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:1903.01925 · New Journal of Physics

Non-Gaussian and Gottesman–Kitaev–Preskill state preparation by photon catalysis

Miller Eaton, Rajveer Nehra, Olivier Pfister

Published Oct 31, 2019• 107 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Abstract Continuous-variable quantum-computing is the most scalable implementation of QC to date but requires non-Gaussian resources to allow exponential speedup and quantum correction, using error encoding such as Gottesman–Kitaev–Preskill (GKP) states. However, GKP state generation is still an experimental challenge. We show theoretically that photon catalysis, the interference of coherent states with single-photon states followed by photon-number-resolved detection, is a powerful enabler for non-Gaussian quantum state engineering such as exactly displaced single-photon states and M -symmetric superpositions of squeezed vacuum (SSV), including squeezed cat states ( M = 2). By including photon-counting based state breeding, we demonstrate the potential to enlarge SSV states and produce GKP states.

DOI
10.1088/1367-2630/ab5330

Related papers

Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill state preparation by photon catalysis

Miller Eaton, Rajveer Nehra, Olivier Pfister

Continuous-variable quantum-computing (CVQC) is the most scalable implementation of QC to date but requires non-Gaussian resources to allow exponential speedup and quantum correction, using error encoding such as Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill (GKP) states. However, GKP state generation is still an experimental challenge. We show theoretically that photon catalysis, the interference of coherent states with single-photon states followed by photon-number-resolved detection, is a powerful enabler for non-Gaussian quantum state engineering such as exactly displaced single-photon states and $M$-symmetric superpositions of squeezed vacuum (SSV), including squeezed cat states ($M=2$). By including photon-counting based state breeding, we demonstrate the potential to enlarge SSV states and produce GKP states.

•Mar 5, 2019•5 citations

Photon-Number-Resolving Detection for Viable Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill State Preparation

Miller Eaton, Rajveer Nehra, Olivier Pfister

We include photon-number-resolving detection in “photon catalysis” and apply it to generating non-Gaussian quantum states, including perfectly displaced single-photon states, high-fidelity squeezed cat and Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill states.

Frontiers in Optics•Jan 1, 2019•1 citation

Optical Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill qubit generation via approximate squeezed coherent state superposition breeding

Andrew J. Pizzimenti, Daniel Soh

Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill (GKP) qubits, known for their exceptional error-correction capabilities, are highly coveted in quantum computing. However, generating optical GKP qubits has been a significant challenge. Measurement-based methods, where a portion of entangled squeezed vacuum modes are measured with photon number resolving detectors heralding a desired state in the undetected modes, have emerged as leading candidates for optical GKP qubit generation due their minimal resource requirements. While the current measurement-based methods can produce high-quality GKP qubits, they suffer from low success probabilities limiting experimental realization. The heart of the problem lies in the duality of photon number resolving measurements, being both the source of nonlinearity needed to generate quality GKP qubits and the component driving down their probability of successful production. Our method, breeding approximate squeezed coherent state superpositions created by generalized photon subtraction, overcomes this problem by supplementing two photon number resolving measurements with a single high success probability homodyne measurement. This scheme achieves success probabilities $\ensuremath{\ge}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$, two orders of magnitude higher than strictly photon number resolving measurement based methods, while still producing states with high fidelity, possessing error-correction capabilities equivalent to up to a 10 dB squeezed GKP qubit. This breakthrough significantly advances the practical use of the optical GKP qubit encoding.

arXiv:2409.06902•Physical Review A•Dec 27, 2024•7 citations

Generation of optical Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskil states with cavity QED

Jacob Hastrup, Ulrik L. Andersen

Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill (GKP) states are a central resource for fault-tolerant optical continuous-variable quantum computing and communication. However, their realization in the optical domain remains to be demonstrated. Here we propose a method for preparing GKP states using a cavity QED system as the only non-Gaussian element. This system can be realized in several platforms such as trapped atoms, quantum dots or diamond color centers. We simulate the protocol with finite-cooperativity systems to evaluate the achievable quality of the produced GKP states in realistic noisy systems. We further combine the protocol with the previously proposed breeding protocol by Vasconcelos et al. to relax the demands on the quality of the QED system. We find that GKP states with more than 10 dB squeezing could be achieved in near-future experiments. Additionally, the approach can be made fully deterministic, thus providing a more scalable and hardware-efficient approach compared to probabilistic approaches based on photon counting.

•Apr 16, 2021•3 citations

Deterministic Preparation of Optical Squeezed Cat and Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill States

Matthew S. Winnel, Joshua J. Guanzon, Deepesh Singh +1 more

Large-amplitude squeezed cat states and high-quality Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill (GKP) states are essential for effective quantum error correction, yet their optical preparation has been hindered by challenges such as low success probabilities, small amplitudes, and insufficient squeezing. Addressing these limitations, our research introduces scalable optical schemes for the deterministic preparation of large-amplitude squeezed cat states from photon-number states. Fock states have the benefit of producing consistent cat states across all measurement outcomes and intrinsically provides a degree of squeezing. Notably, these squeezed cat states facilitate the deterministic generation of high-quality approximate GKP states via "breeding," showing that GKP error correction in optics is technically feasible in near-term experiments. Our schemes allow fault-tolerant quantum computation through the use of GKP error correction.

arXiv:2311.10510•Physical Review Letters•Jun 7, 2024•31 citations

Rapid Gaussian Boson Sampling Circuit Screening for GKP States Creation via a Two-Stage Machine Learning Surrogate

Mohammad Amin Khanpour, Hossein Davoodi Yeganeh

Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill (GKP) states are essential non-Gaussian resources for fault-tolerant photonic quantum computing, enabling logical qubit encoding with intrinsic robustness against errors. Several approaches to GKP state preparation have been explored, including measurement-based protocols in circuit QED and trapped-ion systems, cat-state breeding, and photon-subtraction schemes. However, these methods are either restricted to specific platforms or require deep non-Gaussian resource chains with exponentially low success probabilities. Gaussian Boson Sampling (GBS) offers a compelling all-photonic alternative by generating non-Gaussian states through measurement-induced nonlinearity, without the need for matter-based ancilla or active feedforward. Nevertheless, its practical implementation is limited by the exponential computational cost of evaluating matrix hafnians-#P-complete functions that govern photon-number probabilities. To address this challenge, we introduce a two-stage Histogram Gradient Boosting surrogate pipeline that predicts, without any hafnian computation, the optimal heralding pattern, circuit fidelity, and post-selection probability for candidate GBS circuits, while reserving exact quantum simulation exclusively for surrogate-selected candidates. Trained on circuit configurations across 3-5 optical modes, the surrogate achieves 90.0% GKP-detection accuracy on a held-out set, representing a 23.7 percentage-point improvement over the baseline, with a fidelity mean absolute error of 0.032 and a log-scale post-selection probability $R^2 = 0.837$, reducing the total simulation burden by approximately 90%.

quant-pharXiv:2606.05992•Jun 5, 2026•0 citations
Abstract Continuous-variable quantum-computing is the most scalable implementation of QC to date but requires non-Gaussian resources to allow exponential speedup and quantum correction, using error encoding such as Gottesman–Kitaev–Preskill (GKP) states. However, GKP state generation is still an experimental challenge. We show theoretically that photon catalysis, the interference of coherent states with single-photon states followed by photon-number-resolved detection, is a powerful enabler for non-Gaussian quantum state engineering such as exactly displaced single-photon states and M -symmetric superpositions of squeezed vacuum (SSV), including squeezed cat states ( M = 2). By including photon-counting based state breeding, we demonstrate the potential to enlarge SSV states and produce GKP states.
Continuous-variable quantum-computing (CVQC) is the most scalable implementation of QC to date but requires non-Gaussian resources to allow exponential speedup and quantum correction, using error encoding such as Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill (GKP) states. However, GKP state generation is still an experimental challenge. We show theoretically that photon catalysis, the interference of coherent states with single-photon states followed by photon-number-resolved detection, is a powerful enabler for non-Gaussian quantum state engineering such as exactly displaced single-photon states and MMM-symmetric superpositions of squeezed vacuum (SSV), including squeezed cat states (M=2M=2M=2). By including photon-counting based state breeding, we demonstrate the potential to enlarge SSV states and produce GKP states.
Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill (GKP) qubits, known for their exceptional error-correction capabilities, are highly coveted in quantum computing. However, generating optical GKP qubits has been a significant challenge. Measurement-based methods, where a portion of entangled squeezed vacuum modes are measured with photon number resolving detectors heralding a desired state in the undetected modes, have emerged as leading candidates for optical GKP qubit generation due their minimal resource requirements. While the current measurement-based methods can produce high-quality GKP qubits, they suffer from low success probabilities limiting experimental realization. The heart of the problem lies in the duality of photon number resolving measurements, being both the source of nonlinearity needed to generate quality GKP qubits and the component driving down their probability of successful production. Our method, breeding approximate squeezed coherent state superpositions created by generalized photon subtraction, overcomes this problem by supplementing two photon number resolving measurements with a single high success probability homodyne measurement. This scheme achieves success probabilities $\ensuremath{\ge}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$, two orders of magnitude higher than strictly photon number resolving measurement based methods, while still producing states with high fidelity, possessing error-correction capabilities equivalent to up to a 10 dB squeezed GKP qubit. This breakthrough significantly advances the practical use of the optical GKP qubit encoding.
Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill (GKP) states are a central resource for fault-tolerant optical continuous-variable quantum computing and communication. However, their realization in the optical domain remains to be demonstrated. Here we propose a method for preparing GKP states using a cavity QED system as the only non-Gaussian element. This system can be realized in several platforms such as trapped atoms, quantum dots or diamond color centers. We simulate the protocol with finite-cooperativity systems to evaluate the achievable quality of the produced GKP states in realistic noisy systems. We further combine the protocol with the previously proposed breeding protocol by Vasconcelos et al. to relax the demands on the quality of the QED system. We find that GKP states with more than 10 dB squeezing could be achieved in near-future experiments. Additionally, the approach can be made fully deterministic, thus providing a more scalable and hardware-efficient approach compared to probabilistic approaches based on photon counting.
Large-amplitude squeezed cat states and high-quality Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill (GKP) states are essential for effective quantum error correction, yet their optical preparation has been hindered by challenges such as low success probabilities, small amplitudes, and insufficient squeezing. Addressing these limitations, our research introduces scalable optical schemes for the deterministic preparation of large-amplitude squeezed cat states from photon-number states. Fock states have the benefit of producing consistent cat states across all measurement outcomes and intrinsically provides a degree of squeezing. Notably, these squeezed cat states facilitate the deterministic generation of high-quality approximate GKP states via "breeding," showing that GKP error correction in optics is technically feasible in near-term experiments. Our schemes allow fault-tolerant quantum computation through the use of GKP error correction.
Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill (GKP) states are essential non-Gaussian resources for fault-tolerant photonic quantum computing, enabling logical qubit encoding with intrinsic robustness against errors. Several approaches to GKP state preparation have been explored, including measurement-based protocols in circuit QED and trapped-ion systems, cat-state breeding, and photon-subtraction schemes. However, these methods are either restricted to specific platforms or require deep non-Gaussian resource chains with exponentially low success probabilities. Gaussian Boson Sampling (GBS) offers a compelling all-photonic alternative by generating non-Gaussian states through measurement-induced nonlinearity, without the need for matter-based ancilla or active feedforward. Nevertheless, its practical implementation is limited by the exponential computational cost of evaluating matrix hafnians-#P-complete functions that govern photon-number probabilities. To address this challenge, we introduce a two-stage Histogram Gradient Boosting surrogate pipeline that predicts, without any hafnian computation, the optimal heralding pattern, circuit fidelity, and post-selection probability for candidate GBS circuits, while reserving exact quantum simulation exclusively for surrogate-selected candidates. Trained on circuit configurations across 3-5 optical modes, the surrogate achieves 90.0% GKP-detection accuracy on a held-out set, representing a 23.7 percentage-point improvement over the baseline, with a fidelity mean absolute error of 0.032 and a log-scale post-selection probability R2=0.837R^2 = 0.837R2=0.837, reducing the total simulation burden by approximately 90%.