Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences
Managing photons for quantum information processing
Alfred B. U’Ren, Eran A. Mukamel, Konrad Banaszek, Ian A. Walmsley
Abstract
We study distinguishing information in the context of photonic quantum interference tailored for practical implementations of quantum information processing schemes. In particular, we consider the character of single-photon states optimized for multiple-source interference experiments and for experiments relying on Bell-state measurement and arrive at specific design criteria for photons produced by parametric down-conversion. Such states can be realistically implemented with available technology. We describe a novel method for characterizing the mode structure of single photons, and demonstrate it in the context of coherent light.