Superdense coding using a classical analogy of quantum entanglement is experimentally investigated. The spatially inhomogeneous polarization of vector vortex beams, as described by a higher-order Poincare sphere, play the role of maximally entangled Bell states.
We report the first experimental realization of classical hypercorrelation, correlated simultaneously in every degree of freedom (DOF), from observing a Bell-type inequality violation in each DOF: polarization and orbital angular momentum (OAM). Based on such a classical hypercorrelation, we have realized the analogy of quantum superdense coding in classical optics. Comparing it with quantum superdense coding using pairs of photons simultaneously entangled in polarization and OAM, we find that it exhibits many advantages. It is not only very convenient to realize in classical optics, the attainable channel capacity in the experiment for such a superdense coding can also reach 3 bits, which is higher than that (2.8 bits) of usual quantum one. Our findings can not only give novel insight into quantum physics, they may also open a new field of applications in the classical optical information process.
Vector beams have the defining property of nonseparable spatial and polarization degrees of freedom and are now routinely generated in the laboratory and used in a myriad of applications. Here we exploit the nonseparability of such beams, akin to entanglement of quantum states, to apply tools traditionally associated with quantum measurements to these classical fields. We find that the entanglement entropy is a proxy for the average degree of polarization and thus provides a single number for the vector nature of such beams. In addition to providing tools for the analysis of vector beams, we also explore the concept of classical entanglement to explain why these tools are appropriate in the first place.
A method of generating superdense coding based on quantum hyper-entanglement and facilitated by quantum networks is discussed. Superdense coding refers to the coding of more than one classical bit into each qubit. Quantum hyperentanglement refers to quantum entanglement in more than one degree of freedom, e.g. polarization, energy-time, and orbital angular momentum (OAM). The new superdense coding scheme permits 2L bits to be encoded into each qubit where L is the number of degrees of freedom used for quantum hyper-entanglement. The superdense coding procedure is based on a generalization of the Bell state for L degrees of freedom. Theory describing the structure, generation/transmission, and detection of the generalized Bell state is developed. Circuit models are provided describing the generation/transmission process and detection process. Detection processes are represented mathematically as projection operators. A mathematical proof that that the detection scheme permits the generalized Bell states to be distinguished with 100% probability is provided. Measures of effectiveness (MOEs) are derived for the superdense coding scheme based on open systems theory represented in terms of density operators. Noise and loss related to generation/transmission, detection and propagation are included. The MOEs include various probabilities, quantum Chernoff bound, a measure of the number of message photons that must be transmitted to successfully send and receive a message, SNR and the quantum Cramer Rao’ lower bound. Quantum networks with quantum memory are used to increase the efficiency of the superdense coding scheme.
It is well known that the entanglement of a quantum state is invariant under local unitary transformations. It dictates, for example, that the degree of entanglement of a photon pair in a Bell state remains maximally entangled during propagation in free-space. Here we outline a scenario where this paradigm does not hold. Using local Bell states engineered from classical vector vortex beams with non-separable degrees of freedom, so-called classically entangled states, we demonstrate that the entanglement evolves during propagation, oscillating between maximally entangled (purely vector) and product states (purely scalar). We outline the theory behind these novel propagation dynamics and confirm the results experimentally. Crucially, our approach allows delivering a tunable degree of local entanglement to a distant receiver by simply altering a modal phase delay holographically, or, in essence, a tractor beam for entanglement. This demonstration highlights a hitherto unnoticed property of classical entanglement and offers at the same time a device for on-demand delivery of vector states to targets, e.g., for dynamic laser materials processing as well as switchable resolution within STED systems.
Light beams having a vectorial field structure, or polarization, that varies over the transverse profile and a central optical singularity are called vector vortex (VV) beams and may exhibit specific properties such as focusing into ``light needles'' or rotation invariance. VV beams have already found applications in areas ranging from microscopy to metrology, optical trapping, nano-optics, and quantum communication. Individual photons in such beams exhibit a form of single-particle quantum entanglement between different degrees of freedom. On the other hand, the quantum states of two photons can be also entangled with each other. Here, we combine these two concepts and demonstrate the generation of quantum entanglement between two photons that are both in VV states: a form of entanglement between two complex vectorial fields. This result may lead to quantum-enhanced applications of VV beams as well as to quantum information protocols fully exploiting the vectorial features of light.
As structured optical fields with spatially inhomogeneous polarization distributions, vector beams have attracted widespread attention for their great applications across multiple fields. The coupling between spatial modes and polarization states in vector beams results in nonseparability analogous to quantum entangled states, referred to as classical entanglement. This concept has garnered considerable scholarly interest, due to its capacity to facilitate quantum-inspired approaches for the characterization of vector optical fields, leading to noteworthy applications such as metrological sensing, communication encryption, and quantum computing. However, most investigations concerning classical entanglement have focused on vector optical fields within the spatial domain, while the classical entanglement characteristics of ultrafast vector beam pulses in the temporal domain remain to be revealed. Here, we investigate the classical local entanglement of ultrafast vector beam pulses in the temporal domain. Through theoretical interpretation and experimental verification, time-varying nonseparability has been demonstrated throughout the pulse duration. The dynamic evolution of spatially vectorial polarization states on femtosecond timescales was measured. The temporal evolution of the classical entanglement and the associated density matrix were analyzed using quantum state tomography. This research provides, to our knowledge, novel perspectives for investigating quantum-classical optical analogies in the temporal domain, advancing deeper fundamental understanding of entanglement.