Toward deterministic sources: Photon generation in a fiber-cavity quantum memory

We demonstrate the generation of photons within a fiber-cavity quantum memory, followed by later on-demand readout. Signal photons are generated by spontaneous four-wave mixing in a fiber cavity comprising a birefringent fiber with dichroic reflective end facets. The detection of the partner herald photon indicates the creation of the stored signal photon. After a delay, the signal photon is switched out of resonance with the fiber cavity by intracavity frequency translation using Bragg scattering four-wave mixing, driven by ancillary control pulses. We measure sub-Poissonian statistics in the output signal mode, with $g_{\text{AC}}^{\left(2\right)}=0.54\left(1\right)$ in the first readout bin and a readout frequency translation efficiency of $\approx 80\%$. The $1/e$ memory lifetime is $\approx 67$ cavity cycles, or 1.68 $\mu s$. In an alternate fiber cavity, we show a strategy for noise reduction and measure $g_{\text{AC}}^{\left(2\right)}=0.068\left(10\right)$ after one cavity cycle.