Quantum memory for surface polaritons in metamaterials

Unlike conventional materials, negative index meta-materials (NIMM) support both electric and magnetic surface polariton (SP) modes that are spatially confined to the media interface with highly reduced losses. We study electromagnetically induced transparency(EIT) based quantum control of SP modes in metamaterial structure. Utilizing SP confinement,\r\nwe demonstrate the possibility of low loss surface polariton fields with very slow group velocity at EIT conditions. We discuss potential applications in quantum information and quantum memory of weak light fields.