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Title: Quantum random walks in a coherent atomic system via electromagnetically induced transparency

Journal Article · · Journal of the Optical Society of America. Part B, Optical Physics
; ;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Department of Physics, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062 (China)
  2. Department of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062 (China)

We propose a scheme to realize the quantum random walk in a coherent five-level atomic system via electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). From optical Bloch equations describing the dynamics of the electromagnetic field and atomic population and coherence, we show that two circular-polarized components of a probe field display different dispersion properties and hence acquire different phase-shift modifications when passing through atomic cells. We demonstrate that the quantum coherence and interference owing to the EIT effect result in a low absorption of the probe field and hence provide a possibility of realizing a many-step phase-shift quantum random walk. The scheme may be used to experimentally highlight the characteristics of quantum random walk and lead to a promising application for quantum computation.

OSTI ID:
21175787
Journal Information:
Journal of the Optical Society of America. Part B, Optical Physics, Vol. 25, Issue 12; Other Information: DOI: 10.1364/JOSAB.25.000C39; (c) 2008 Optical Society of America; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0740-3224
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English