Four-photon State Research Articles

Experimental realization of a four-photon seven-qubit graph state for one-way quantum computation

We propose and demonstrate the scaling up of photonic graph states through path qubit fusion. Two path qubits from separate two-photon four-qubit states are fused to generate a two-dimensional seven-qubit graph state composed of polarization and path qubits. Genuine seven-qubit entanglement is verified by evaluating the witness operator. Six qubits from the graph state are used to demonstrate the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm for general two-bit functions with a success probability greater than 90%.

Generation of four-photon GHZ states based on interaction between a four-level atom and two bimodal cavities

A simple scheme is presented for generating four-photon Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) states with interaction between a four-level atom and two bimodal cavities. In the proposed protocol, the quantum information is encoded on Fock states of the cavity fields. The detection of the atom can collapse the cavity to the desired state. The experimental feasibility of our proposal is also discussed.

Local conversion of four Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen photon pairs into four-photon polarization-entangled decoherence-free states with non-photon-number-resolving detectors

We propose a linear-optics-based scheme for local conversion of four Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen photon pairs distributed among five parties into four-photon polarization-entangled decoherence-free states using local operations and classical communication. The proposed setup involves simple linear optical elements and non-photon-number-resolving detectors that can only distinguish between the presence and absence of photons, and no information on the exact number of photons can be obtained. This greatly simplifies the experimental realization for linear optical quantum computation and quantum information processing.

Phase-reversed structures in superlattice of nonlinear materials

We present detailed description of so-called phase-reversed structures that are characterized by two grating wave vectors allowing simultaneously phase-match two parametric three-wave processes. The novelty is that the structure is realized as a definite assembly of nonlinear segments leading to detailed description of cascaded three-photon processes with the parameters of realistic structured nonlinear materials of finite length. We apply these results for analysis of the quasi-phase-matching in production of both photon triplet and four-photon states in cascaded down-conversion. The received results are matched with the experimental data.

Useful Multiparticle Entanglement and Sub-Shot-Noise Sensitivity in Experimental Phase Estimation

We experimentally demonstrate a general criterion to identify entangled states useful for the estimation of an unknown phase shift with a sensitivity higher than the shot-noise limit. We show how to exploit this entanglement on the examples of a maximum likelihood as well as of a Bayesian phase estimation protocol. Using an entangled four-photon state we achieve a phase sensitivity clearly beyond the shot-noise limit. Our detailed comparison of methods and quantum states for entanglement enhanced metrology reveals the connection between multiparticle entanglement and sub-shot-noise uncertainty, both in a frequentist and in a Bayesian phase estimation setting.

Robust scheme for the preparation of polarization-photon cluster state with homodyne measurement via weak cross-Kerr nonlinearity

A scheme is proposed for generating a polarization four-photon cluster state based on weak cross-Kerr nonlinearity. Compared with the existing schemes, the distinct feature of the present scheme would be its preparation with near-perfect fidelity due to homodyne measurement on the probe mode. After the probe mode interacts successively with multiple signal-mode photons, sixteen terms about the signal modes can be divided into four groups with the help of homodyne measurement. Each group can be transformed into the cluster state through the appropriate local operations. Thus the present scheme has a high success probability. Because it is difficult to obtain deterministic single-photon sources for current experimental technology, the realistic success probability is rather low but is preponderant in contrast to the existing schemes.

Efficient preparation of a four-photon cluster state with homodyne measurement via cross-Kerr nonlinearity

A scheme is proposed for generating a multiphoton entangled cluster state among four modes. The scheme only uses Kerr medium, beam splitter and homodyne measurements on coherent light fields, which can be efficiently made in quantum optical laboratories. The photon in the signal mode is prepared in a superposition state of the vacuum state and one-photon state while the probe beam is initially set in a coherent state superposition. The strong probe mode interacts successively with multiple signal-mode photons, each causing a conditional phase rotation in the probe mode. Subsequent momentum quadrature homodyne measurement of the probe mode will project the photons in the signal mode into the desired entangled states. It is shown that under certain conditions, the four-photon cluster state can be generated with high fidelity and high success probability, and the scheme is feasible by current experimental technology.

Control of quantum transverse correlations on a four-photon system

Control of spatial quantum correlations in bi-photons is one of the fundamental principles of Quantum Imaging. Up to now, experiments have been restricted to controlling the state of a single bi-photon, by using linear optical elements. In this work we demonstrate experimental control of quantum correlations in a four-photon state comprised of two pairs of photons. Our scheme is based on a high-efficiency parametric downconversion source coupled to a double slit by a variable linear optical setup, in order to obtain spatially encoded qubits. Both entangled and separable pairs have been obtained, by altering experimental parameters. We show how the correlations influence both the interference and diffraction on the double slit.

Experimental Extraction of Secure Correlations from a Noisy Private State

We report experimental generation of a noisy entangled four-photon state that exhibits a separation between the secure key contents and distillable entanglement, a hallmark feature of the recently established quantum theory of private states. The privacy analysis, based on the full tomographic reconstruction of the prepared state, is utilized in a proof-of-principle key generation. The inferiority of distillation-based strategies to extract the key is exposed by an implementation of an entanglement distillation protocol for the produced state.

Generating a Four-qubit Photon-Number Cluster State via Cross-Kerr Medium

A scheme is proposed for generating a photon-number entangled cluster state among four modes. The scheme only uses Kerr medium and homodyne measurement on probe coherent light fields, which can be efficiently made in quantum optical laboratories. The photon in the signal mode is prepared in a superposition state of the vacuum state and one-photon state while the probe beam is initially set in a intense coherent state superposition. It is shown that under certain conditions, the four-photon cluster state can be generated effectively with high success probability and homodyne detection required only once, and the scheme is feasible by current experimental technology.

Bell inequality tests of four-photon six-qubit graph states

We report on the experimental realization of two different Bell inequality tests based on six-qubit linear-type and Y-shape graph states. For each of these states, the Bell inequalities tested are optimal in the sense that they provide the maximum violation among all Bell inequalities with stabilizing observables and possess the maximum resistance to noise.

Generation of four-photon polarization-entangled decoherence-free states within a network

We propose an optical protocol for generating four-photon polarization-entangled decoherence-free states between two arbitrary parties under control of a number of controllers in terms of optical elements. We show that the protocol can be successfully realized with a certain probability.

Generation of four-photon polarization-entangled cluster states via cross-Kerr nonlinearity

We propose a scheme for generating four-photon polarization-entangled cluster states based on the cross-Kerr nonlinear interaction between field-modes. Compared with other schemes, our scheme introduces the idea of parity gate and uses the non-destructive measurement method based on homodyne detection, which is easier to implement in experiment.

A scheme for demonstration of four-photon de Broglie wavelength

We propose a scheme to effectively generate a four-photon path-entangled number state [the NOON state i.e. for the demonstration of four-photon de Broglie wavelength. Our scheme requires only linear optical elements, photon detectors and post-selections which are all within the reach of current technology.

Generation of Four-Photon Cluster State with Coherent Light via Cross-Kerr Nonlinearity

We propose two schemes for preparing four-photon cluster state through cross-Kerr nonlinearity. Two coherent fields interact when they enter a nonlinear Kerr medium. If the interaction time is chosen appropriately in each Kerr medium, four-photon cluster state can be generated based on the results of two homodyne detectors in the first scheme. These schemes only use Kerr medium and homodyne measurements on coherent light fields, which can be efficiently made in quantum optical laboratories. In addition, weak cross-Kerr nonlinearity is sufficient. All of the properties make these schemes feasible in experiments.

Multi-photon coherent states via a Lie algebra method

Using Lie algebra methods, we find a new class of Bogoliubov transformations which generalize the notion of squeezed states. The Hamiltonians for the simple harmonic and anharmonic oscillators, turn out to be the generators of a Lie group, whose other generators may be found exactly, or up to any desired order of the perturbation parameter. An element of this Lie group, which is realized as the multi-photon operator, transforms the anharmonic Hamiltonian to the harmonic one. The transformation of the ordinary annihilation and creation operators under this unitary transformation leads to the introduction of multi-photon coherent states. We specifically consider four-photon coherent states in detail and study the time dependent position and momentum uncertainties in these states.

Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger-type violation of local realism by mixed states

Cluster states are multiparticle entangled states with special entanglement properties particularly suitable for quantum computation. It has been shown that cluster states can exhibit Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) -type nonlocality even when some of their qubits have been lost. In the present work, we generated a four-photon mixed state, which is equivalent to the partial, qubit-loss state of an $N$-qubit cluster state up to some local transformations. By using this mixed state, we then realize a GHZ-type violation of local realism. Our results not only demonstrate a mixed state's GHZ-type nonlocality but also exhibit the robustness of cluster states under qubit-loss conditions.

Anharmonic oscillators and generalized squeezed states

We present a new method to study the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of anharmonic oscillators. It involves a new class of Bogoliubov transformations and leads to the introduction of k-photon coherent states. We consider the Hamiltonians for the simple harmonic and anharmonic oscillators as the two generators of a Lie algebra, whose other generators may be found exactly, or up to any desired order of the perturbation parameter involved. An element of this Lie group, turning out to be the multi-photon operator, transforms the anharmonic Hamiltonian to the harmonic one, thus facilitating the calculation of the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the former. The transformation of the ordinary annihilation and creation operators leads to generalized ones, corresponding to generalized oscillation modes, and also helps us out to introduce multi-photon coherent states. We specifically consider four-photon coherent states in detail and study time dependent position and momentum uncertainties in these states.

Generation of arbitrary four-photon polarization-entangled decoherence-free states

We propose a scheme to generate four-photon polarization-entangled states, which enables the encoding of an arbitrary qubit into a four-qubit decoherence-free subspace robust against collective decoherence. The scheme is based on linear optical elements and postselection strategy, which is feasible with existing experimental technology.

Entanglement and interference between different degrees of freedom of photon states

In this paper, photonic entanglement and interference are described and analyzed with the language of quantum information processing. Correspondingly, a photon state involving several degrees of freedom is represented in an expression based on the permutation symmetry of bosons. In this expression, each degree of freedom of a single photon is regarded as a qubit and operations on photons as qubit gates. The two-photon Hong-Ou-Mandel interference is well interpreted with it. Moreover, the analysis reveals the entanglement between different degrees of freedom in a four-photon state from parametric down conversion, even if there is no entanglement between them in the two-photon state. The entanglement will decrease the state purity and photon interference visibility in the experiments on a four-photon polarization state.