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arXiv:2002.04450 · Physical Review A

Scheme for the generation of hybrid entanglement between time-bin and wavelike encodings

Élie Gouzien, F. Brunel, Sébastien Tanzilli, Virginia D’Auria

Published Jul 2, 2020• 12 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We propose a scheme for the generation of hybrid states entangling a single-photon time-bin qubit with a coherent-state qubit encoded on phases. Compared to other reported solutions, time-bin encoding makes hybrid entanglement particularly well adapted to applications involving long-distance propagation in optical fibers. This makes our proposal a promising resource for future out-of-the-laboratory quantum communication. In this perspective, we analyze our scheme by taking into account realistic experimental resources and discuss the impact of their imperfections on the quality of the obtained hybrid state.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.102.012603

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We propose a scheme for the generation of hybrid states entangling a single-photon time-bin qubit with a coherent-state qubit encoded on phases. Compared to other reported solutions, time-bin encoding makes hybrid entanglement particularly well adapted to applications involving long-distance propagation in optical fibers. This makes our proposal a promising resource for future out-of-the-laboratory quantum communication. In this perspective, we analyze our scheme by taking into account realistic experimental resources and discuss the impact of their imperfections on the quality of the obtained hybrid state.
Time is a practical and robust degree of freedom for the encoding of quantum information. Qubits encoded in so-called `time-bins', allowing a discrete superposition of two potential arrival times, have their entanglement preserved even over long propagation distances in standard fiber networks [1]. Time has also been used for the preparation of more complex quantum systems, such as hyper-entangled and cluster states [2]. These qualities put time-bin encoding at the center of applications ranging from quantum state preparation through to quantum communications and information processing. One of the hallmarks of the scheme is that a nonlinear element has to be pumped with phase-coherent double-pulses, which can be achieved by using unbalanced interferometers [1], making their phase stability the key determinant of both state generation and analysis accuracy. However, the phase ambiguity arising from the periodicity of feedback signals [3], as well as the difficulty of stabilizing on interference maxima/minima, leave progress to be made in fiberbased interferometry for time-bin encodings.
Temporal encodings of quantum information are prevalent in applications because of their suitability for long-distance quantum communication and their compatibility with optical fiber communication networks. Perhaps the simplest temporal encoding is time-bin encoding, i. e. in superpositions of two (or more) temporally separated optical pulses. Early attempts at generating time-bin entanglement from single quantum emitters was not able to avoid the problem of re-excitation or was converted probabilistically from polarization entangled photon pairs from a quantum dot. Direct generation requires a metastable level to carry the coherence and avoid double pair emission into the desired time bins. In order to use dark exciton states as metastable states we have worked on their efficient creation and coherent control in the presence of in-plane magnetic fields. Much of this is based on our recent work on advanced excitation schemes using chirped pulses. With chirped pulses we are now able to deterministically populate a dark exciton state and to transfer this population to the biexciton, which can then emit a photon pair.
Quantum states encoded in the time-bin degree of freedom of photons represent a fundamental resource for quantum information protocols. Traditional methods for generating and measuring time-bin-encoded quantum states face severe challenges due to optical instabilities, complex setups, and timing resolution requirements. To circumvent these issues, we leverage an approach based on Hong-Ou-Mandel interference and we propose and demonstrate a robust and scalable protocol to generate and measure arbitrary high-dimensional time-bin quantum states. We experimentally implement the protocol in a photonic setup reaching high-fidelity quantum state tomographies of two- and three-dimensional quantum states encoded in time bins with short temporal separation. We also certify intrasystem polarization-time entanglement of single photons through a nonclassicality test. The demonstrated approach enables access to high-dimensional states and tasks that are practically inaccessible with standard schemes, thereby advancing fundamental quantum information science and opening applications in quantum communication.
The encoding of quantum information in photonic time-bin qubits is apt for long-distance quantum communication schemes. In practice, due to technical constraints such as detector response time, or the speed with which copolarized time-bins can be switched, other encodings, e.g., polarization, are often preferred for operations like state detection. Here, we present the conversion of qubits between polarization and time-bin encodings by using a method that is based on an ultrafast optical Kerr shutter and attain efficiencies of 97% and an average fidelity of $0.827\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.003$ with shutter speeds near 1 ps. Our demonstration delineates an essential requirement for the development of hybrid and high-rate optical quantum networks.
Time-bin encoding of photons offers a robust kind of long-distance quantum communication over lossy channels. The diversity of material nodes in quantum networks operating at natural frequencies requires coherent frequency and wave-form conversion of information-carrying photons to provide an efficient quantum interface with optical fibers and various quantum memories, which has been extensively studied. However, the quantum frequency conversion with transfer of time-bin encoding between single photons of different wavelengths has not yet been explored. In this paper, we present a method for efficiently exchanging time-bin encoding in the conversion process between two photons propagating in cold tripod atoms driven by a strong laser field. The latter is designed to slow down photons and suppress their absorption due to electromagnetically induced transparency. Photons interact parametrically through modified atomic coherence, which is utilized also to achieve equal group velocities of photons. We demonstrate the ability of our model to generate entanglement between distant atoms that equally share the original quantum information stored in the ground-state polarization qubits of both atoms. The proposed method for frequency conversion based on modified atomic coherence is promising because it can simplify the implementation of reliable and high-speed quantum communication protocols based on single-photon entanglement.
Entanglement between light and matter combines the advantage of long distance transmission of photonic qubits with the storage and processing capabilities of atomic qubits. To distribute photonic states efficiently over long distances several schemes to encode qubits have been investigated-time-bin encoding being particularly promising due to its robustness against decoherence in optical fibers. Here, we demonstrate the generation of entanglement between a photonic time-bin qubit and a single collective atomic spin excitation (spin wave) in a cold atomic ensemble, followed by the mapping of the atomic qubit onto another photonic qubit. A magnetic field that induces a periodic dephasing and rephasing of the atomic excitation ensures the temporal distinguishability of the two time bins and plays a central role in the entanglement generation. To analyze the generated quantum state, we use largely imbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometers to perform projective measurements in different qubit bases and verify the entanglement by violating a Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt Bell inequality.