Photonic Quantum States Research Articles

Time-encoded photonic quantum states: Generation, processing, and applications

Encoding and processing quantum information in the time-of-arrival of photons offer significant advantages for quantum information science and technology. These advantages include ease of experimental realization, robustness over photon state transmission, and compatibility with existing telecommunication infrastructure. Additionally, time-of-arrival encoding has the potential for high-rate quantum communication and holds promise for the future development of quantum internet. This review explores the generation, processing, and applications of time-encoded quantum states, focusing on both single-photon states, energy–time entanglement, and time-bin entanglement. We summarize the nonlinear optics platforms and advanced laser and modulation techniques utilized for photon sources that enable quantum information encoding onto the photons' time-of-arrival. We also highlight advanced quantum state processing methods in the time domain, including the Franson interferometry, optical switch-based schemes, and state-of-the-art measurement and detection schemes that allow for high-speed and multi-dimensional quantum operations. Finally, we review the mainstream implementations mainly including the quantum communication demonstrations and outline future directions for developing practical quantum networks leveraging time-encoded photon states.

Orchestrating time and color: a programmable source of high-dimensional entanglement

High-dimensional encodings based on temporal modes (TMs) of photonic quantum states provide the foundations for a highly versatile and efficient quantum information science (QIS) framework. Here, we demonstrate a crucial building block for any QIS applications based on TMs: a programmable source of maximally entangled high-dimensional TM states. Our source is based on a parametric downconversion process driven by a spectrally shaped pump pulse, which facilitates the generation of maximally entangled TM states with a well-defined dimensionality that can be chosen programmatically. We characterize the effective dimensionality of the generated states via measurements of second-order correlation functions and joint spectral intensities, demonstrating the generation of bi-photon TM states with a controlled dimensionality in up to 20 dimensions.

Revealing nonclassicality of multiphoton optical beams via artificial neural networks

The identification of nonclassical features of multiphoton quantum states represents a crucial task in the development of many quantum photonic technologies. Under realistic experimental conditions, a photonic quantum state gets affected by its interaction with several nonideal optoelectronic devices, including those used to guide, detect, or characterize it. The result of such noisy interaction is that the nonclassical features of the original quantum state get considerably reduced or are completely absent in the detected, final state. In this work, the self-learning features of artificial neural networks are exploited to experimentally show that the nonclassicality of multiphoton quantum states can be assessed and fully characterized, even in the cases in which the nonclassical features are concealed by the measuring devices. Our work paves the way toward artificial-intelligence-assisted experimental-setup characterization, as well as quantum state nonclassicality identification. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Deterministic and multiuser quantum teleportation network of continuous-variable polarization states

Quantum teleportation is widely applied as a key ingredient in quantum information science, and quantum network provides unique abilities for upscaling its applications. Polarization state of light is a vital degree of freedom with the advantages of remote transfer and direct light-atom interaction. To construct a multiuser quantum network, deterministic quantum teleportation of polarization state in more users' network remains challenging. Compared with photonic quantum state, the deterministic quantum teleportation network of polarization state is realized with a single set of continuous-variable entangled states. The key techniques include only one set of quadrature entangled network, single quadrature controller, and active polarization controller. Arbitrary polarization state is deterministically and controllably teleported in such a system involving four or three users. This system is deterministic and scalable with user number, which enables the potential application in deterministic metropolitan quantum network. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Symmetry Protected Two-Photon Coherence Time.

We report the observation of symmetry protected two-photon coherence time of biphotons generated from backward spontaneous four-wave mixing in laser-cooled ^{87}Rb atoms. When biphotons are nondegenerate, nonsymmetric photonic absorption loss results in exponential decay of the temporal waveform of the two-photon joint probability amplitude, leading to shortened coherence time. In contrast, in the case of degenerate biphotons, when both paired photons propagate with the same group velocity and absorption coefficient, the two-photon coherence time, protected by space-time symmetry, remains unaffected by medium absorptive losses. Our experimental results validate these theoretical predictions. This outcome highlights the pivotal role of symmetry in manipulating and controlling photonic quantum states.

Collective biphoton temporal waveform of photon-pair generated from Doppler-broadened atomic ensemble

Photonic quantum states generated from atomic ensembles will play important roles in future quantum networks and long-distance quantum communication because their advantages, such as universal identity and narrow spectral bandwidth, are essential for quantum nodes and quantum repeaters based on atomic ensembles. In this study, we report the collectively coherent superposition of biphoton wavefunction emitted from different velocity classes in a Doppler-broadened cascade-type atomic ensemble. We experimentally demonstrate that the three times difference of temporal width of both biphoton temporal waveforms varies dependent on the wavelengths of the signal and idler photons from both 6S1/2–6P3/2–6D5/2 and –8S1/2 transitions of 133Cs, corresponding to the idler and signal wavelengths of 852 nm–917 nm and 852 nm–795 nm, respectively. Our results help understand the characteristics of biphoton sources from a warm atomic ensemble and can be applied to long-distance quantum networks and practical quantum repeaters based on atom–photon interactions.

Quantum storage of 1650 modes of single photons at telecom wavelength

To advance the full potential of quantum networks one should be able to distribute quantum resources over long distances at appreciable rates. As a consequence, all components in such networks need to have large multimode capacity to manipulate photonic quantum states. Towards this end, a photonic quantum memory with a large multimode capacity, especially one operating at telecom wavelength, remains an important challenge. Here we optimize the preparation of atomic frequency combs and demonstrate a spectro-temporally multiplexed quantum memory in a 10-m-long cryogenically cooled erbium doped silica fibre. Our multiplexing storage has five spectral channels - each 10 GHz wide with 5 GHz separation - with up to 330 temporal modes in each, thus resulting in a simultaneous storage of 1,650 modes of heralded single photons with a 1000-fold increasing in coincidence detection rate with respect to single mode storage. Our results could pave the way for high speed quantum networks compatible with the infrastructure of fibre optical communication.

Spatial Control of Photonic Quantum States (Invited)

Spatial Control of Photonic Quantum States (Invited)

Characterisation of storage efficiency in magnetic field for extending coherence time of Pr:YSO quantum memory

Quantum memory (QM) is vital in enabling the storage and retrieval of photonic quantum states. Quantum repeaters that circumvent transmission losses over long distances can be realised by loading QMs inside. In this study, we implement spin-wave (SW) storage to extend storage time using Pr-based atomic frequency comb (AFC) QM. Furthermore, the generation of an AFC under a static magnetic field was investigated. The AFC QM was prepared with 2.5 μs of the storage time and the SW storage of 50 μs was demonstrated with and without a magnetic field. This study provides a basis for improving Pr-based AFC systems.

Dissipative dynamics of optomagnonic nonclassical features via anti-Stokes optical pulses: squeezing, blockade, anti-correlation, and entanglement

We propose a feasible experimental model to investigate the generation and characterization of nonclassical states in a cavity optomagnonic system consisting of a ferromagnetic YIG sphere that simultaneously supports both the magnon mode and two whispering gallery modes of optical photons. The photons undergo the magnon-induced Brillouin light scattering, which is a well-established tool for the cavity-assisted manipulations of magnons as well as magnon spintronics. At first, we derive the desired interaction Hamiltonian under the influence of the anti-Stokes scattering process and then proceed to analyze the dynamical evolution of quantum statistics of photons and magnons as well as their intermodal entanglement. The results show that both photons and magnons generally acquire some nonclassical features, e.g., the strong antibunching and anti-correlation. Interestingly, the system may experience the perfect photon and magnon blockade phenomena, simultaneously. Besides, the nonclassical features may be protected against the unwanted environmental effects for a relatively long time, especially, in the weak driving field regime and when the system is initiated with a small number of particles. However, it should be noted that some fast quantum-classical transitions may occur in-between. Although the unwanted dissipative effects plague the nonclassical features, we show that this system can be adopted to prepare optomagnonic entangled states. The generation of entangled states depends on the initial state of the system and the interaction regime. The intermodal photon-magnon entanglement may be generated and pronounced, especially, if the system is initialized with low intensity even Schrödinger cat state in the strong coupling regime. The cavity-assisted manipulation of magnons is a unique and flexible mechanism that allows an interesting test bed for investigating the interdisciplinary contexts involving quantum optics and spintronics. Moreover, such a hybrid optomagnonic system may be used to design both on-demand single-photon and single-magnon sources and may find potential applications in quantum information processing.

20-Mode Universal Quantum Photonic Processor

Integrated photonics is an essential technology for optical quantum computing. Universal, phase-stable, reconfigurable multimode interferometers (quantum photonic processors) enable manipulation of photonic quantum states and are one of the main components of photonic quantum computers in various architectures. In this paper, we report the realization of the largest quantum photonic processor to date. The processor enables arbitrary unitary transformations on its 20 input modes with an amplitude fidelity of FHaar=97.4% and FPerm=99.5% for Haar-random and permutation matrices, respectively, an optical loss of 2.9 dB averaged over all modes, and high-visibility quantum interference with VHOM=98%. The processor is realized in Si3N4 waveguides and is actively cooled by a Peltier element.

Determining Single Photon Quantum States through Robust Waveguides on Chip

Waveguided beam splitters were microfabricated by using a commercial two-photon lithography system (Nanoscribe), Ip-Dip as the waveguides and fused silica as the substrate, and they were covered with Loctite. The gap between the waveguides in the coupler was used to determine the transmission and reflection coefficients, and our results were compared with simulation results (using OptiFDTD software). The input and output ports of the beam splitters were spliced with multimode optical fibers in a robust system that can easily be handled. Then, they were tested by leading single photons (from an SPDC) to the beam splitters to produce different quantum statistics that were rated using the Fano factor.

Inspecting the use of SLMs for the control of photonic quantum states

Inspecting the use of SLMs for the control of photonic quantum states

Implementation of photon partial distinguishability in a quantum optical circuit simulation

We are concerned with numerical simulations of quantum optical circuits under certain realistic conditions, specifically that photon quantum states are not perfectly indistinguishable. The partial photon distinguishability presents a serious limitation in implementation of optical quantum information processing. In order to properly assess its effect on quantum information protocols, accurate numerical simulations, which closely emulate quantum circuit operations, are essential. Our specific objective is to provide a computer implementation of the partial photon distinguishability which is in principle applicable to existing simulation techniques used for ideal quantum circuits and which avoids a need for their significant modification. Our approach is based on the Gram-Schmidt orthonormalization process, which is well suited for our purpose. Photonic quantum states are represented by wavepackets which contain information on their time and frequency distributions. In order to account for the partial photon distinguishability, we expand the number of degrees of freedom associated with the circuit operation extending the definition of the photon channels to incorporate wavepacket degrees of freedom. This strategy allows to define delay operations in the same footing as the linear optical elements.

Emergent complex quantum networks in continuous-variables non-Gaussian states

We use complex network theory to study a class of photonic continuous variable quantum states that present both multipartite entanglement and non-Gaussian statistics. We consider the intermediate scale of several dozens of modes at which such systems are already hard to characterize. In particular, the states are built from an initial imprinted cluster state created via Gaussian entangling operations according to a complex network structure. We then engender non-Gaussian statistics via multiple photon subtraction operations acting on a single node. We replicate in the quantum regime some of the models that mimic real-world complex networks in order to test their structural properties under local operations. We go beyond the already known single-mode effects, by studying the emergent network of photon-number correlations via complex networks measures. We analytically prove that the imprinted network structure defines a vicinity of nodes, at a distance of four steps from the photon-subtracted node, in which the emergent network changes due to photon subtraction. We show numerically that the emergent structure is greatly influenced by the structure of the imprinted network. Indeed, while the mean and the variance of the degree and clustering distribution of the emergent network always increase, the higher moments of the distributions are governed by the specific structure of the imprinted network. Finally, we show that the behaviour of nearest neighbours of the subtraction node depends on how they are connected to each other in the imprinted structure.

Semiconductor Membranes for Electrostatic Exciton Trapping in Optically Addressable Quantum Transport Devices

Combining the capabilities of gate-defined quantum transport devices in $\mathrm{Ga}\mathrm{As}$-based heterostructures and of optically addressed self-assembled quantum dots could open up broad perspectives in quantum technologies. For example, interfacing stationary solid-state qubits with photonic quantum states would open up a pathway towards the realization of a quantum network with extended quantum processing capacity in each node. While gated devices allow very flexible confinement of electrons or holes, the confinement of excitons without some element of self-assembly is much harder. To address this limitation, we introduce a technique to realize exciton traps in quantum wells via local electric fields by thinning a heterostructure down to a 220-nm-thick membrane. We show that mobilities over $1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{V}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ can be retained and that quantum point contacts and Coulomb oscillations can be observed on this structure, which implies that the thinning does not compromise the heterostructure quality. Furthermore, the local lowering of the exciton energy via the quantum-confined Stark effect is confirmed, thus forming exciton traps. These results lay the technological foundations for devices like single-photon sources, spin-photon interfaces and eventually quantum network nodes in $\mathrm{Ga}\mathrm{As}$ quantum wells, realized entirely with a top-down fabrication process.

Characterization of Orbital Angular Momentum Quantum States Empowered by Metasurfaces

Twisted photons can in principle carry a discrete unbounded amount of orbital angular momentum (OAM), which are of great significance for quantum communication and fundamental tests of quantum theory. However, the methods for characterization of the OAM quantum states present a fundamental limit for miniaturization. Metasurfaces can exploit new degrees of freedom to manipulate optical fields beyond the capabilities of bulk optics, opening a broad range of novel and superior applications in quantum photonics. Here we present a scheme to reconstruct the density matrix of the OAM quantum states of single photons with all-dielectric metasurfaces composed of birefringent meta-atoms. We have also measured the Schmidt number of the OAM entanglement by the multiplexing of multiple degrees of freedom. Our work represents a step toward the practical application of quantum metadevices for the measurement of OAM quantum states in free-space quantum imaging and communications.

Dynamic generation of photonic spatial quantum states with an all-fiber platform.

Photonic spatial quantum states are a subject of great interest for applications in quantum communication. One important challenge has been how to dynamically generate these states using only fiber-optical components. Here we propose and experimentally demonstrate an all-fiber system that can dynamically switch between any general transverse spatial qubit state based on linearly polarized modes. Our platform is based on a fast optical switch based on a Sagnac interferometer combined with a photonic lantern and few-mode optical fibers. We show switching times between spatial modes on the order of 5 ns and demonstrate the applicability of our scheme for quantum technologies by demonstrating a measurement-device-independent (MDI) quantum random number generator based on our platform. We run the generator continuously over 15 hours, acquiring over 13.46 Gbits of random numbers, of which we ensure that at least 60.52% are private, following the MDI protocol. Our results show the use of photonic lanterns to dynamically create spatial modes using only fiber components, which due to their robustness and integration capabilities, have important consequences for photonic classical and quantum information processing.

Multiplexed random-access optical memory in warm cesium vapor.

The ability to store large amounts of photonic quantum states is regarded as substantial for future optical quantum computation and communication technologies. However, research for multiplexed quantum memories has been focused on systems that show good performance only after an elaborate preparation of the storage media. This makes it generally more difficult to apply outside a laboratory environment. In this work, we demonstrate a multiplexed random-access memory to store up to four optical pulses using electromagnetically induced transparency in warm cesium vapor. Using a Λ-System on the hyperfine transitions of the Cs D1 line, we achieve a mean internal storage efficiency of 36% and a 1/e lifetime of 3.2 µs. In combination with future improvements, this work facilitates the implementation of multiplexed memories in future quantum communication and computation infrastructures.

Variance-based sensitivity analysis of Λ -type quantum memory

The storage and retrieval of photonic quantum states, quantum memory, is a key resource for a wide range of quantum applications. Here we investigate the sensitivity of $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}$-type quantum memory to experimental fluctuations and drift. We use a variance-based approach, focusing on the effects of fluctuations and drift on memory efficiency. We consider shot-to-shot fluctuations of the memory parameters, and separately we consider longer timescale drift of the control field parameters. We find the parameters that a quantum memory is most sensitive to depend on the quantum memory protocol being employed, where the observed sensitivity agrees with physical interpretation of the protocols. We also present a general framework that is applicable to other figures of merit beyond memory efficiency. These results have practical ramifications for quantum memory experiments.