© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

Terms Privacy Legal Notice

arXiv:1708.08726 · New Journal of Physics

Reconfigurable optical implementation of quantum complex networks

Johannes Nokkala, Francesco Arzani, Fernando Galve, Roberta Zambrini, Sabrina Maniscalco, Jyrki Piilo, Nicolas Treps, Valentina Parigi

Published Apr 9, 2018• 64 citations

Abstract

Network theory has played a dominant role in understanding the structure of complex systems and their dynamics. Recently, quantum complex networks, i.e. collections of quantum systems arranged in a non-regular topology, have been theoretically explored leading to significant progress in a multitude of diverse contexts including, e.g., quantum transport, open quantum systems, quantum communication, extreme violation of local realism, and quantum gravity theories. Despite important progress in several quantum platforms, the implementation of complex networks with arbitrary topology in quantum experiments is still a demanding task, especially if we require both a significant size of the network and the capability of generating arbitrary topology—from regular to any kind of non-trivial structure—in a single setup. Here we propose an all optical and reconfigurable implementation of quantum complex networks. The experimental proposal is based on optical frequency combs, parametric processes, pulse shaping and multimode measurements allowing the arbitrary control of the number of the nodes (optical modes) and topology of the links (interactions between the modes) within the network. Moreover, we also show how to simulate quantum dynamics within the network combined with the ability to address its individual nodes. To demonstrate the versatility of these features, we discuss the implementation of two recently proposed probing techniques for quantum complex networks and structured environments.

DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/aabc77

Related papers

Experimental optical simulator of reconfigurable and complex quantum environment

Paul Renault, Johannes Nokkala, Ganaël Roeland +6 more

No quantum system can be considered totally isolated from its environment. In most cases the interaction between the system of interest and the external degrees of freedom deeply changes its dynamics, as described by open quantum system theory. Nevertheless, engineered environment can be turned into beneficial effects for some quantum information tasks. Here we demonstrate an optical simulator of a quantum system coupled to an arbitrary and reconfigurable environment built as a complex network of quantum interacting systems. We experimentally retrieve typical features of open quantum system dynamics like the spectral density and quantum non-Markovianity, by exploiting squeezing and entanglement correlation of a continuous variables optical platform. This opens the way to the experimental tests of open quantum systems in reconfigurable environments that are relevant in, among others, quantum information, quantum thermodynamics, quantum transport and quantum synchronization.

arXiv:2302.12674•Feb 24, 2023•0 citations

Reconfigurable Optical Quantum Networks Using Multimode Quantum Frequency Combs and Pulse Shaping

Yin Cai, Jonathan Roslund, Giulia Ferrini +4 more

Multimode entanglement is quintessential for the design and fabrication of quantum networks, which play a central role in quantum information processing and quantum metrology. However, an experimental setup is generally constructed with a specific network configuration in mind and therefore exhibits reduced versatility and scalability. The present work demonstrates an on-demand, reconfigurable quantum network simulator, using an intrinsically multimode quantum resource and a homodyne detection apparatus. Without altering either the initial squeezing source or experimen- tal architecture, we realize the construction of thirteen cluster states of various size and connectivity as well as the implementation of a secret sharing protocol. In particular, this simulator enables the interrogation of quantum correlations and fluctuations for a Gaussian quantum network. This initi- ates a new avenue for implementing on-demand quantum information processing by only adapting the measurement process and not the experimental layout.

arXiv:1605.02303•May 8, 2016•6 citations

Simulating quantum optical networks with ultrafast pulse shaping

Yin Cai, Jonathan Roslund, Claude Fabre +1 more

Entanglement is an essential resource at the heart of quantum information processing and quantum metrology. Moreover, multimode entanglement is necessary for the fabrication of complex quantum networks, in which entanglement is distributed among several quantum modes. The nodes of the network are made from quantum modes, which are the fundamental information carriers, and these nodes are interconnected by a series of channels through which the information flows. Multimode entanglement is traditionally viewed as many-body correlations, in which the nodes are spatially separated and can be measured individually. In our multimode resource, all of the modes travel together within a single laser beam [1]. This co-propagation of modes enables us to construct on-demand quantum networks via arbitrary shaping within the measurement process.

European Quantum Electronics Conference (EQEC)•Jun 21, 2015•0 citations

Quantum Frequency Comb for Quantum Complex Networks

Luca La Volpe, Syamsundar De, Tiphaine Kouadou +6 more

The experimental implementation of large multipartite entangled state in the time and frequency domain is realised via optical frequency comb and parametric process. We discuss the implementation of quantum complex networks and their non-Gaussian features

Quantum Information and Measurement (QIM)•Jan 1, 2019•1 citation

Quantum networks: topology and spectral characterization

Vesna Berec

To utilize a scalable quantum network and perform a quantum state transfer within distant arbitrary nodes, coherence and control of the dynamics of couplings between the information units must be achieved as a prerequisite ingredient for quantum information processing within a hierarchical structure. Graph theoretic approach provides a powerful tool for the characterization of quantum networks with non-trivial clustering properties. By encoding the topological features of the underlying quantum graphs, relations between the quantum complexity measures are presented revealing the intricate links between a quantum and a classical networks dynamics.

EPJ Web of Conferences•Jan 1, 2018•0 citations

Characterization of multimode linear optical networks

Francesco Hoch, Taira Giordani, Nicolò Spagnolo +3 more

Multimode optical interferometers represent the most viable platforms for the successful implementation of several quantum information schemes that take advantage of optical processing. Examples range from quantum communication and sensing, to computation, including optical neural networks, optical reservoir computing, or simulation of complex physical systems. The realization of such routines requires high levels of control and tunability of the parameters that define the operations carried out by the device. This requirement becomes particularly crucial in light of recent technological improvements in integrated photonic technologies, which enable the implementation of progressively larger circuits embedding a considerable amount of tunable parameters. We formulate efficient procedures for the characterization of optical circuits in the presence of imperfections that typically occur in physical experiments, such as unbalanced losses and phase instabilities in the input and output collection stages. The algorithm aims at reconstructing the transfer matrix that represents the optical interferometer without making any strong assumptions about its internal structure and encoding. We show the viability of this approach in an experimentally relevant scenario, defined by a tunable integrated photonic circuit, and we demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of our method. Our findings can find application in a wide range of optical setups, based on both bulk and integrated configurations.

arXiv:2304.06486•Advanced Photonics Nexus•Jan 3, 2023•16 citations

Network theory has played a dominant role in understanding the structure of complex systems and their dynamics. Recently, quantum complex networks, i.e. collections of quantum systems arranged in a non-regular topology, have been theoretically explored leading to significant progress in a multitude of diverse contexts including, e.g., quantum transport, open quantum systems, quantum communication, extreme violation of local realism, and quantum gravity theories. Despite important progress in several quantum platforms, the implementation of complex networks with arbitrary topology in quantum experiments is still a demanding task, especially if we require both a significant size of the network and the capability of generating arbitrary topology—from regular to any kind of non-trivial structure—in a single setup. Here we propose an all optical and reconfigurable implementation of quantum complex networks. The experimental proposal is based on optical frequency combs, parametric processes, pulse shaping and multimode measurements allowing the arbitrary control of the number of the nodes (optical modes) and topology of the links (interactions between the modes) within the network. Moreover, we also show how to simulate quantum dynamics within the network combined with the ability to address its individual nodes. To demonstrate the versatility of these features, we discuss the implementation of two recently proposed probing techniques for quantum complex networks and structured environments.

No quantum system can be considered totally isolated from its environment. In most cases the interaction between the system of interest and the external degrees of freedom deeply changes its dynamics, as described by open quantum system theory. Nevertheless, engineered environment can be turned into beneficial effects for some quantum information tasks. Here we demonstrate an optical simulator of a quantum system coupled to an arbitrary and reconfigurable environment built as a complex network of quantum interacting systems. We experimentally retrieve typical features of open quantum system dynamics like the spectral density and quantum non-Markovianity, by exploiting squeezing and entanglement correlation of a continuous variables optical platform. This opens the way to the experimental tests of open quantum systems in reconfigurable environments that are relevant in, among others, quantum information, quantum thermodynamics, quantum transport and quantum synchronization.

Multimode entanglement is quintessential for the design and fabrication of quantum networks, which play a central role in quantum information processing and quantum metrology. However, an experimental setup is generally constructed with a specific network configuration in mind and therefore exhibits reduced versatility and scalability. The present work demonstrates an on-demand, reconfigurable quantum network simulator, using an intrinsically multimode quantum resource and a homodyne detection apparatus. Without altering either the initial squeezing source or experimen- tal architecture, we realize the construction of thirteen cluster states of various size and connectivity as well as the implementation of a secret sharing protocol. In particular, this simulator enables the interrogation of quantum correlations and fluctuations for a Gaussian quantum network. This initi- ates a new avenue for implementing on-demand quantum information processing by only adapting the measurement process and not the experimental layout.

Entanglement is an essential resource at the heart of quantum information processing and quantum metrology. Moreover, multimode entanglement is necessary for the fabrication of complex quantum networks, in which entanglement is distributed among several quantum modes. The nodes of the network are made from quantum modes, which are the fundamental information carriers, and these nodes are interconnected by a series of channels through which the information flows. Multimode entanglement is traditionally viewed as many-body correlations, in which the nodes are spatially separated and can be measured individually. In our multimode resource, all of the modes travel together within a single laser beam [1]. This co-propagation of modes enables us to construct on-demand quantum networks via arbitrary shaping within the measurement process.

To utilize a scalable quantum network and perform a quantum state transfer within distant arbitrary nodes, coherence and control of the dynamics of couplings between the information units must be achieved as a prerequisite ingredient for quantum information processing within a hierarchical structure. Graph theoretic approach provides a powerful tool for the characterization of quantum networks with non-trivial clustering properties. By encoding the topological features of the underlying quantum graphs, relations between the quantum complexity measures are presented revealing the intricate links between a quantum and a classical networks dynamics.

Multimode optical interferometers represent the most viable platforms for the successful implementation of several quantum information schemes that take advantage of optical processing. Examples range from quantum communication and sensing, to computation, including optical neural networks, optical reservoir computing, or simulation of complex physical systems. The realization of such routines requires high levels of control and tunability of the parameters that define the operations carried out by the device. This requirement becomes particularly crucial in light of recent technological improvements in integrated photonic technologies, which enable the implementation of progressively larger circuits embedding a considerable amount of tunable parameters. We formulate efficient procedures for the characterization of optical circuits in the presence of imperfections that typically occur in physical experiments, such as unbalanced losses and phase instabilities in the input and output collection stages. The algorithm aims at reconstructing the transfer matrix that represents the optical interferometer without making any strong assumptions about its internal structure and encoding. We show the viability of this approach in an experimentally relevant scenario, defined by a tunable integrated photonic circuit, and we demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of our method. Our findings can find application in a wide range of optical setups, based on both bulk and integrated configurations.