The generation of optical quantum states on an integrated platform will enable low cost and accessible advances for quantum technologies such as secure communications and quantum computation. We demonstrate that integrated quantum frequency combs (based on high-Q microring resonators made from a CMOS-compatible, high refractive-index glass platform) can enable, among others, the generation of heralded single photons, cross-polarized photon pairs, as well as bi- and multi-photon entangled qubit states over a broad frequency comb covering the S, C, L telecommunications band, constituting an important cornerstone for future practical implementations of photonic quantum information processing.
The generation of optical quantum states on an integrated platform will enable low cost and accessible advances for quantum technologies such as secure communications and quantum computation. We demonstrate that integrated quantum frequency combs (based on high-Q microring resonators made from a CMOS-compatible, high refractive-index glass platform) can enable, among others, the generation of heralded single photons, cross-polarized photon pairs, as well as bi- and multi-photon entangled qubit states over a broad frequency comb covering the S, C, L telecommunications band, constituting an important cornerstone for future practical implementations of photonic quantum information processing.
The on-chip generation of optical quantum states will enable accessible advances for quantum technologies. We demonstrate that integrated quantum frequency combs (based on high-Q microring resonators made from a CMOS-compatible, high refractive-index doped-glass platform) can enable the generation of pure heralded single photons, cross-polarized photon pairs, as well as bi- and multi-photon entangled qubit states over a broad frequency comb covering the S, C, L telecommunications band, with photon frequencies corresponding to standard telecommunication channels spaced by 200 GHz. Exploiting a self-locked, intra-cavity excitation configuration, a highly-stable source of multiplexed heralded single photons is demonstrated, operating continuously for several weeks with less than 5% fluctuations. The photon bandwidth of 110 MHz is compatible with quantum memories, and high photon purity was confirmed through single-photon auto-correlation measurements. In turn, by simultaneously exciting two orthogonal polarization mode resonances, we demonstrate the first realization of type-II spontaneous FWM (in analogy to type-II spontaneous parametric down-conversion), allowing the direct generation of orthogonally-polarized photon pairs on a chip. By using a double-pulse excitation, we demonstrate the generation of time-bin entangled photon pairs. We measure qubit entanglement with visibilities above 90%, enabling the implementation of quantum information processing protocols. Finally, the excitation field and the generated photons are intrinsically bandwidth-matched due to the resonant characteristics of the ring cavity, enabling the multiplication of Bell states and the generation of a four-photon time-bin entangled state. We confirm the generation of this four-photon entangled state through four-photon quantum interference.
Complex optical quantum states based on entangled photons are essential for investigations of fundamental physics and are the heart of applications in quantum information science. Recently, integrated photonics has become a leading platform for the compact, cost-efficient, and stable generation and processing of optical quantum states. However, onchip sources are currently limited to basic two-dimensional (qubit) two-photon states, whereas scaling the state complexity requires access to states composed of several (<2) photons and/or exhibiting high photon dimensionality. Here we show that the use of integrated frequency combs (on-chip light sources with a broad spectrum of evenly-spaced frequency modes) based on high-Q nonlinear microring resonators can provide solutions for such scalable complex quantum state sources. In particular, by using spontaneous four-wave mixing within the resonators, we demonstrate the generation of bi- and multi-photon entangled qubit states over a broad comb of channels spanning the S, C, and L telecommunications bands, and control these states coherently to perform quantum interference measurements and state tomography. Furthermore, we demonstrate the on-chip generation of entangled high-dimensional (quDit) states, where the photons are created in a coherent superposition of multiple pure frequency modes. Specifically, we confirm the realization of a quantum system with at least one hundred dimensions. Moreover, using off-the-shelf telecommunications components, we introduce a platform for the coherent manipulation and control of frequencyentangled quDit states. Our results suggest that microcavity-based entangled photon state generation and the coherent control of states using accessible telecommunications infrastructure introduce a powerful and scalable platform for quantum information science.
Complex optical photon states with entanglement shared among several modes are critical to improving our fundamental understanding of quantum mechanics and have applications for quantum information processing, imaging, and microscopy. We demonstrate that optical integrated Kerr frequency combs can be used to generate several bi- and multiphoton entangled qubits, with direct applications for quantum communication and computation. Our method is compatible with contemporary fiber and quantum memory infrastructures and with chip-scale semiconductor technology, enabling compact, low-cost, and scalable implementations. The exploitation of integrated Kerr frequency combs, with their ability to generate multiple, customizable, and complex quantum states, can provide a scalable, practical, and compact platform for quantum technologies.
The investigation of integrated frequency comb sources characterized by equidistant spectral modes was initially driven by considerations toward classical applications, seeking a more practical and miniaturized way to generate stable broadband sources of light. Recently, in the context of scaling the complexity of optical quantum circuits, these on-chip approaches have provided a new framework to address the challenges associated with non-classical state generation and manipulation. For example, multi-photon and high-dimensional states were to date either inaccessible, lacked scalability, or were difficult to manipulate, requiring elaborate approaches. The emerging field of quantum frequency combs studying spectral multimode sources based on the judicious excitation of (typically) third-order nonlinear optical micro-cavities has begun to address these issues. Several quantum sources based on this concept have already been demonstrated, among them are combs of correlated photons, cross-polarized photon pairs, entangled photon pairs, multi-photon states, and high-dimensional entangled states. While sources have achieved increasing complexity, so have coherent state processing operations, demonstrated in a practical manner using standard telecommunications components. Here, we review our recent work in the development of this framework, with a focus on multi-photon and high-dimensional states. The integrated frequency comb platform thus demonstrates significant potential for the development of meaningful quantum optical technologies.
The development of quantum technologies for quantum information science demands the realization and precise control of complex (multipartite and high dimensional) entangled systems on practical and scalable platforms. Quantum frequency combs (QFCs) generated via spontaneous four-wave mixing in integrated microring resonators represent a powerful tool towards this goal. They enable the generation of complex photon states within a single spatial mode as well as their manipulation using standard fiber-based telecommunication components. Here, we review recent progress in the development of QFCs, with a focus on our results that highlight their importance for the realization of complex quantum states. In particular, we outline our work on the use of integrated QFCs for the generation of high-dimensional multipartite optical cluster states and their unidirectional processing, being at the core of measurement-based quantum computation. These results confirm that engineering the time-frequency entanglement properties of QFC may provide a stable, practical, low-cost, and established platform for the development of near-future quantum devices for out-of-the-lab applications, ranging from practical quantum computing to more secure communications.
The development of technologies for quantum information (QI) science demands the realization. and precise control of complex (multipartite and high dimensional) entangled systems on practical and scalable platforms. Quantum frequency combs (QFCs) represent a powerful tool towards this goal. They enable the generation of complex photon states within a single spatial mode as well as their manipulation using standard fiber-based telecommunication components. Here, we review recent progress in the development of QFCs, with a focus on results that highlight their importance for the realization of complex quantum states. In particular, we outline recent work on the use of integrated QFCs for the generation of high-dimensional multipartite optical cluster states – lying at the basis of measurement-based quantum computation. These results confirm that the QFC approach can provide a stable, practical, low-cost, and established platform for the development of quantum technologies, paving the way towards the advancement of QI science for out-of-the-lab applications, ranging from practical quantum computing to more secure communications.