We report on a technique that allows for the entanglement manipulation of qudit states encoded in the linear transverse momentum of photon pairs generated in the process of spontaneous parametric downconversion. It relies on the use of spatial light modulators and interferometric techniques for implementing the desired local measurements. As an application of our method we perform the optimal entanglement concentration of entangled qutrit states, where maximally entangled states are obtained with the maximal success probability. The procedure of entanglement concentration is fundamental for many quantum information tasks, thus showing the potential of our technique for future experimental investigations considering high-dimensional Hilbert spaces.
We report on a technique that allows for the entanglement manipulation of qudit states encoded in the linear transverse momentum of photon pairs generated in the process of spontaneous parametric downconversion. It relies on the use of spatial light modulators and interferometric techniques for implementing the desired local measurements. As an application of our method we perform the optimal entanglement concentration of entangled qutrit states, where maximally entangled states are obtained with the maximal success probability. The procedure of entanglement concentration is fundamental for many quantum information tasks, thus showing the potential of our technique for future experimental investigations considering high-dimensional Hilbert spaces.
We review recent theoretical and experimental works where are proposed and demonstrated how to use photon pairs created by spontaneous parametric down-conversion to generate entangled states of D-dimensional quantum systems, or qudits. This is the first demonstration of high-dimensional entanglement based on the intrinsic transverse momentum entanglement of the type-II down-converted photons. The qudit space is defined by an aperture made up of an opaque screen with D slits (paths), placed in the arms of the twin photons. By manipulating the pump beam profile we can prepare different entangled states of these possible paths. We focus our attention on an important case for applications in quantum information: the maximally entangled states. Experimental results for qudits with D=4 and D=8 are shown and measuring a two-photon conditional interference, we also demonstrate the nonclassical character of the correlations.
Discretizing transverse linear momentum of photon pairs, generated by spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC), is one of the simplest methods for producing bipartite entangled states in high dimensions. So far, it has been employed only to prepare states in dimensions $m\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}m$. In this work, we study the generalization for engineering entangled states in dimensions $m\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}n$. Our approach relies on the manipulation of the pump beam transverse profile and the phase-matching function of the SPDC process to prepare, behind an m- and n-slit aperture, different $m\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}n$ spatial entangled states. We demonstrate the technique experimentally for some $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}3$ states. Compared to previous approaches in producing $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}n$ photonic entanglement, which require either more than two photons or hybrid entanglement, our scheme is less demanding and simpler since we employ only two photons and a single degree of freedom to encode the states.
In this thesis, we explore the properties of photons generated by parametric down-conversion (PDC) and entangled in continuous variables of transverse momentum, with the aim of using this degree of freedom for developing a new method for generating en-tangled states in discrete and multidimensional spaces. Such states have a great potential for applications in fundamental problems of quantum mechanics as well as in quantum information protocols. Our study is based on the theory of angular spectrum transfer from the laser beam tothe two-photon state, proposed and demonstrated by Monken, Souto Ribeiro and P Ladua [Phys. Rev. A 57, 3123 (1998)]. Using it, we investigate theoretically the evolution of the quantum state of photon pairs when they propagate from the crystal and are transmitted through linear optical systems like lenses and apertures. The two-photon state is calculated when there is only one optical system in the path of each photon and we also discuss the generalization of the method employed in the calculation, for more complex experiments. With the two-photon state obtained, we propose a method for generating entangledstates of qubits (two-dimensional quantum systems) and qudits (D-dimensional quantum systems), using the transverse momentum of photons from PDC. The method is based on the selection of specific transverse spatial modes of each photon, by using an array of D-slits (D . 2) in the path of these photons. In this method we have the control of the dimension, D, of each qudit and also the degree of entanglement between them, by manipulating the transverse laser beam profile, which is due to the transfer of angular spectrum. In order to test the theory, we make an experiment for a specific case, which has a great interest in practical applications of entanglement: we demonstrate the generation of maximally entangled states of qudits with D = 4 and D = 8. The quantum character of the correlations is assured qualitatively by measuring two-photon interference patterns with conditional fringes. We also investigate the propagation of these entangled states of qudits through free space and with a simple experiment we show that they can be distributed for distant and spatially separated parts, keeping the correlations. Finally, we perform an experiment for quantifying entanglement in this type of state that we are producing. In this work, we restrict ourselves to the simplest case of two qubits. We prepare different states by manipulating the transverse laser beam profile and their degree of entanglement is measured in two ways: (i) through the degree ofconditionality of the two-photon interference patterns and (ii) through the measurement of marginal probability. We discuss the extension of the method (i) for two-qudit states.
Maximally entangled photon pairs with a spatial degree of freedom is a potential way for realizing high-capacity quantum computing and communication. However, methods to generate such entangled states with high quality, high brightness, and good controllability are needed. Here, a scheme is experimentally demonstrated that generates spatially maximally entangled photon pairs with an orbital angular momentum degree of freedom via spontaneous parametric down-conversion in a nonlinear crystal. Compared with existing methods using postselection, the technique can directly modulate the spatial spectrum of down-converted photon pairs by engineering the input pump beam. In addition, the relative phase between spatially entangled photon pairs can be easily manipulated by preparing the relative phase of input pump states.
The study of how to generate high-dimensional quantum states (qudits) is justified by the advantages that they can bring for the field of quantum information. However, to have some real practical potential for quantum communication, these states must be also of simple manipulation. Spatial qudits states, which are generated by engineering the transverse momentum of the parametric down-converted photons, have been until now considered of hard manipulation. Nevertheless, we show in this work a simple technique for modifying these states. This technique is based on the use of programmable diffractive optical devices, that can act as spatial light modulators, to define the Hilbert space of these photons instead of pre-fabricated multi-slits.
The study of how to generate high-dimensional quantum states (qudits) is justified by the advantages that they can bring for the field of quantum information. However, to have some real practical potential for quantum communication, these states must be also of simple manipulation. Spatial qudits states, which are generated by engineering the transverse momentum of the parametric down-converted photons, have been until now considered of hard manipulation. Nevertheless, we show in this work a simple technique for modifying these states. This technique is based on the use of programmable diffractive optical devices, that can act as spatial light modulators, to define the Hilbert space of these photons instead of pre-fabricated multi-slits.