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Programming linear quantum networks with a multimode fiber

Saroch Leedumrongwatthanakun, Luca Innocenti, Hugo Defienne, Thomas Juffmann, Alessandro Ferraro, Mauro Paternostro, Sylvain Gigan

Published Feb 27, 2019• 3 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

The ability to implement reconfigurable linear optical circuits is a fundamental building block for the implementation of scalable quantum technologies. Here, we implement such circuits in a multimode fiber by harnessing its complex mixing using wavefront shaping techniques. We program linear transformations involving spatial and polarization modes of the fiber and experimentally demonstrate their accuracy and robustness using two-photon quantum states. In particular, we illustrate the reconfigurability of our platform by emulating a tunable coherent absorption experiment, where output probabilities of single- and two-photon survivals can be controlled. By demonstrating complex, reprogrammable, reliable, linear transformations, with the potential to scale, our results highlight the potential of complex media driven by wavefront shaping for quantum information processing.

Related papers

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arXiv:1504.03178•Science Advances•Jan 1, 2016•170 citations
The ability to implement reconfigurable linear optical circuits is a fundamental building block for the implementation of scalable quantum technologies. Here, we implement such circuits in a multimode fiber by harnessing its complex mixing using wavefront shaping techniques. We program linear transformations involving spatial and polarization modes of the fiber and experimentally demonstrate their accuracy and robustness using two-photon quantum states. In particular, we illustrate the reconfigurability of our platform by emulating a tunable coherent absorption experiment, where output probabilities of single- and two-photon survivals can be controlled. By demonstrating complex, reprogrammable, reliable, linear transformations, with the potential to scale, our results highlight the potential of complex media driven by wavefront shaping for quantum information processing.
Transport of information through a multimode optical fibre raises challenges when one wants to increase the data traffic using many spatial modes due to modal cross-talk and dispersion. Instead of considering those complex mixing of modes as a detrimental process, in this dissertation, we harness its mode mixing to process quantum optical information. We implement a reconfigurable linear optical network, a fundamental building block for scalable quantum technologies, based on an inverse photonic approach exploiting the technology of wavefront shaping. We experimentally demonstrate manipulation of two-photon quantum interference on various linear optical networks across both spatial and polarization degrees of freedom. In particular, we experimentally show the zero-transmission law in Fourier and Sylvester interferometers, which are used to certificate the degree of indistinguishability of an input state. Moreover, thanks to the ability to implement a non-unitary network, we observe the photon anti-coalescence effect in all output configurations, as well as the realization of a tunable coherent absorption experiment. Therefore, we demonstrate the reconfigurability, accuracy, scalability and robustness of the implemented linear optical networks for quantum information processing. Furthermore, we study the statistical properties of one-and two-photon speckles generated from various ground-truth states of light after propagating through a multimode fibre. These statistical properties of speckles can be used to extract information about the dimensionality, purity, and indistinguishability of an unknown input state of light, therefore allowing for state classification. Our results highlight the potential of complex media combined with wavefront shaping for quantum information processing.
Reprogrammable linear optical circuits are essential elements of photonic quantum technology implementations. Integrated optics provides a natural platform for tunable photonic circuits, but faces challenges when high dimensions and high connectivity are involved. Here, we implement high-dimensional linear transformations on spatial modes of photons using wavefront shaping together with mode mixing in a multimode fiber, and measure photon correlations using a time-tagging single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array. In order to prove the suitability of our approach for quantum technologies we demonstrate two-photon interferences in a tunable complex linear network -- a generalization of a Hong-Ou-Mandel interference to 22 output ports. We study the scalability of our approach by quantifying the similarity between the ideal photon correlations and the correlations obtained experimentally for various linear transformations. Our results demonstrate the potential of wavefront shaping in complex media in conjunction with SPAD arrays for implementing high-dimensional reconfigurable quantum circuits. Specifically, we achieved (80.5±6.8)%(80.5 \pm 6.8)\%(80.5±6.8)% similarity for indistinguishable photon pairs and (84.9±7.0)%(84.9 \pm 7.0)\%(84.9±7.0)% similarity for distinguishable photon pairs using 22 detectors and random circuits. These results emphasize the scalability and reprogrammable nature of our approach.
Reprogrammable integrated optics provides a natural platform for tunable quantum photonic circuits, but faces challenges when high dimensions and high connectivity are involved. Here, we implement high-dimensional linear transformations on spatial modes of photons using wavefront shaping together with mode mixing in a multimode fiber, and measure photon correlations using a time-tagging single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array. Our demonstration of a generalization of a Hong-Ou-Mandel interference to 22 output ports shows the scalability potential of wavefront shaping in complex media in conjunction with SPAD arrays for implementing high-dimensional reconfigurable quantum circuits. Specifically, we achieved (80.5±6.8)% similarity for indistinguishable photon pairs and (84.9±7.0)% similarity for distinguishable photon pairs using 22 detectors and random circuits.
Reconfigurable linear optical networks are a key component for the development of optical quantum information processing platforms in the NISQ era and beyond. We report the implementation of such a device based on an innovative design that uses the mode mixing of a multimode fiber in combination with the programmable wavefront shaping of a SLM. The capabilities of the platform are explored in the classical regime. For up to 8 inputs and a record number of 38 outputs, we achieve fidelities in excess of 93%, and losses below 6.5dB. The device was built inside a standard server rack to allow for real world use and shows consistent performance for 2x8 circuits over a period of 10 days without re-calibration.
Demonstrating a practical quantum advantage remains a central goal in quantum information science. While quantum computational supremacy is still technologically demanding, communication complexity offers a promising route to showcase quantum advantage with current photonic platforms. Here we introduce a reconfigurable optical platform for one-way quantum communication complexity based on multimode fibers and wavefront shaping. We experimentally validate it by implementing a genuine one-way quantum communication complexity problem for which an exponential quantum--classical communication separation is known. Complementary numerical simulations show that the same reconfigurable decoding architecture can support more general one-way communication tasks with comparable performance, while also offering a route to higher-dimensional implementations without increasing hardware complexity. Together, these results establish multimode-fiber wavefront shaping as a versatile hardware platform for one-way quantum communication complexity and provide a concrete roadmap toward more demanding protocols, where stronger quantum--classical separations could enable practical demonstrations of quantum advantage.
Multiphoton propagation in connected structures-a quantum walk-offers the potential of simulating complex physical systems and provides a route to universal quantum computation. Increasing the complexity of quantum photonic networks where the walk occurs is essential for many applications. We implement a quantum walk of indistinguishable photon pairs in a multimode fiber supporting 380 modes. Using wavefront shaping, we control the propagation of the two-photon state through the fiber in which all modes are coupled. Excitation of arbitrary output modes of the system is realized by controlling classical and quantum interferences. This report demonstrates a highly multimode platform for multiphoton interference experiments and provides a powerful method to program a general high-dimensional multiport optical circuit. This work paves the way for the next generation of photonic devices for quantum simulation, computing, and communication.