We review theoretical proposals for implementation of quantum computing and quantum communication with quantum optical methods. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
Quantum computers are expected to increase the efficiency of solving problems such as factoring large integers. However an experimental implementation of even relatively simple quantum information processing with a few to a dozen qubits presents an enormous technological challenge. One of the earliest proposals for quantum computation is based on implementing a quantum bit with two optical modes containing one photon[1]. The proposal is appealing due to the ease with which photon interference can be observed. However these early proposals required huge single photon optical nonlinearities. Unfortunately currently available optical nonlinearities are too weak and too noisy to be useful.
In 1932, E.Wigner [1] introduced a phase-space method of computing physical observables in quantum (statistical) mechanics; some surveys have been published recently [2], [3]. See also a review article by Carruthers [4]. Here we give a brief synopsis of the method to make this paper self-contained, referring the reader to the references for details, including proofs. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.