based quantum network scenario, in which localized atomic particles are used as quantum information processing nodes while photons are used as carriers of quantum information between distant nodes, controlling both emission and absorption of single photons by single atoms is required for quantum coherent state mapping between the two entities. Most experimental efforts to date have focused on establishing the control of single photon emission by single trapped atoms, and the implementation of quantum networking protocols using this interaction. In this chapter, we describe experimental efforts to control the process of single photon absorption by single trapped ions. We describe a series of experiments in which polarization entangled photon pairs, generated by a spontaneous parametric down-conversion source, are coupled to a single ion. First the source is operated to generate heralded single photons, and coincidences between the absorption event of one photon of the pair and the detection of the heralding partner photon are observed. We then show how polarization control in the process is established, leading to the manifestation of the photonic polarization entanglement in the absorption process. Finally, we introduce protocols in which this interaction scheme is harnessed to perform tasks in a quantum network, such as entanglement distribution among distant nodes of the network, and we demonstrate a specific protocol for heralded, high-fidelity photon-to-atom quantum state transfer.