The ability to apply user-chosen large-scale unitary operations with high fidelity to a quantum state is key to realizing future photonic quantum technologies. Here, we realize the implementation of programmable unitary operations on up to 64 frequency-bin modes. To benchmark the performance of our system, we probe different quantum walk unitary operations, in particular Grover walks on four-dimensional hypercubes with similarities exceeding 95\% and quantum walks with 400 steps on circles and finite lines with similarities of 98\%. Our results open a new path towards implementing high-quality unitary operations, which can form the basis for applications in complex tasks, such as Gaussian boson sampling.The ability to apply user-chosen large-scale unitary operations with high fidelity to a quantum state is key to realizing future photonic quantum technologies. Here, we realize the implementation of programmable unitary operations on up to 64 frequency-bin modes. To benchmark the performance of our system, we probe different quantum walk unitary operations, in particular Grover walks on four-dimensional hypercubes with similarities exceeding 95\% and quantum walks with 400 steps on circles and finite lines with similarities of 98\%. Our results open a new path towards implementing high-quality unitary operations, which can form the basis for applications in complex tasks, such as Gaussian boson sampling.

arXiv:2206.06059Jun 13, 20221 citation

Large-scale full-programmable quantum walk and its applications

Yizhi Wang, Yingwen Liu, Junwei Zhan +22 more

With photonics, the quantum computational advantage has been demonstrated on the task of boson sampling. Next, developing quantum-enhanced approaches for practical problems becomes one of the top priorities for photonic systems. Quantum walks are powerful kernels for developing new and useful quantum algorithms. Here we realize large-scale quantum walks using a fully programmable photonic quantum computing system. The system integrates a silicon quantum photonic chip, enabling the simulation of quantum walk dynamics on graphs with up to 400 vertices and possessing full programmability over quantum walk parameters, including the particle property, initial state, graph structure, and evolution time. In the 400-dimensional Hilbert space, the average fidelity of random entangled quantum states after the whole on-chip circuit evolution reaches as high as 94.29$\pm $1.28$ \%$. With the system, we demonstrated exponentially faster hitting and quadratically faster mixing performance of quantum walks over classical random walks, achieving more than two orders of magnitude of enhancement in the experimental hitting efficiency and almost half of the reduction in the experimental evolution time for mixing. We utilize the system to implement a series of quantum applications, including measuring the centrality of scale-free networks, searching targets on Erdös-Rényi networks, distinguishing non-isomorphic graph pairs, and simulating the topological phase of higher-order topological insulators. Our work shows one feasible path for quantum photonics to address applications of practical interests in the near future.With photonics, the quantum computational advantage has been demonstrated on the task of boson sampling. Next, developing quantum-enhanced approaches for practical problems becomes one of the top priorities for photonic systems. Quantum walks are powerful kernels for developing new and useful quantum algorithms. Here we realize large-scale quantum walks using a fully programmable photonic quantum computing system. The system integrates a silicon quantum photonic chip, enabling the simulation of quantum walk dynamics on graphs with up to 400 vertices and possessing full programmability over quantum walk parameters, including the particle property, initial state, graph structure, and evolution time. In the 400-dimensional Hilbert space, the average fidelity of random entangled quantum states after the whole on-chip circuit evolution reaches as high as 94.29$\pm$1.28$\%$. With the system, we demonstrated exponentially faster hitting and quadratically faster mixing performance of quantum walks over classical random walks, achieving more than two orders of magnitude of enhancement in the experimental hitting efficiency and almost half of the reduction in the experimental evolution time for mixing. We utilize the system to implement a series of quantum applications, including measuring the centrality of scale-free networks, searching targets on Erdös-Rényi networks, distinguishing non-isomorphic graph pairs, and simulating the topological phase of higher-order topological insulators. Our work shows one feasible path for quantum photonics to address applications of practical interests in the near future.

arXiv:2208.13186Aug 28, 20225 citations

Photonic quantum walk with ultrafast time-bin encoding

Kate L. Fenwick, Bouchard, Frédéric, Duncan G. England +3 more

The quantum walk (QW) has proven to be a valuable testbed for fundamental inquiries in quantum technology applications such as quantum simulation and quantum search algorithms. Many benefits have been found by exploring implementations of QWs in various physical systems, including photonic platforms. Here, we propose a novel platform to perform quantum walks using an ultrafast time-bin encoding (UTBE) scheme. This platform supports the scalability of quantum walks to a large number of steps while retaining a significant degree of programmability. More importantly, ultrafast time bins are encoded at the picosecond time scale, far away from mechanical fluctuations. This enables the scalability of our platform to many modes while preserving excellent interferometric phase stability over extremely long periods of time without requiring active phase stabilization. Our 18-step QW is shown to preserve interferometric phase stability over a period of 50 hours, with an overall walk fidelity maintained above $95\%$ The quantum walk (QW) has proven to be a valuable testbed for fundamental inquiries in quantum technology applications such as quantum simulation and quantum search algorithms. Many benefits have been found by exploring implementations of QWs in various physical systems, including photonic platforms. Here, we propose a novel platform to perform quantum walks using an ultrafast time-bin encoding (UTBE) scheme. This platform supports the scalability of quantum walks to a large number of steps while retaining a significant degree of programmability. More importantly, ultrafast time bins are encoded at the picosecond time scale, far away from mechanical fluctuations. This enables the scalability of our platform to many modes while preserving excellent interferometric phase stability over extremely long periods of time without requiring active phase stabilization. Our 18-step QW is shown to preserve interferometric phase stability over a period of 50 hours, with an overall walk fidelity maintained above $95\%$

arXiv:2404.02238Apr 2, 20241 citation

Deterministic and Universal Frequency-Bin Gate for High-Dimensional Quantum Technologies

Xin Chen

High-dimensional photonic systems access large Hilbert spaces for quantum information processing. They offer proven advantages in quantum computation, communication, and sensing. However, implementing scalable, low-loss unitary gates across many modes remains a central challenge. Here we propose a deterministic, universal, and fully programmable high-dimensional quantum gate based on a cavity-assisted sum-frequency-generation process, achieving near-unity fidelity. The device implements an M-by-N truncated unitary transformation (with 1 <= M < N), or a full unitary when M = N, on frequency-bin modes. With current technology, the attainable dimensionality reaches M-by-N on the order of ten to the power of four, with N up to about one thousand, and can be further increased using multiple pulse shapers. Combined with compatible SPDC sources, high-efficiency detection, and fast feed-forward, this approach provides a scalable, fiber-compatible platform for high-dimensional frequency-bin quantum processing.High-dimensional photonic systems access large Hilbert spaces for quantum information processing. They offer proven advantages in quantum computation, communication, and sensing. However, implementing scalable, low-loss unitary gates across many modes remains a central challenge. Here we propose a deterministic, universal, and fully programmable high-dimensional quantum gate based on a cavity-assisted sum-frequency-generation process, achieving near-unity fidelity. The device implements an M-by-N truncated unitary transformation (with 1 <= M < N), or a full unitary when M = N, on frequency-bin modes. With current technology, the attainable dimensionality reaches M-by-N on the order of ten to the power of four, with N up to about one thousand, and can be further increased using multiple pulse shapers. Combined with compatible SPDC sources, high-efficiency detection, and fast feed-forward, this approach provides a scalable, fiber-compatible platform for high-dimensional frequency-bin quantum processing.

quant-pharXiv:2512.06191Dec 9, 20250 citations

Photonic quantum walk with ultrafast time-bin encoding

Kate L. Fenwick, Frédéric Bouchard, Guillaume Thekkadath +4 more

The quantum walk (QW) has proven to be a valuable testbed for fundamental inquiries in quantum technology applications such as quantum simulation and quantum search algorithms. Many benefits have been found by exploring implementations of QWs in various physical systems, including photonic platforms. Here, we propose a platform to perform quantum walks based on ultrafast time-bin encoding (UTBE) and all-optical Kerr gating. This platform supports the scalability of quantum walks to a large number of steps and walkers while retaining a significant degree of programmability. More importantly, ultrafast time bins are encoded at the picosecond time scale, far away from mechanical fluctuations. This enables the scalability of our platform to many modes while preserving excellent interferometric phase stability over extremely long periods of time without requiring active phase stabilization. Our 18-step QW is shown to preserve interferometric phase stability over a period of 50 h, with an overall walk fidelity maintained above 95%.The quantum walk (QW) has proven to be a valuable testbed for fundamental inquiries in quantum technology applications such as quantum simulation and quantum search algorithms. Many benefits have been found by exploring implementations of QWs in various physical systems, including photonic platforms. Here, we propose a platform to perform quantum walks based on ultrafast time-bin encoding (UTBE) and all-optical Kerr gating. This platform supports the scalability of quantum walks to a large number of steps and walkers while retaining a significant degree of programmability. More importantly, ultrafast time bins are encoded at the picosecond time scale, far away from mechanical fluctuations. This enables the scalability of our platform to many modes while preserving excellent interferometric phase stability over extremely long periods of time without requiring active phase stabilization. Our 18-step QW is shown to preserve interferometric phase stability over a period of 50 h, with an overall walk fidelity maintained above 95%.

OpticaJul 8, 202418 citations

Realization of a Programmable Multipurpose Photonic Quantum Memory with Over-Thousand Qubit Manipulations

Sheng Zhang, Jixuan Shi, Z.-B. Cui +4 more

Quantum networks can enable various applications such as distributed quantum computing, long-distance quantum communication, and network-based quantum sensing with unprecedented performances. One of the most important building blocks for a quantum network is a photonic quantum memory which serves as the interface between the communication channel and the local functional unit. A programmable quantum memory which can process a large stream of flying qubits and fulfill the requirements of multiple core functions in a quantum network is still to be realized. Here we report a high-performance quantum memory which can simultaneously store 72 optical qubits carried by 144 spatially separated atomic ensembles and support up to a thousand consecutive write or read operations in a random access way, 2 orders of magnitude larger than the previous record. Because of the built-in programmability, this quantum memory can be adapted on demand for several functions. As example applications, we realize quantum queue, stack, and buffer which closely resemble the counterpart devices for classical information processing. We further demonstrate the storage and reshuffle of four entangled pairs of photonic pulses with probabilistic arrival time and arbitrary release order via the memory, which is an essential requirement for the realization of quantum repeaters and efficient routing in quantum networks. Realization of this multipurpose programmable quantum memory thus constitutes a key enabling building block for future large-scale fully functional quantum networks. Published by the American Physical Society 2024Quantum networks can enable various applications such as distributed quantum computing, long-distance quantum communication, and network-based quantum sensing with unprecedented performances. One of the most important building blocks for a quantum network is a photonic quantum memory which serves as the interface between the communication channel and the local functional unit. A programmable quantum memory which can process a large stream of flying qubits and fulfill the requirements of multiple core functions in a quantum network is still to be realized. Here we report a high-performance quantum memory which can simultaneously store 72 optical qubits carried by 144 spatially separated atomic ensembles and support up to a thousand consecutive write or read operations in a random access way, 2 orders of magnitude larger than the previous record. Because of the built-in programmability, this quantum memory can be adapted on demand for several functions. As example applications, we realize quantum queue, stack, and buffer which closely resemble the counterpart devices for classical information processing. We further demonstrate the storage and reshuffle of four entangled pairs of photonic pulses with probabilistic arrival time and arbitrary release order via the memory, which is an essential requirement for the realization of quantum repeaters and efficient routing in quantum networks. Realization of this multipurpose programmable quantum memory thus constitutes a key enabling building block for future large-scale fully functional quantum networks. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

arXiv:2311.10292Physical Review XApr 25, 202420 citations

1.28

\%$. With the system, we demonstrated exponentially faster hitting and quadratically faster mixing performance of quantum walks over classical random walks, achieving more than two orders of magnitude of enhancement in the experimental hitting efficiency and almost half of the reduction in the experimental evolution time for mixing. We utilize the system to implement a series of quantum applications, including measuring the centrality of scale-free networks, searching targets on Erdös-Rényi networks, distinguishing non-isomorphic graph pairs, and simulating the topological phase of higher-order topological insulators. Our work shows one feasible path for quantum photonics to address applications of practical interests in the near future.

95\%