Entangling Atoms in Photonic Crystals

Abstract

We propose a method for entangling a system of two-level atoms in photonic crystals. The atoms are assumed to move in void regions of a photonic crystal. The interaction between the atoms is mediated either via a defect mode or via resonant dipole-dipole interaction. We show that these interactions can produce pure entangled atomic states. We analyze the problem with parameters typical for currently existing photonic crystals and Rydberg atoms. We show that the atoms can emerge from photonic crystals in entangled states. Depending on the linear dimensions of the crystal and on their velocity of the entangled atoms can be separated by tens of centimeters.