Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1709.05209 · Review of Scientific Instruments

A variable partially polarizing beam splitter

Jefferson Flórez, Nathan J. Carlson, Codey H. Nacke, Lambert Giner, Jeff S. Lundeen

Published Feb 1, 2018• 14 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We present designs for variably polarizing beam splitters. These are beam splitters allowing the complete and independent control of the horizontal and vertical polarization splitting ratios. They have quantum optics and quantum information applications, such as quantum logic gates for quantum computing and non-local measurements for quantum state estimation. At the heart of each design is an interferometer. We experimentally demonstrate one particular implementation, a displaced Sagnac interferometer configuration, that provides an inherent instability to air currents and vibrations. Furthermore, this design does not require any custom-made optics but only common components which can be easily found in an optics laboratory.

DOI
10.1063/1.5004805

Related papers

Experimental realization of a 2 × 2 polarization-independent split-ratio-tunable optical beam splitter

Ran Yang, Jian Li, Xiaobo Song +5 more

We realized a polarization-independent split-ratio-tunable optical beam splitter supporting two input and output ports through a stable interferometer. By adjusting the angle of a half-wave plate in the interferometer, we can tune the beam splitter reflectivities for both input ports from 0 to 1, regardless of the input light polarization. High-fidelity polarization-preserving transmission from input to output ports was verified by complete quantum process tomography. Nearly optimal interference effects at the beam splitter with various split ratios were observed by two-photon Hong-Ou-Mandel interference for different input polarization states. Such a beam splitter could find a variety of applications in classical and quantum optical technologies.

Optics Express•Dec 1, 2016•5 citations

Experimental realization of a resource-saving polarization-independent orbital-angular-momentum-preserving tunable beam splitter

Yaping Li, Fang‐Xiang Wang, Wei Chen +6 more

The tunable beam splitter (TBS) is a fundamental component used in optical experiments. A TBS can preserve the orbital angular momentum (OAM) states; in addition, the polarization states of photons are valuable for some particular experiments, such as high-dimensional quantum information processing. We use polarization beam splitters and half-wave plates to realize such a TBS under a compact structure, which can reduce the number of elements that require comparing with existing works. The experiments verify that the TBS has good performances in tunability, polarization, and OAM state preservation. A Sagnac interferometer is implemented with the proposed TBS to evaluate its practical usability, and the mean visibilities greater than 99.30% under varying polarization states demonstrate its potential for optical information processing.

Optics Letters•Jan 31, 2019•2 citations

A resource-saving realization of the polarization-independent orbital-angular-momentum-preserving tunable beam splitter

Yaping Li, Fang‐Xiang Wang, Wei Chen +6 more

Tunable beam splitter (TBS) is a fundamental component which has been widely used in optical experiments. We realize a polarization-independent orbital-angular-momentum-preserving TBS based on the combination of modified polarization beam splitters and half-wave plates. Greater than 30 dB of the extinction ratio of tunableness, lower than $6\%$ of polarization dependence and more than 20 dB of the extinction ratio of OAM preservation show the relatively good performance of the TBS. In addition, the TBS can save about 3/4 of the optical elements compared with the existing scheme to implement the same function\cite{yang2016experimental}, which makes it have great advantages in scalable applications. Using this TBS, we experimentally built a Sagnac interferometer with the mean visibility of more than $99\%$, which demonstrates its potential applications in quantum information process, such as quantum cryptography.

arXiv:1710.00584•Oct 2, 2017•1 citation

Achieving stabilization in interferometric logic operations

Andrey I. Zavalin, Joseph Shamir, Chandra S. Vikram +1 more

Interferometric systems with amplitude beam splitters can implement reversible operations that, on detection, become Boolean operators. Being passive, they consume no energy, do not limit the operating bandwidth, and have negligible latency. Unfortunately, conventional interferometric systems are notoriously sensitive to uncontrolled disturbances. Here the use of polarization in a common-path interferometric logic gate with and without polarization beam splitters is explored as an attractive alternative to overcome those difficulties. Two of three device configurations considered offer significant stability and lower drive modulator voltage as advantages over the previous systems. The first experimental tests of such a system are reported. Common-path interferometry lends itself to even more stability and robustness by compatibility with no-air-gap, solid optics.

Applied Optics•Jan 10, 2006•16 citations

A feasible gate for scalable linear optics quantum computation using polarization optics

Kaoru Sanaka, Kevin J. Resch

Knill, Laflamme, and Milburn (KLM) proved that it is possible to build a scalable universal quantum computer using only linear-optics elements and conditional dynamics [Nature (London) {\bf 409}, 46 (2001)\cite{Knill}]. However, the practical realization of the quantum logic gate for the scheme is still technically difficult. A major difficulty is the requirement for sub-wavelength level stabilization of the interlocking interferometers. Following our recent experimental work[Phys. Rev. Lett.{\bf 92}, 017902 (2004)\cite{Sanaka2}], we describe a more feasible scheme to implement the gate that greatly reduces the experimental stability requirements. The scheme uses only polarizing beam splitters and half-wave plates.

arXiv:quant-ph/0312226•Dec 31, 2003•1 citation

Probabilistic quantum logic operations using polarizing beam splitters

T. B. Pittman, B. C. Jacobs, J. D. Franson

It has previously been shown that probabilistic quantum logic operations may be performed using linear optical elements, additional photons (ancilla), and post-selection based on the output of single-photon detectors. Here we describe the operation of several quantum logic operations of an elementary nature, including a quantum parity check and a quantum encoder, and we show how they may be combined to implement a controlled-NOT (CNOT) gate. All of these gates may be constructed using polarizing beam splitters that completely transmit one state of polarization and totally reflect the orthogonal state of polarization, which allows a simple explanation of each operation. We also describe a polarizing beam splitter implementation of a CNOT gate that is closely analogous to the quantum teleportation technique previously suggested by Gottesman and Chuang [Nature 402, 390 (1999)]. Finally, our approach has the interesting feature that it makes practical use of a quantum-eraser technique.

arXiv:quant-ph/0107091•Physical Review A•Nov 16, 2001•434 citations
We present designs for variably polarizing beam splitters. These are beam splitters allowing the complete and independent control of the horizontal and vertical polarization splitting ratios. They have quantum optics and quantum information applications, such as quantum logic gates for quantum computing and non-local measurements for quantum state estimation. At the heart of each design is an interferometer. We experimentally demonstrate one particular implementation, a displaced Sagnac interferometer configuration, that provides an inherent instability to air currents and vibrations. Furthermore, this design does not require any custom-made optics but only common components which can be easily found in an optics laboratory.
We realized a polarization-independent split-ratio-tunable optical beam splitter supporting two input and output ports through a stable interferometer. By adjusting the angle of a half-wave plate in the interferometer, we can tune the beam splitter reflectivities for both input ports from 0 to 1, regardless of the input light polarization. High-fidelity polarization-preserving transmission from input to output ports was verified by complete quantum process tomography. Nearly optimal interference effects at the beam splitter with various split ratios were observed by two-photon Hong-Ou-Mandel interference for different input polarization states. Such a beam splitter could find a variety of applications in classical and quantum optical technologies.
The tunable beam splitter (TBS) is a fundamental component used in optical experiments. A TBS can preserve the orbital angular momentum (OAM) states; in addition, the polarization states of photons are valuable for some particular experiments, such as high-dimensional quantum information processing. We use polarization beam splitters and half-wave plates to realize such a TBS under a compact structure, which can reduce the number of elements that require comparing with existing works. The experiments verify that the TBS has good performances in tunability, polarization, and OAM state preservation. A Sagnac interferometer is implemented with the proposed TBS to evaluate its practical usability, and the mean visibilities greater than 99.30% under varying polarization states demonstrate its potential for optical information processing.
Tunable beam splitter (TBS) is a fundamental component which has been widely used in optical experiments. We realize a polarization-independent orbital-angular-momentum-preserving TBS based on the combination of modified polarization beam splitters and half-wave plates. Greater than 30 dB of the extinction ratio of tunableness, lower than 6%6\%6% of polarization dependence and more than 20 dB of the extinction ratio of OAM preservation show the relatively good performance of the TBS. In addition, the TBS can save about 3/4 of the optical elements compared with the existing scheme to implement the same function\cite{yang2016experimental}, which makes it have great advantages in scalable applications. Using this TBS, we experimentally built a Sagnac interferometer with the mean visibility of more than 99%99\%99%, which demonstrates its potential applications in quantum information process, such as quantum cryptography.
Interferometric systems with amplitude beam splitters can implement reversible operations that, on detection, become Boolean operators. Being passive, they consume no energy, do not limit the operating bandwidth, and have negligible latency. Unfortunately, conventional interferometric systems are notoriously sensitive to uncontrolled disturbances. Here the use of polarization in a common-path interferometric logic gate with and without polarization beam splitters is explored as an attractive alternative to overcome those difficulties. Two of three device configurations considered offer significant stability and lower drive modulator voltage as advantages over the previous systems. The first experimental tests of such a system are reported. Common-path interferometry lends itself to even more stability and robustness by compatibility with no-air-gap, solid optics.
Knill, Laflamme, and Milburn (KLM) proved that it is possible to build a scalable universal quantum computer using only linear-optics elements and conditional dynamics [Nature (London) {\bf 409}, 46 (2001)\cite{Knill}]. However, the practical realization of the quantum logic gate for the scheme is still technically difficult. A major difficulty is the requirement for sub-wavelength level stabilization of the interlocking interferometers. Following our recent experimental work[Phys. Rev. Lett.{\bf 92}, 017902 (2004)\cite{Sanaka2}], we describe a more feasible scheme to implement the gate that greatly reduces the experimental stability requirements. The scheme uses only polarizing beam splitters and half-wave plates.
It has previously been shown that probabilistic quantum logic operations may be performed using linear optical elements, additional photons (ancilla), and post-selection based on the output of single-photon detectors. Here we describe the operation of several quantum logic operations of an elementary nature, including a quantum parity check and a quantum encoder, and we show how they may be combined to implement a controlled-NOT (CNOT) gate. All of these gates may be constructed using polarizing beam splitters that completely transmit one state of polarization and totally reflect the orthogonal state of polarization, which allows a simple explanation of each operation. We also describe a polarizing beam splitter implementation of a CNOT gate that is closely analogous to the quantum teleportation technique previously suggested by Gottesman and Chuang [Nature 402, 390 (1999)]. Finally, our approach has the interesting feature that it makes practical use of a quantum-eraser technique.