Abstract
Light storage is the controlled mapping of the state of light onto a stationary, collective atomic excitation. In my talk, I will present our efforts aimed at reaching the quantum non-linear optics regime by storing light on hot Rydberg atoms. I will show recent results of light storage and Rydberg excitations in thin cells, and discuss a unique echo sequence we plan to implement for mitigating motional dephasing. I will also talk about light storage on the nuclear spins of noble-gas atoms. These spins are optically-inaccessible, but can be interfaced with light through collisions with optically-active alkali atoms. I will focus on optimal storage strategies in such concatenated systems.
