Linear-optical qubit amplification with spontaneous parametric down-conversion source

Abstract

A single photon is the basic building block in quantum communication. However, it is sensitive to photon loss. In this paper, we discuss a linear-optical amplification protocol for protecting a single photon with a practical spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) source. Our protocol revealed that in a practical experimental condition, the amplification using entanglement as an auxiliary is more powerful than the amplification using a single photon as an auxiliary, for the vacuum state in the SPDC source does not disturb the amplification and can be eliminated automatically. Moreover, the weak SPDC source will become another advantage to benefit the amplification, as the double-pair emission error can be decreased. Our protocol may be useful in future quantum cryptography, especially in the device-independent quantum key distribution.