Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Optics Express

Implementation of single-photon quantum routing and decoupling using a nitrogen-vacancy center and a whispering-gallery-mode resonator-waveguide system

Cong Cao, Yuwen Duan, Xi Chen, Ru Zhang, Tie-Jun Wang, Chuan Xi Wang

Published Jul 10, 2017• 80 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Quantum router is a key element needed for the construction of future complex quantum networks. However, quantum routing with photons, and its inverse, quantum decoupling, are difficult to implement as photons do not interact, or interact very weakly in nonlinear media. In this paper, we investigate the possibility of implementing photonic quantum routing based on effects in cavity quantum electrodynamics, and present a scheme for single-photon quantum routing controlled by the other photon using a hybrid system consisting of a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center coupled with a whispering-gallery-mode resonator-waveguide structure. Different from the cases in which classical information is used to control the path of quantum signals, both the control and signal photons are quantum in our implementation. Compared with the probabilistic quantum routing protocols based on linear optics, our scheme is deterministic and also scalable to multiple photons. We also present a scheme for single-photon quantum decoupling from an initial state with polarization and spatial-mode encoding, which can implement an inverse operation to the quantum routing. We discuss the feasibility of our schemes by considering current or near-future techniques, and show that both the schemes can operate effectively in the bad-cavity regime. We believe that the schemes could be key building blocks for future complex quantum networks and large-scale quantum information processing.

DOI
10.1364/oe.25.016931

Related papers

Universal hybrid three-qubit quantum gates assisted by a nitrogen-vacancy center coupled with a whispering-gallery-mode microresonator

Tie-Jun Wang, Chuan Xi Wang

We investigate the construction of two universal three-qubit quantum gates in a hybrid system. The designed system consists of a flying photon and a stationary negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center fixed on the periphery of a whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) microresonator, with the WGM cavity coupled to tapered fibers functioning as an add-drop structure. These gate operations are accomplished by encoding the information both on the spin degree of freedom of the electron confined in the NV center and on the polarization and spatial-mode states of the flying photon, respectively. Compared with previous schemes, our proposed scheme leads to a reduction of time and resource consumption in the processing. Moreover, these gates work in a deterministic way with no extra qubits required, which is feasible with current technologies. Both proposed gate operations could be physically implemented in one step, which provides a promising approach for quantum information processing ranging from distributed quantum computation to long-distance quantum communication.

Physical Review A•Nov 10, 2014•44 citations

Quantum routing of single photons with whispering-gallery resonators

Jingsong Huang, Jiahao Zhang, L. F. Wei

Quantum routing of single photons in a system with two waveguides coupled to two whispering-gallery resonators (WGRs) are investigated theoretically. With a real-space full quantum theory, photonic scattering amplitudes along four ports of the waveguide network are analytically obtained. It is shown that, by adjusting the geometric and physical parameters of the two-WGR configuration, the quantum routing properties of single photons along the present waveguide network can be controlled effectively. For example, the routing capability from input waveguide to another one can significantly exceed 0.5 near the resonance point of scattering spectra, which can be achieved with only one resonator. By properly designing the distance between two WGRs and the waveguide-WGR coupling strengths, the transfer rate between the waveguides can also reach certain sufficiently high values even in the non-resonance regime. Moreover, Fano-like resonances in the scattering spectra are designable. The proposed system may provide a potential application in controlling single-photon quantum routing as a novel router.

arXiv:1711.03279•Nov 9, 2017•0 citations

Implementation of an efficient linear-optical quantum router

Karol Bartkiewicz, Antonín Černoch, Karel Lemr

For several decades, scientists have been aware of significant benefits allowing quantum information processing technologies to surpass their classical counterparts. Recent technological development allows these benefits to be tested experimentally and in some cases also implemented in practical devices. So far the majority of experimental quantum networks was limited to peer-to-peer communications between two parties. Practical implementation of quantum communications networks, however, needs to address the problem of scalability to serve large numbers of users. Similarly to classical computer networks, their quantum counterparts would require routing protocols to direct the signal from its source to destination. Devices implementing these routing protocols are called quantum routers and have recently been subject of an intense research. In this paper, we report on experimental implementation of a linear-optical quantum router. Our device allows single-photon polarization-encoded qubits to be routed coherently into two spatial output modes depending on the state of two identical control qubits. The polarization qubit state of the routed photon is maintained during the routing operation. The success probability of our scheme can be increased up to 25% making it the most efficient linear-optical quantum router developed to this date.

arXiv:1802.05741•Scientific Reports•Sep 3, 2018•17 citations

Quantum-information transfer with nitrogen-vacancy centers coupled to a whispering-gallery microresonator

Fuli Li, Shaoyan Gao, Fuli Li

We propose an efficient scheme for the realization of quantum information transfer and entanglement with nitrogen-vacancy (N-$V$) centers coupled to a high-$Q$ whispering-gallery mode (WGM) microresonator. We show that based on the effective dipole-dipole interaction between the N-$V$ centers mediated by the WGM, quantum information can be transferred between the N-$V$ centers through Raman transitions combined with laser fields. This protocol may open up promising possibilities for quantum communications with the solid-state quantum electrodynamic cavity system.

arXiv:1010.6138•Physical Review A•May 26, 2011•66 citations

Single-photon routing with whispering-gallery resonators

J. C. Huang, Jiahao Zhang, L. F. Wei

Abstract Quantum routing of single photons in a system with two waveguides coupled to two whispering-gallery resonators (WGRs) are investigated theoretically. Using a real-space full quantum theory, photonic scattering amplitudes along four ports of the waveguide network are analytically obtained. It is shown that, by adjusting the geometric and physical parameters of the two-WGR configuration, the quantum routing properties of single photons along the present waveguide network can be controlled effectively. The routing capability from input waveguide to another one can significantly exceed 0.5 near the resonance point of scattering spectra, which can be achieved with only one resonator. By properly designing the distance between two WGRs and the waveguide-WGR coupling strengths, the transfer rate between the waveguides can also reach certain sufficiently high values even in the non-resonance regime. Moreover, Fano-like resonances in the scattering spectra are designable. The proposed system may provide a potential application in controlling single-photon quantum routing.

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Mar 9, 2018•11 citations

Multilevel quantum routing of single photons with whispering-gallery resonators

Jiafeng Wu, Xingmin Li

Quantum routers determine the propagation of quantum signals in a quantum network. In a complex optical quantum network, the quantum signals should be routed to multilevel quantum channels, but how to modulate this quantum routing process is a challenge. We study the quantum routing of single photons with three-level quantum channels connected by two whispering-gallery resonators (WGRs). We find that single photons can be efficiently routed to a third level quantum channel, though the maximum probability is not higher than that to the second level quantum channel, which can reach $100%$. Moreover, we also investigate how the phase shift parameter and the dissipation rates influence the routing probability in a third level quantum channel. Our work provides a robust proposal for harvesting the potential of quantum networks in the future.

Physical Review A•Mar 11, 2025•3 citations
Quantum router is a key element needed for the construction of future complex quantum networks. However, quantum routing with photons, and its inverse, quantum decoupling, are difficult to implement as photons do not interact, or interact very weakly in nonlinear media. In this paper, we investigate the possibility of implementing photonic quantum routing based on effects in cavity quantum electrodynamics, and present a scheme for single-photon quantum routing controlled by the other photon using a hybrid system consisting of a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center coupled with a whispering-gallery-mode resonator-waveguide structure. Different from the cases in which classical information is used to control the path of quantum signals, both the control and signal photons are quantum in our implementation. Compared with the probabilistic quantum routing protocols based on linear optics, our scheme is deterministic and also scalable to multiple photons. We also present a scheme for single-photon quantum decoupling from an initial state with polarization and spatial-mode encoding, which can implement an inverse operation to the quantum routing. We discuss the feasibility of our schemes by considering current or near-future techniques, and show that both the schemes can operate effectively in the bad-cavity regime. We believe that the schemes could be key building blocks for future complex quantum networks and large-scale quantum information processing.
We investigate the construction of two universal three-qubit quantum gates in a hybrid system. The designed system consists of a flying photon and a stationary negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center fixed on the periphery of a whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) microresonator, with the WGM cavity coupled to tapered fibers functioning as an add-drop structure. These gate operations are accomplished by encoding the information both on the spin degree of freedom of the electron confined in the NV center and on the polarization and spatial-mode states of the flying photon, respectively. Compared with previous schemes, our proposed scheme leads to a reduction of time and resource consumption in the processing. Moreover, these gates work in a deterministic way with no extra qubits required, which is feasible with current technologies. Both proposed gate operations could be physically implemented in one step, which provides a promising approach for quantum information processing ranging from distributed quantum computation to long-distance quantum communication.
Quantum routing of single photons in a system with two waveguides coupled to two whispering-gallery resonators (WGRs) are investigated theoretically. With a real-space full quantum theory, photonic scattering amplitudes along four ports of the waveguide network are analytically obtained. It is shown that, by adjusting the geometric and physical parameters of the two-WGR configuration, the quantum routing properties of single photons along the present waveguide network can be controlled effectively. For example, the routing capability from input waveguide to another one can significantly exceed 0.5 near the resonance point of scattering spectra, which can be achieved with only one resonator. By properly designing the distance between two WGRs and the waveguide-WGR coupling strengths, the transfer rate between the waveguides can also reach certain sufficiently high values even in the non-resonance regime. Moreover, Fano-like resonances in the scattering spectra are designable. The proposed system may provide a potential application in controlling single-photon quantum routing as a novel router.
For several decades, scientists have been aware of significant benefits allowing quantum information processing technologies to surpass their classical counterparts. Recent technological development allows these benefits to be tested experimentally and in some cases also implemented in practical devices. So far the majority of experimental quantum networks was limited to peer-to-peer communications between two parties. Practical implementation of quantum communications networks, however, needs to address the problem of scalability to serve large numbers of users. Similarly to classical computer networks, their quantum counterparts would require routing protocols to direct the signal from its source to destination. Devices implementing these routing protocols are called quantum routers and have recently been subject of an intense research. In this paper, we report on experimental implementation of a linear-optical quantum router. Our device allows single-photon polarization-encoded qubits to be routed coherently into two spatial output modes depending on the state of two identical control qubits. The polarization qubit state of the routed photon is maintained during the routing operation. The success probability of our scheme can be increased up to 25% making it the most efficient linear-optical quantum router developed to this date.
We propose an efficient scheme for the realization of quantum information transfer and entanglement with nitrogen-vacancy (N-VVV) centers coupled to a high-QQQ whispering-gallery mode (WGM) microresonator. We show that based on the effective dipole-dipole interaction between the N-VVV centers mediated by the WGM, quantum information can be transferred between the N-VVV centers through Raman transitions combined with laser fields. This protocol may open up promising possibilities for quantum communications with the solid-state quantum electrodynamic cavity system.
Abstract Quantum routing of single photons in a system with two waveguides coupled to two whispering-gallery resonators (WGRs) are investigated theoretically. Using a real-space full quantum theory, photonic scattering amplitudes along four ports of the waveguide network are analytically obtained. It is shown that, by adjusting the geometric and physical parameters of the two-WGR configuration, the quantum routing properties of single photons along the present waveguide network can be controlled effectively. The routing capability from input waveguide to another one can significantly exceed 0.5 near the resonance point of scattering spectra, which can be achieved with only one resonator. By properly designing the distance between two WGRs and the waveguide-WGR coupling strengths, the transfer rate between the waveguides can also reach certain sufficiently high values even in the non-resonance regime. Moreover, Fano-like resonances in the scattering spectra are designable. The proposed system may provide a potential application in controlling single-photon quantum routing.
Quantum routers determine the propagation of quantum signals in a quantum network. In a complex optical quantum network, the quantum signals should be routed to multilevel quantum channels, but how to modulate this quantum routing process is a challenge. We study the quantum routing of single photons with three-level quantum channels connected by two whispering-gallery resonators (WGRs). We find that single photons can be efficiently routed to a third level quantum channel, though the maximum probability is not higher than that to the second level quantum channel, which can reach 100100%100. Moreover, we also investigate how the phase shift parameter and the dissipation rates influence the routing probability in a third level quantum channel. Our work provides a robust proposal for harvesting the potential of quantum networks in the future.