Complex Quantum State Generation and Coherent Control Based on Integrated Frequency Combs
Piotr Roztocki, Stefania Sciara, Christian Reimer, Luis Romero Cortés, Yanbing Young Zhang, Benjamin Wetzel, Mehedi Islam, Bennet Fischer, Alfonso Carmelo Cino, Sai Tak Chu, Brent E. Little, David Moss, Lucia Caspani, José Azaña, Michael Kues, Roberto Morandotti
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 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 investigation and use of integrated frequency comb sources (i.e. featured by equally-spaced discrete spectral modes) have recently provided a unique framework to address the challenges of generation and coherent manipulation of complex quantum states in on-chip devices. We exploit integrated frequency combs for generating entangled photon pairs, as well as multi-photon states, and high-dimensional (D-level, i.e. quDit) entangled photons. In particular, we manage to coherently manipulate such complex quantum systems by using telecommunications components (standard fiber telecom).
Entangled optical quantum states are essential towards solving questions in fundamental physics and are at the heart of applications in quantum information science. For advancing the research and development of quantum technologies, practical access to the generation and manipulation of photon states carrying significant quantum resources is required. Recently, integrated photonics has become a leading platform for the compact and cost-efficient generation and processing of optical quantum states. Despite significant advances, most on-chip nonclassical light sources are still limited to basic bi-photon systems formed by two-dimensional states (i.e., qubits). An interesting approach bearing large potential is the use of the time or frequency domain to enabled the scalable onchip generation of complex states. In this manuscript, we review recent efforts in using on-chip optical frequency combs for quantum state generation and telecommunications components for their coherent control. In particular, the generation of bi- and multi-photon entangled qubit states has been demonstrated, based on a discrete time domain approach. Moreover, the on-chip generation of high-dimensional entangled states (quDits) has recently been realized, wherein the photons are created in a coherent superposition of multiple pure frequency modes. The time- and frequency-domain states formed with on-chip frequency comb sources were coherently manipulated via off-the-shelf telecommunications components. Our results suggest that microcavity-based entangled photon states and their coherent control using accessible telecommunication infrastructures can open up new venues for scalable quantum information science.
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.
The exploitation of quantum mechanics has the potential to solve important challenges and \nintroduce novel technologies enabling, among others, powerful computation (which can solve \ncertain problems exponentially faster than classical computers), perfectly secure communications, \nas well as sensing and imaging with precision and resolutions not achievable by classical means. \nIn order to make use of the unique properties of quantum physics, experimental platforms \nthat provide access to, and allow the control of quantum states, need to be developed. In \nparticular, quantum systems composed of multiple parties are required, where each party is in a \ncoherent superposition of states, and where multiples of such parties are in a coherent \nsuperposition with each other (e.g. being entangled). Additionally, in order to make use of such \nentangled quantum systems, it is required that each individual party can be coherently controlled \nand measured. The usability and available quantum resources of the entangled system is related \nto its size, which is proportional to the number of entangled parties, as well as the dimensionality \nof the superposition each party is in. For this reason, there is a imminent demand to achieve, \ninvestigate, and improve the generation and control of large quantum systems, comprised of as \nmany entangled parties as possible, where each party is in an ideally high-dimensional \nsuperposition. \nMany quantum platforms are currently subject to extensive research, such as trapped ions, \nsuperconducting circuits, defect centers in solid-state crystals, mechanical oscillators, and optical \nquantum states (i.e. photons). While all platforms provide distinct advantages (as well as \nchallenges), optical photon states are of particular interest, because they can interact with other \nquantum systems, and can be transmitted over long distances while preserving their quantum \ncoherence without the need for extensive shielding. A large variety of sources for optical \nquantum states has been demonstrated, however most such implementations suffer from high \ncomplexity, ultimately limiting their scalability. Integrated photonics has recently become a \nleading platform for the compact, cost-efficient, and stable generation and processing of optical \nquantum states. However, to date, integrated quantum sources have only been able to generate \nphoton pairs, which operated on single channels, and single polarization modes. Furthermore, in \nthe few realizations of on-chip entanglement, they were limited to two entangled parties, where \neach party was in a two-dimensional superposition. These limitations of current integrated photon sources arise in large part from the concepts currently exploited to generate and control these \nstates. In particular, path-entangled sources are the most commonly used, but increasing the \nquantum state complexity requires a significant, and very challenging, increase in device \ncomplexity. There is therefore an urgent need to develop new concepts that can achieve the onchip \ngeneration of large and complex photon states without increasing source complexity, while \nstill enabling coherent quantum state control and detection. \nIn this work, we aim to address these limitations by making use of multiple frequency and \ntemporal modes within a single spatial waveguide mode (therefore readily compatible with \nstandard optical fibers) of an on-chip microring resonator. This approach is in contrast to more \ncommonly used techniques relying on path entanglement, which exploits multiple spatial modes \nand generates entanglement by means of complex waveguide structures. Working within a single \nspatial mode, we achieve the first demonstration of pure heralded single photons and entangled \nphoton pairs, which are emitted on multiple frequency modes from a single source. We then \ndemonstrate the first generation of multi-photon entangled quantum states on a photonic chip. \nFinally, by making use of the spectral multi-mode nature of optical frequency combs, we achieve \nthe generation of photon pairs in a coherent superposition of multiple frequency modes, \nrepresenting the first generation of high-dimensional entangled states on a photonic chip. \nOur work represents a significant step forward in the generation of complex quantum \nstates on a photonic chip and in a single spatial mode compatible with standard optical fibers. In \naddition, we demonstrated coherent quantum state control and manipulation for all generated \nstates by means of standard telecommunications components, which could in the future be also \nintegrated on single, monolithic chip. Our results indicate that the exploitation of integrated \noptical frequency comb sources for the generation of optical quantum states can provide a \nscalable and practical platform for quantum technologies.
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.