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arXiv:2605.02536

Programmable non-Gaussian quantum light source with state and temporal-waveform tunability

Hiroko Tomoda, Yu Nishizawa, Akihiro Machinaga, Takahiro Kashiwazaki, Takeshi Umeki, Shigehito Miki, Masahiro Yabuno, Hirotaka Terai, Daichi Okuno, Shuntaro Takeda

quant-phSubmitted May 4, 2026• Announced May 5, 2026• 0 citations

Abstract

A versatile quantum light source capable of programmably generating a variety of quantum light is a key enabler for photonic quantum technologies. In particular, independent control over both the output quantum state and its temporal waveform is essential for realizing diverse functionalities and enhancing processing performance. However, conventional sources of optical non-Gaussian states, a crucial resource for photonic quantum information processing, typically emit fixed states with predetermined temporal waveforms, lacking their programmability. Here, we propose a programmable non-Gaussian quantum light source that offers independent and arbitrary tunability of both the quantum state and the temporal waveform within a single platform. As a distinctive feature, our approach employs a heralding scheme in which these two properties are indirectly engineered to user-defined targets by manipulating the light in the heralding channel, thereby avoiding optical losses associated with direct manipulation of the heralded quantum light. We develop a prototype and demonstrate the generation of single-photon, Schrödinger cat, and two-photon states in a variety of unconventional temporal waveforms without degradation in state quality. This platform provides a versatile tool for tailoring quantum light to specific applications, significantly expanding the capabilities of photonic quantum technologies.

Comments: Main Text: 9 pages, 4 figures; Supplementary Information: 17 pages, 6 figures

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The heralded optical parametric amplifier (OPA) has emerged as a promising tool for quantum state engineering. However, its potential has been limited to coherent state inputs. Here, we introduce a generalized heralded OPA protocol that unlocks a vastly expanded class of quantum phenomena by accepting arbitrary non-classical inputs. With a squeezed vacuum input, the setup functions as an integrated two-photon subtractor, deterministically generating high-fidelity, larger-amplitude squeezed Schrödinger cat states -- an operation previously requiring complex, discrete setups. Furthermore, when fed a small-amplitude SC state, the protocol acts as a non-Gaussianity amplifier, distilling it into high-purity approximations of key quantum resources like specific photon-number superpositions. This work transforms the OPA from a specialized source into a versatile and practical platform for advanced quantum state engineering, enabling the generation of a wide array of non-Gaussian states from a single, integrated setup.

In photonic quantum information processing (QIP), processing efficiency can be enhanced by optimizing the degrees of freedom of quantum light, such as spatial modes, polarization, and others. Among these, temporal-waveform (TW) is crucial for high-contrast interference of quantum lights, efficient coupling to quantum memories, and quantum computation and communication with temporal mode encoding [1]–[4]. Furthermore, to optimize TWs according to specific applications and purposes, programmable TW shaping is essential.

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Photonic quantum technologies require the integration of high-quality quantum light sources with programmable photonic circuitry to enable on-chip quantum information processing. Semiconductor quantum dots have emerged as a leading platform for quantum light generation, yet their monolithic integration with cryogenic-compatible, programmable photonic circuitry remains challenging. Here we demonstrate a programmable quantum photonic platform that enables simultaneous control of highly coherent quantum dot-based single photon emitters and reconfigurable optical elements at cryogenic temperatures. System-level integration enables individual electrical and optical addressing of active components on a single chip, allowing their concurrent operation while preserving coherent non-classical light emission. We demonstrate multiple quantum-photonic functionalities, including pure single-photon generation, two-photon interference, and resonant transmission and reflection measurements of integrated emitters. These results mark a step from isolated quantum-optical devices towards programmable quantum-photonic hardware platforms capable of combining coherent quantum emitters with large-scale photonic functionality.

Non-Gaussian states are essential resources for universal, fault-tolerant optical quantum computing, but their generation rate remains limited by low heralding probabilities and operation in nanosecond temporal modes. Here, we demonstrate multi-photon generalized photon subtraction in picosecond optical wave packets, establishing the state-generation capability required for high-rate operation by addressing the temporal-mode bottleneck that has constrained the achievable rate. Two interfering ultrashort squeezed vacua are heralded by photon-number-resolving detection with a high-speed transition-edge sensor and characterized by pulsed homodyne detection matched to 10-ps temporal modes at a 5-MHz pump repetition rate. We reconstruct Wigner functions without loss correction that exhibit up to four distinct negative regions for four-photon heralding, together with an effective cat-state amplitude of

α_{\mathrm{eff}} = 1.69

. This amplitude approaches the range of practical relevance for fault-tolerant cat-code architectures and for adaptive breeding toward logical-qubit generation, while the picosecond temporal mode establishes a platform compatible with high-rate, scalable time-multiplexed photonic architectures.