Integrated optics allow the generation and control of increasingly complex photonic states on chip based architectures. Here, we implement two entangled qutrits - a 9-dimensional quantum system - and demonstrate an exceptionally high degree of experimental control. The approach which is conceptually different to common bulk optical implementations is heavily based on methods of integrated in-fiber and on-chip technologies and further motivated by methods commonly used in today's telecommunication industry. The system is composed of an in-fiber source creating entangled qutrit states of any amplitude and phase and an on-chip integrated general Multiport enabling the realization of any desired local unitary transformation within the two qutrit 9-dimensional Hilbert space. The complete design is readily extendible towards higher-dimensions with moderate increase in complexity. Ultimately, our scheme allows for complete on-chip integration. We demonstrate the flexibility and generality of our system by realizing a complete characterization of the two qutrit space of higher-order Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen correlations.
In this paper, we propose a novel scheme that can generate two-atom maximally entangled states from pure product states and mixed states using linear optics. Because the scheme can generate pure maximally entangled states from mixed states, we denote it as purification-like generation scheme.
We present a scheme to produce an entangled four-photon state from two pairs of entangled two-photon states. Such entangled four-photon states are equivalent to the quantum state of two maximally entangled spin-1 particles. The scheme can also be generated to prepare an entangled 2N-photon state from N pairs of entangled two-photon states. Such multi-photon states play a crucial role in fundamental tests of quantum mechanics versus local realism and in many quantum information and quantum computation schemes.
In some off-resonant cases, the reduced density matrix of two atoms symmetrically coupled with an optical cavity can very approximately approach to maximally entangled mixed states or maximal Bell violation mixed states in their evolution. The influence of phase decoherence on the generation of maximally entangled mixed state is also discussed. PACS numbers: 03.67.-a, 03.65.Ud
A new device to generate polarization-entangled light in the continuous variable regime is introduced. It consists of an Optical Parametric Oscillator with two type-II phase-matched non-linear crystals orthogonally oriented, associated with birefringent elements for adjustable linear coupling. We give in this paper a theoretical study of its classical and quantum properties. It is shown that two optical beams with adjustable frequencies and well-defined polarization can be emitted. The Stokes parameters of the two beams are entangled. The principal advantage of this setup is the possibility to…
In the recent years important experimental advances in resonant electro-optic modulators as high efficient sources for coherent frequency combs and as devices for quantum information transfer have been realized, where strong optical and microwave mode coupling were achieved. These features suggest electro-optic based devices as candidates for entangled optical frequency comb sources. In the present I study the generation of entangled optical frequency combs in mm-sized resonant electro-optic modulators. These devices profit from the experimentally proven advantages such as nearly constant opti…
We describe several different methods for generating the entangled ancilla states that are required for linear optics quantum computing. We show that post-selection can be used in combination with linear optical elements to generate the entangled ancilla, but with an exponentially-small efficiency. Alternatively, the ancilla can be efficiently generated using solid-state devices consisting of quantum wells coupled with tunnel junctions. Finally, we consider the possibility of using encoded ancilla in order to reduce the effects of decoherence and measurement errors.
To acquire the best path-entangled photon Fock states for robust quantum optical metrology with parity detection, we calculate phase information from a lossy interferometer by using twin entangled Fock states. We show that (a) when loss is less than 50% twin entangled Fock states with large photon number difference give higher visibility while when loss is higher than 50% the ones with less photon number difference give higher visibility; (b) twin entangled Fock states with large photon number difference give sub-shot-noise limit sensitivity for phase detection in a lossy environment. This res…
We propose a universal scheme for the probabilistic generation of an arbitrary multimode entangled state of light with finite expansion in Fock basis. The suggested setup involves passive linear optics, single photon sources, strong coherent laser beams, and photodetectors with single-photon resolution. The efficiency of this setup may be greatly enhanced if, in addition, a quantum memory is available.
We present a dissipative protocol to engineer two $^{87}Rb$ atoms into a form of three-dimensional entangled state via spontaneous emission. The combination of coupling between ground states via microwave fields and dissipation induced by spontaneous emission make the current scheme deterministic and a stationary entangled state can always be achieved without state initialization. Moreover, this scheme can be straightforwardly generalized to preparation of an $N$-dimensional entangled state in principle.
Entangled photons are pivotal elements in emerging quantum information technologies. While several schemes are available for the production of entangled photons, they typically require the assistance of cumbersome optical elements to couple them to other components involved in logic operations. Here, we introduce a scheme by which entangled photon pairs are directly generated as guided mode states in optical waveguides. The scheme relies on the intrinsic nonlinearity of the waveguide material, circumventing the use of bulky optical components. Specifically, we consider an optical fiber under n…
We propose two types of quantum dense coding communication networks with optical continuous variables, in which a quadripartite entangled state of the optical field with totally three-party correlations of quadrature amplitudes is utilized. In the networks, the exchange of information between any two participants can be manipulated by one or two of the remaining participants. The channel capacities for a variety of communication protocols are numerically calculated. Due to the fact that the quadripartite entangled states applied in the communication systems have been successfully prepared alre…
A quantum communication network can be constructed by distributing a multipartite entangled state to space-separated nodes. Entangled optical beams with highest flying speed and measurable brightness can be used as carriers to convey information in quantum communication networks. Losses and noises existing in real communication channels will reduce or even totally destroy entanglement. The phenomenon of disentanglement will result in the complete failure of quantum communication. Here, we present the experimental demonstrations on the disentanglement and the entanglement revival of tripartite …
We investigate how quantum coincidence interferometry is affected by a controllable manipulation of transverse wave-vectors in type-II parametric down conversion using adaptive optics techniques. In particular, we discuss the possibility of spatial walk-off compensation in quantum interferometry and a new effect of even-order spatial aberration cancellation.
The concatenated Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (C-GHZ) state is a new type of multipartite entangled state, which has potential application in future quantum information. In this paper, we propose a protocol of constructing arbitrary C-GHZ entangled state approximatively. Different from the previous protocols, each logic is encoded in the coherent state. This protocol is based on the linear optics, which is feasible in experimental technology. This protocol may be useful in quantum information based on the C-GHZ state.
The concept of directionally unbiased optical multiports is introduced, in which photons may reflect back out the input direction. A linear-optical implementation is described, and the simplest three-port version studied. Symmetry arguments demonstrate potential for unusual quantum information processing applications. The devices impose group structures on two-photon entangled Bell states and act as universal Bell-state processors to implement probabilistic quantum gates acting on state symmetries. These multiports allow optical scattering experiments to be carried out on arbitrary undirected …
We proposed two linear optics based entanglement concentration protocols (ECPs) to obtain maximally entangled 4-mode Cluster-type entangled coherent state (ECS) from less (partially) entangled Cluster-type ECS. The first ECP is designed using a superposition of single-mode coherent state with two unknown parameters, whereas the second ECP is obtained using a superposition of single-mode coherent state and a superposition of two-mode coherent state with four unknown parameters. The success probabilities have been calculated for both the ECPs. Necessary quantum circuits enabling future experimen…
We proposed two entanglement concentration protocols (ECPs) to obtain maximally entangled Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ)-type entangled coherent state (ECS) from the corresponding partially entangled GHZ-type ECSs. We obtained the first ECP using a partially entangled GHZ-type ECS assisted with a superposition of single-mode coherent state, however the second ECP is designed using two copies of partially entangled GHZ-type ECSs. The success probabilities have also been calculated and discussed for both the ECPs. We have further compared the success probabilities of our first ECP for 3-mode …
We propose a feasible scheme to create $n$-party ($n\geq 2$) polarization-entangled photon states in a controllable way. The scheme requires only single-photon sources, single-photon quantum non-demolition measurement (SP-QNDM) and simple linear optical elements, usually with high perfections. The SP-QNDM acts as a non-destructive projection measurement onto the wanted entangled states and filters out the unwanted terms. Our scheme in fact realizes entanglement of non-interacting photons; the interaction occurs only implicitly in the optical elements and SP-QNDM. We also briefly consider purif…
We review and compare Bell-state measurement and quantum teleportation schemes using linear optics with three different types of resources, i.e., two-photon pairs, entangled coherent states and hybrid entangled states. Remarkably, perfect teleportation with linear optics is possible in principle based on a hybrid approach that combines two-photon pairs and entangled coherent states. It turns out that hybrid approach allows to perform Bell-state measurement and local Pauli operations in a deterministic way, while it requires photon number resolving measurements.
The four-qubit states $\lvertχ^{ij}\rangle$, exhibiting genuinely multi-partite entanglement have been shown to have many interesting properties and have been suggested for novel applications in quantum information processing. In this work we propose a simple quantum circuit and its corresponding optical embodiment with which to prepare photon pairs in the $\lvertχ^{ij}\rangle$ states. Our approach uses hyper-entangled photon pairs, produced by the type-I spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) process in two contiguous nonlinear crystals, together with a set of simple linear-optical tra…
We derive the steady state solution of the Fokker-Planck equation that describes the dynamics of the nondegenerate optical parametric oscillator in the truncated Wigner representation of the density operator. The adiabatic limit of strong pump damping is assumed. This phase space image provides a clear view of the intracavity two-mode entangled state valid in all operating regimes of the OPO. A nongaussian distribution is obtained for the above threshold solution.
Reconfigurable distribution of entangled states is essential for operation of quantum networks connecting multiple devices such as quantum memories and quantum computers. We introduce new quantum distribution network architecture enabling control of the entangled state propagation direction using linear-optical devices and phase shifters and offering reconfigurable connections between multiple quantum nodes. The basic two-photon entanglement distribution scheme is first introduced to illustrate the principle of operation. The scheme is then extended to a network structure with increased number…
We address binary optical communication in single-mode and entangled quantum noisy channels. For single-mode we present a systematic comparison between direct photodetection and homodyne detection in realistic conditions, i.e. taking into account the noise that occurs both during the propagation and the detection of the signals. We then consider entangled channels based on twin-beam state of radiation, and show that with realistic heterodyne detection the error probability at fixed channel energy is reduced in comparison to the single-mode cases for a large range of values of quantum efficienc…
The positivity of the partial transpose is in general only a necessary condition for separability. There exist quantum states that are not separable, but nevertheless are positive under partial transpose. States of this type are known as bound entangled states meaning that these states are entangled but they do not allow distillation of pure entanglement by means of local operations and classical communication (LOCC). We present a parametrization of a class of $2\times 2$ bound entangled Gaussian states for bipartite continuous-variable quantum systems with two modes on each side. We propose a…
The quantum characteristics of sum-frequency process in an optical cavity with an input signal optical beam, which is a half of entangled optical beams, are analyzed. The calculated results show that the quantum properties of the signal beam can be maintained after its frequency is conversed during the intracavity nonlinear optical interaction. The frequency-conversed output signal beam is still in an entangled state with the retained other half of initial entangled beams. The resultant quantum correlation spectra and the parametric dependences of the correlations on the initial squeezing fact…
We propose a scheme to implement a single-mode quantum filter, which selectively eliminates the one-photon state in a quantum state $α|0>+β|1>+γ|2>$. The vacuum state and the two photon state are transmitted without any change. This scheme requires single-photon sources, linear optical elements and photon detectors. Furthermore we demonstrate, how this filter can be used to realize a two-qubit projective measurement and to generate multi-photon polarization entangled states.
We propose an alternative scheme to generate W state via optical state truncation using quantum scissors. In particular, these states may be generated through three-mode optical state truncation in a Kerr nonlinear coupler. The more general three-qubit state may be also produced if the system is driven by external classical fields.
Entangled state of light is one of the essential quantum resources in quantum information science and technology. Especially, when the fundamental principle experiments have been achieved in labs and the applications of continuous variable quantum information in the real world are considered, it is crucial to design and construct the generation devices of entangled states with high entanglement and compact configuration. We have designed and built an efficient and compact light source of entangled state, which is a non-degenerate optical parametric amplifier (NOPA) with the triple resonance of…
We propose a scheme for preparing arbitrary two photons polarization entangled mixed states via controlled location decoherence. The scheme uses only linear optical devices and single-mode optical fibers, and may be feasible in experiment within current optical technology.
An entanglement purification scheme for arbitrary unknown(mixed and pure non-maximally) entangled ionic states is proposed by using linear optical elements. The main advantage of the scheme is that not only two-ion maximally entangled pairs but also four-ion maximally entangled pairs can be extracted from the less entangled pairs. The scheme is within current technology.
Similar in spirit to the preceding work [Opt. Commun. 282 (2009) 3734] where the relation between optical Fresnel transformation and quantum tomography is revealed, we study this kind of relationship in the two-mode entangled case. We show that under the two-mode Fresnel transformation the bipartite entangled state density |eta><eta| becomes density operator F_2|eta><eta|F_2 ^{dag}=|eta>_{r,s}<eta|, which is just the Radon transform of the two-mode Wigner operator (sigma,gama) in entangled form, where F_2 is an two-mode Fresnel operator in quantum optics, and s,r are the complex-value expressi…
In this paper, we propose a novel scheme to generate two-ion maximally entangled states from either pure product states or mixed states using linear optics. Our new scheme is mainly based on the ionic interference. Because the proposed scheme can generate pure maximally entangled states from mixed states, we denote it as purification-like generation scheme. The scheme does not need a Bell state analyzer as the existing entanglement generation schemes do, it also avoids the difficulty of synchronizing the arrival time of the two scattered photons faced by the existing schemes, thus the proposed…
Phase measurement using a lossless Mach-Zehnder interferometer with certain entangled $N$-photon states can lead to a phase sensitivity of the order of 1/N, the Heisenberg limit. However, previously considered output measurement schemes are different for different input states to achieve this limit. We show that it is possible to achieve this limit just by the parity measurement for all the commonly proposed entangled states. Based on the parity measurement scheme, the reductions of the phase sensitivity in the presence of photon loss are examined for the various input states.
We present and experimentally demonstrate a novel optical nondestructive controlled-NOT gate without using entangled ancilla. With much fewer measurements compared with quantum process tomography, we get a good estimation of the gate fidelity. The result shows a great improvement compared with previous experiments. Moreover, we also show that quantum parallelism is achieved in our gate and the performance of the gate can not be reproduced by local operations and classical communications.
We present a nonlocal entanglement concentration scheme for reconstructing some maximally entangled multipartite states from partially entangled ones by exploiting cross-Kerr nonlinearities to distinguish the parity of two polarization photons. Compared with the entanglement concentration schemes based on two-particle collective unitary evolution, this scheme does not require the parties to know accurately information about the partially entangled states--i.e., their coefficients. Moreover, it does not require the parties to possess sophisticated single-photon detectors, which makes this proto…
Using only linear optical elements, the creation of dual-rail photonic entangled states is inherently probabilistic. Known entanglement generation schemes have low success probabilities, requiring large-scale multiplexing to achieve near-deterministic operation of quantum information processing protocols. In this paper, we introduce multiple techniques and methods to generate photonic entangled states with high probability, which have the potential to reduce the footprint of Linear Optical Quantum Computing (LOQC) architectures drastically. Most notably, we are showing how to improve Bell stat…
Entangled photon pair sources based on bulk optics are approaching optimal design and implementation, with high state fidelities, spectral purities and heralding efficiencies, but generally low brightness. Integrated entanglement sources, while providing higher brightness and low-power operation, often sacrifice performance in output state quality and coupling efficiency. Here we present a polarization-entangled pair source based on a hybrid approach of waveguiding and bulk optics, addressing every metric simultaneously. We show 96% fidelity to the singlet state, 82% Hong-Ou-Mandel interferenc…
We determine the minimal number of qubits that it is necessary to have access to in order to transform Dicke states into other Dicke states. In general, the number of qubits in Dicke states cannot be increased via transformation gates by accessing only a single qubit, in direct contrast to other multipartite entangled states such as GHZ, W and cluster states. We construct a universal optimal gate which adds spin-up qubits or spin-down qubits to any Dicke state by minimal access. We also show the existence of a universal gate which transforms any size of Dicke state as long as it has access to …
We propose a class of path-entangled photon Fock states for robust quantum optical metrology, imaging, and sensing in the presence of loss. We model propagation loss with beam-splitters and derive a reduced density matrix formalism from which we examine how photon loss affects coherence. It is shown that particular entangled number states, which contain a special superposition of photons in both arms of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, are resilient to environmental decoherence. We demonstrate an order of magnitude greater visibility with loss, than possible with N00N states. We also show that t…
Quantum optics experiments on "bright" beams typically probe correlations between side-band modes. However the extra degree of freedom represented by this dual mode picture is generally ignored. We demonstrate the experimental operation of a device which can be used to separate the quantum side-bands of an optical field. We use this device to explicitly demonstrate the quantum entanglement between the side-bands of a squeezed beam.
Non-Gaussian continuous variable states play a central role both in the foundations of quantum theory and for emergent quantum technologies. In particular, "cat states", i.e., two-component macroscopic quantum superpositions, embody quantum coherence in an accessible way and can be harnessed for fundamental tests and quantum information tasks alike. Degenerate optical parametric oscillators can naturally produce single-mode cat states and thus represent a promising platform for their realization and harnessing. We show that a dissipative coupling between degenerate optical parametric oscillato…
In this paper, the generation of polarization entangled photon pairs at 1.5 μm is experimentally demonstrated utilizing a polarization maintaining all-fiber loop, consisting of a piece of commercial polarization maintaining fiber and a polarization beam splitter/combiner with polarization maintaining fiber pigtails. A quantum state tomography measurement is performed to analyze the entanglement characteristic of the generated quantum state. In the experiment, a polarization entangled Bell state is generated with a entanglement fidelity of 0.97+/-0.03 and a purity of 0.94+/-0.03 demonstrating t…
In this paper, we present the first experimental demonstration on continuous variable quantum key distribution using determinant Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen entangled states of optical field. By means of the instantaneous measurements of the quantum fluctuations of optical modes respectively distributed at sender and receiver, the random bits of secret key are obtained without the need for signal modulation. The post-selection boundaries for the presented entanglement-based scheme against both Gaussian collective and individual attacks are theoretically concluded. The final secret key rates of 84 …
We propose to realize the two-mode continuous-variable entanglement of microwave photons in an electro-optic system, consisting of two superconducting microwave resonators and one or two optical cavities filled with certain electro-optic medium. The cascaded and parallel schemes realize such entanglement via coherent control on the dynamics of the system, while the dissipative dynamical scheme utilizes the reservoir-engineering approach and exploits the optical dissipation as a useful resource. We show that, for all the schemes, the amount of entanglement is determined by the ratio of the effe…
Quantum state transfer between microwave and optical frequencies is essential for connecting superconducting quantum circuits to coherent optical systems and extending microwave quantum networks over long distances. To build such a hybrid `quantum Internet,' an important experiment in the quantum regime is to entangle microwave and optical modes. Based on the model of a generic cavity electro-optomechanical system, we present a heralded scheme to generate entangled microwave--optical photon pairs, which can bypass the efficiency threshold for quantum channel capacity in direct transfer protoco…
We propose two optimal entanglement concentration protocols (ECPs) for arbitrary single-photon multi-mode W state and multi-photon polarization W state, respectively. In both ECPs, we only require one pair of partially entangled W state, and do not consume any auxiliary photon. Both ECPs are based on the linear optics which can be easily realized. On the other hand, the concentrated maximally entangled states can be remained, which are quite different from the previous ECPs. Moreover, for the concentration of the arbitrary single-photon N-mode W state or N-mode polarization W state, the total …
We propose a scheme for efficient cluster state quantum computation by using imperfect polarization-entangled photon-pair sources, linear optical elements and inefficient non-photon-number-resolving detectors. The efficiency threshold for loss tolerance in our scheme requires the product of source and detector efficiencies should be >1/2 - the best known figure. This figure applies to uncorrelated loss. We further find that the loss threshold is unaffected by correlated loss in the photon pair source. Our approach sheds new light on efficient linear optical quantum computation with imperfect e…
We designed and implemented a novel combination of a Sagnac-interferometer with a Mach-Zehnder interferometer for a source of polarization-entangled photons. The new versatile configuration does not require multi-wavelength polarization optics, yet it performs with a good polarization quality and phase-stability over a wide wavelength range. We demonstrate the interferometer using only standard commercial optics to experimentally realize the pulsed generation of polarization-entangled photon-pairs at wavelengths of 764nm and 1221nm via type-I spontaneous four-wave mixing in a polarization-main…
Integrated optical devices are expected to play a promising role in the field of quantum information science and technology. In this paper, we propose a scheme for the generation of nondegenerate, copolarised, modal, and path- entangled photons using a directional coupler and an asymmetric Y-coupler geometry in type 0 phase-matched domain engineered lithium niobate(LN) waveguide. The nonlinearity in LN is tailored in such a way that quasi phase matching conditions for two different spontaneous parametric down conversion processes are obeyed simultaneously, leading to a modal and path-entangled…
We propose a physical scheme to generate entangled light at high temperatures through the excitation of vacuum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field using periodic modulations of a refractive index of a ring resonator. We consider the processes of dissipation and decoherence resulting from the coupling of the system with an environment at finite temperature and show that the total amount of entanglement generated does not depend on the temperature, which only affects the time necessary for the system to produce such an amount of entanglement.
By introducing a new entangled state representation, we show that the Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) mode is just the wave function of the common eigenvector of the orbital angular momentum and the total photon number operators of 2-d oscillator, which can be generated by 50:50 beam splitter with the phase difference phi=Pi/2ϕ between the reflected and transmitted fields. Based on this and using the Weyl ordering invariance under similar transforms, the Wigner representation of LG is directly obtained, which can be considered as the generalized Wigner transform of Hermite Gaussian modes.
Entangled photons, generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion from a second-order nonlinear crystal, present a rich potential for imaging and image-processing applications. Since this source is an example of a three-wave mixing process, there is more flexibility in the choices of illumination and detection wavelengths and in the placement of object(s) to be imaged. Moreover, this source is entangled, a fact that allows for imaging configurations and capabilities that cannot be achieved using classical sources of light. In this paper we examine a number of imaging and image-processing …
We propose various schemes for the dissipative preparation of a maximally entangled steady state of two atoms in an optical cavity. Harnessing the natural decay processes of cavity photon loss and spontaneous emission, we use an effective operator formalism to identify and engineer effective decay processes, which reach an entangled steady state of two atoms as the unique fixed point of the dissipative time evolution. We investigate various aspects that are crucial for the experimental implementation of our schemes in present-day and future cavity quantum electrodynamics systems and analytical…
In this thesis, several new procedures for the generation and manipulation of entangled states in quantum optical systems are introduced. Each is evaluated in terms of realistic models of the imperfect apparatus of any real laboratory implementation. The first half of the thesis considers entanglement generation in Cavity QED, introducing several proposals for the creation of maximally entangled two-qubit states. The second half of the thesis focuses on the manipulation of entangled states of light pulses. In particular, an entanglement distillation procedure for Gaussian states is introduced.…
We study the dissipative dynamics and the formation of entangled states in driven cascaded quantum networks, where multiple systems are coupled to a common unidirectional bath. Specifically, we identify the conditions under which emission and coherent reabsorption of radiation drives the whole network into a pure stationary state with non-trivial quantum correlations between the individual nodes. We illustrate this effect in more detail for the example of cascaded two-level systems, where we present an explicit preparation scheme that allows one to tune the whole network through "bright" and "…
We propose a scheme to make use of recent advances in cavity QED-enhanced resonance fluorescence from quantum dots to generate a stream of entangled and indistinguishable photons. We then demonstrate that we can optically manipulate the state of a trapped hole spin to achieve complete coherent control of a qubit. In combination with the selective cavity enhancement of the resonantly excited transition, we use this capability to perform a proof-of-principle demonstration of our proposal by showing that the time bin of a single photon is dependent on the measured state of the trapped spin.
Tripartite entangled states, such as GHZ and W states, are typically generated by manipulating two pairs of polarization-entangled photons in bulk optics. Here we propose a scheme to generate W states that are entangled in the energy degree of freedom in an integrated optical circuit. Our approach employs photon pairs generated by spontaneous four-wave mixing (SFWM) in a micro- ring resonator. We also present a feasible procedure for demonstrating the generation of such a state, and we compare polarization-entangled and energy-entangled schemes for the preparation of W states.
In addition to photon pairs entangled in polarization or other variables, quantum mechanics also allows optical beams that are entangled through the absence of the photons themselves. These correlated absences, or ``entangled photon holes'', can lead to counter-intuitive nonlocal effects analogous to those of the more familiar entangled photon pairs. Here we report an experimental observation of photon holes generated using quantum interference effects to suppress the probability that two photons in a weak laser pulse will separate at an optical beam splitter.
