Memory device for photons by exploiting Brillouin interactions in nanowires
Phys. Rev. A 114, 013510 – Published 13 July, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/d13g-5fbr
Abstract
Memory devices for single photons are notable components for quantum information processing and quantum communications. The present study investigates the possibility of achieving the storage of light at the level of single photons inside nanofibers by exploiting stimulated Brillouin scattering. We present first the standard approach using a coherent buffer in a nanoscale waveguide by transferring the optical signal coherently to an acoustic wave that can be extracted by the reverse process. The life time of the acoustic wave put a limitation on the applicability of such an approach for single-photon signals. We introduce a configuration for achieving a slow signal at the level of single photons without gain or loss. The process utilizes photon-phonon Brillouin interactions involving two counterpropagating pump fields. The photon storage is achieved through the time delay of a significantly slow signal inside nanowires. We address the condition for obtaining negligible influence due to the scattering off thermal phonons.
