Linear Optical Quantum Information Processing Research Articles

A universal fully reconfigurable 12-mode quantum photonic processor

Photonic processors are pivotal for both quantum and classical information processing tasks using light. In particular, linear optical quantum information processing requires both large-scale and low-loss programmable photonic processors. In this paper, we report the demonstration of the largest universal quantum photonic processor to date: a low-loss 12-mode fully tunable linear interferometer with all-to-all mode coupling based on stoichiometric silicon nitride waveguides.

On-Chip Multiphoton Entangled States by Path Identity

Multiphoton entanglement, as a quantum resource, plays an essential role in linear optical quantum information processing. Krenn et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 080401 2017) proposed an innovative scheme that generating entanglement by path identity, in which two-photon interference (called Hong-Ou-Mandel effect) is not necessary in experiment. However, the experiments in this scheme have strict requirements in stability and scalability, which is difficult to be realized in bulk optics. To solve this problem, in this paper we first propose an on-chip scheme to generate multi-photon polarization entangled states, including Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) states and W states. Moreover, we also present a class of generalized graphs for W states (odd-number-photon) by path identity in theory. The on-chip scheme can be implemented in existing integrated optical technology which is meaningful for multi-party entanglement distribution in quantum communication networks.

Frequency-domain Hong-Ou-Mandel interference with linear optics.

The Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interference is one of the most fundamental quantum-mechanical effects that reveal a nonclassical behavior of single photons. Two identical photons that are incident on the input ports of an unbiased beam splitter always exit the beam splitter together from the same output port, an effect referred to as photon bunching. In this Letter, we utilize a single electro-optic phase modulator as a probabilistic frequency beam splitter, which we exploit to observe HOM interference between two photons that are in different spectral modes, yet are identical in other characteristics. Our approach enables linear optical quantum information processing protocols using the frequency degree of freedom in photons such as quantum computing techniques with linear optics.

Multiphoton Knill-Laflamme-Milburn states generated by nonlinear optics

The Knill-Laflamme-Milburn (KLM) entangled state, proposed by Knill et al. in Nature409, 46 (2001)NATUAS0028-083610.1038/35051009, has unique advantages for linear optics quantum information processing tasks, because it is able to decrease the error rate. In this paper, we propose scalable schemes to generate the multi-qubit KLM entangled states with single-photon resources and weak cross-Kerr nonlinearity theoretically. We first construct the two-qubit KLM state, through which the three- and other n-qubit KLM states are generated. For the schemes using weak cross-Kerr nonlinearity, P homodyne measurement has a higher success rate than X homodyne measurement but with narrow applications since |αeiθ⟩ and |αe−iθ⟩ are distinguished from each other, which is undesirable for most of the entanglement generation schemes. To avoid this disadvantage, Jin et al. [Phys. Rev. A75, 054302 (2007)PLRAAN1050-294710.1103/PhysRevA.75.054302] introduced the coherent state superposition (CSS), c(|α⟩+|−α⟩), to generate a Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger state but with a rapid oscillation term, which needs to be ignored. Through designing the optical path uniquely and choosing the phase of cross-Kerr nonlinearity suitably, our P homodyne measurement and CSS probe mode-based schemes to generate the KLM state avoid the needless term. The present scalable schemes have high total success probabilities, high fidelities even in consideration of decoherence, and may find potential applications in the future with the further development of nonlinear optics.

Four-photon quantum interferometry at a telecom wavelength

We report on an experimental demonstration of four-photon quantum interference using telecom-wavelength photons. The realization of multiphoton quantum interference is essential to linear optics quantum information processing and measurement-based quantum computing. We have developed a source that efficiently emits photon pairs in a pure spectrotemporal mode at a telecom-wavelength region, and have demonstrated quantum interference exhibiting reduced fringe intervals that correspond to a reduced de Broglie wavelength of up to the four-photon NOON state. Our result should open a path to practical quantum information processing using telecom-wavelength photons.

Experimental generation of single photons via active multiplexing

An on-demand single-photon source is a fundamental building block in quantum science and technology. We experimentally demonstrate the proof of concept for a scheme to generate on-demand single photons via actively multiplexing several heralded photons probabilistically produced from pulsed spontaneous parametric down-conversions (SPDCs). By utilizing a four-photon-pair source, an active feed-forward technique, and an ultrafast single-photon router, we show a fourfold enhancement of the output photon rate. Simultaneously, we maintain the quality of the output single-photon states, confirmed by correlation measurements. We also experimentally verify, via Hong-Ou-Mandel interference, that the router does not affect the indistinguishability of the single photons. Furthermore, we give numerical simulations, which indicate that photons based on multiplexing of four SPDC sources can outperform the heralding based on highly advanced photon-number-resolving detectors. Our results show a route for on-demand single-photon generation and the practical realization of scalable linear optical quantum information processing.

Teleportation-based realization of an optical quantum two-qubit entangling gate

In recent years, there has been heightened interest in quantum teleportation, which allows for the transfer of unknown quantum states over arbitrary distances. Quantum teleportation not only serves as an essential ingredient in long-distance quantum communication, but also provides enabling technologies for practical quantum computation. Of particular interest is the scheme proposed by D. Gottesman and I. L. Chuang [(1999) Nature 402:390-393], showing that quantum gates can be implemented by teleporting qubits with the help of some special entangled states. Therefore, the construction of a quantum computer can be simply based on some multiparticle entangled states, Bell-state measurements, and single-qubit operations. The feasibility of this scheme relaxes experimental constraints on realizing universal quantum computation. Using two different methods, we demonstrate the smallest nontrivial module in such a scheme--a teleportation-based quantum entangling gate for two different photonic qubits. One uses a high-fidelity six-photon interferometer to realize controlled-NOT gates, and the other uses four-photon hyperentanglement to realize controlled-Phase gates. The results clearly demonstrate the working principles and the entangling capability of the gates. Our experiment represents an important step toward the realization of practical quantum computers and could lead to many further applications in linear optics quantum information processing.

Three-qubit quantum gates and filters for linear optical quantum-information processing

We present a linear optical scheme for the implementation of a three-qubit quantum gate that can be considered as a generalization of the two-qubit partial-SWAP gate. The gate leaves unchanged all fully symmetric states of three qubits, and all states antisymmetric with respect to the transposition of some pair of qubits acquire a phase shift $\ensuremath{\phi}$. The gate operates in the coincidence basis and requires one auxiliary pair of photons prepared in the maximally entangled Bell state. By altering parameters of the proposed interferometric scheme, we can also obtain a quantum filter that attenuates amplitudes of the three-qubit states according to their permutation symmetry properties.

Synchronized Independent Narrow-Band Single Photons and Efficient Generation of Photonic Entanglement

We create independent, synchronized single-photon sources with built-in quantum memory based on two remote cold atomic ensembles. The synchronized single photons are used to demonstrate efficient generation of entanglement. The resulting entangled photon pairs violate a Bell's inequality by 5 standard deviations. Our synchronized single photons with their long coherence time of 25 ns and the efficient creation of entanglement serve as an ideal building block for scalable linear optical quantum information processing.

Experimental Synchronization of Independent Entangled Photon Sources

We report the generation of independent entangled photon pairs from two synchronized but mutually incoherent laser sources. The quality of synchronization is confirmed by observing a violation of Bell's inequality with 3.2 standard deviations in an entanglement swapping experiment. The techniques developed in our experiment are not only important for realistic linear optical quantum-information processing, but also enable new tests of local realism.

Erratum: Quantum-dot single-photon sources: Prospects for applications in linear optics quantum-information processing [Phys. Rev. A69, 032305 (2004)

Erratum: Quantum-dot single-photon sources: Prospects for applications in linear optics quantum-information processing [Phys. Rev. A<b>69</b>, 032305 (2004)

Quantum-dot single-photon sources: Prospects for applications in linear optics quantum-information processing

An optical source that produces single photon pulses on demand has potential applications in linear optics quantum computation, provided that stringent requirements on indistinguishability and collection efficiency of the generated photons are met. We show that these are conflicting requirements for anharmonic emitters that are incoherently pumped via reservoirs. As a model for a coherently pumped single photon source, we consider cavity-assisted spin-flip Raman transitions in a single charged quantum dot embedded in a microcavity. We demonstrate that using such a source, arbitrarily high collection efficiency and indistinguishability of the generated photons can be obtained simultaneously with increased cavity coupling. We analyze the role of errors that arise from distinguishability of the single photon pulses in linear optics quantum gates by relating the gate fidelity to the strength of the two-photon interference dip in photon cross-correlation measurements. We find that performing controlled phase operations with error < 1% requires nano-cavities with Purcell factors F_P >= 40 in the absence of dephasing, without necessitating the strong coupling limit.