Continuous-variable quantum information processing necessitates the generation and manipulation of non-Gaussian photonic states, such as higher-order generalized squeezed states and cubic phase states. These non-Gaussian states are distinguished from conventional Gaussian states by their pronounced Wigner negativity in phase space. However, generating these states with large Wigner negativity remains experimentally challenging, hindering their practical applications. Here, we experimentally generate non-Gaussian generalized microwave squeezed states (including tri- and quad-squeezed states) and cubic phase states within a high-quality superconducting cavity. This is achieved by engineering generalized photon-number filter operations in a programmable parameterized quantum circuit that efficiently projects cavity states onto target non-Gaussian states. These generalized squeezed photonic states are demonstrated to exhibit large Wigner negativity and quantum Fisher information as the squeezing order and squeezing parameter increase, thereby confirming their non-Gaussianity and highlighting potential applications in continuous-variable quantum information processing and quantum metrology.
Continuous-variable quantum information processing necessitates the generation and manipulation of non-Gaussian photonic states, such as higher-order generalized squeezed states and cubic phase states. These non-Gaussian states are distinguished from conventional Gaussian states by their pronounced Wigner negativity in phase space. However, generating these states with large Wigner negativity remains experimentally challenging, hindering their practical applications. Here, we experimentally generate non-Gaussian generalized microwave squeezed states (including tri- and quad-squeezed states) and cubic phase states within a high-quality superconducting cavity. This is achieved by engineering generalized photon-number filter operations in a programmable parameterized quantum circuit that efficiently projects cavity states onto target non-Gaussian states. These generalized squeezed photonic states are demonstrated to exhibit large Wigner negativity and quantum Fisher information as the squeezing order and squeezing parameter increase, thereby confirming their non-Gaussianity and highlighting potential applications in continuous-variable quantum information processing and quantum metrology.
The generation of non-Gaussian states of bosonic systems described by continuous quantum degrees of freedom is of interest in a variety of contexts, ranging from quantum foundations to computation and communication. A crucial feature of genuine non-Gaussian states is that they cannot be described in general with a non-negative Wignerquasi-probability distribution. In particular, this feature is equivalent to contextuality and it underpins all attempts at attaining quantum computational advantage in a universal setting. In this thesis, the generation of Wigner-negative states is addressed, pursuing two approaches. First, in an optomechanical-like setting, we develop schemes to generate Wigner-negative states of two massive mechanical systems, in turn correlated such that they also feature entanglement, another genuine quantum hallmark. These schemes are based on driven-dissipative systems where dissipation is properly engineered by taking advantage of linear-and-quadratic optomechanical interactions. We address the robustness of these schemes when uncontrollable noisy channels are included in the dynamics, proving that their resilience is comparable to Gaussian schemes that have already been implemented experimentally. Second, considering in particular circuit QED systems and trapped ions, we propose a method to engineer a set of Hamiltonian evolutions that are universal in terms of single-mode state preparation. This method is based on a driven quantum Rabi model, where the desired evolution is effectively imprinted on a continuous-variable degree of freedom by its interaction with a properly driven two-level system. We demonstrate the universality of such approach by simulating the generation of multi-squeezed and other states, including the celebrated cubic-phase state. We also consider the effect of noise in realistic settings, showing in particular that in systems involving superconducting qubits, the generation of tri-squeezed states --- a universal resource for continuous-variable quantum computation which we prove to display larger Wigner negativities with respect to Fock and cubic-phase states for the same energy --- is within experimental reach.
Very recently, strongly non-Gaussian states have been observed via a direct three-mode spontaneous parametric down-conversion in a superconducting cavity [Phys. Rev. X 10, 011011 (2020)]. The created multiphoton non-Gaussian correlations are attractive and useful for various quantum information tasks. However, how to detect and classify multipartite non-Gaussian entanglement has not yet been completely understood. Here, we present an experimentally practical method to characterize continuous-variable multipartite non-Gaussian entanglement, by introducing a class of nonlinear squeezing parameters involving accessible higher-order moments of phase-space quadratures. As these parameters can depend on arbitrary operators, we consider their analytical optimization over a set of practical measurements, in order to detect different classes of multipartite non-Gaussian entanglement ranging from fully separable to fully inseparable. We demonstrate that the nonlinear squeezing parameters act as an excellent approximation to the quantum Fisher information within accessible third-order moments. The level of the nonlinear squeezing quantifies the metrological advantage provided by those entangled states. Moreover, by analyzing the above-mentioned experiment, we show that our method can be readily used to confirm fully inseparable tripartite non-Gaussian entangled states by performing a limited number of measurements without requiring full knowledge of the quantum state.
Continuous-variable (CV) quantum computing is a promising candidate for quantum computation because it can, even with one mode, utilize infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces and can efficiently handle continuous values. Although photonic platforms have been considered as a leading platform for CV computation, hybrid systems that use both qubits and bosonic modes, e.g., superconducting hardware, have shown significant advances because they can prepare non-Gaussian states by utilizing the nonlinear interaction between the qubits and the bosonic modes. However, the size of hybrid hardware is currently restricted. Moreover, the fidelity of the non-Gaussian state is also restricted. This work extends the projective squeezing method to establish a formalism for projecting quantum states onto the states that are unitary-transformed from the squeezed vacuum at the expense of the sampling cost. Based on this formalism, we propose methods for simulating larger quantum devices and projecting states onto the cubic phase state, a typical non-Gaussian state, with a higher squeezing level and higher nonlinearity. To make implementation practical, we can, by leveraging the interactions in hybrid systems of qubits and bosonic modes, apply the smeared projector by using either the linear-combination-of-unitaries or virtual quantum error detection algorithms. We numerically verify the performance of our methods and show that projection can suppress the effect of photon-loss errors.
Schrödinger cat states, representing coherent superpositions of macroscopically distinguishable states, are indispensable nonclassical resources for continuous-variable quantum information processing. Existing generation protocols typically rely on strong nonlinear interactions, complicated control techniques, or engineered dissipation, posing challenges for experimental implementation. Here, we propose a simple measurement-based protocol for generating Schrödinger cat states in a cavity-QED system by combining coherent driving, dispersive atom--cavity interactions, and atomic postselection. The atom--cavity interaction establishes coherent correlations between the atomic and photonic degrees of freedom, while the subsequent atomic postselection projects the cavity field onto a non-Gaussian superposition state with pronounced Wigner negativity. Numerical simulations based on the Lindblad master equation show that the generated Schrödinger cat states remain robust against moderate cavity dissipation. Our results demonstrate that conditional atomic measurements provide an effective and experimentally accessible approach for preparing nonclassical cavity states without relying on strong optical nonlinearities or engineered dissipation.
The generation of non-Gaussian quantum states is a key requirement for universal continuous-variable quantum information processing. We report the experimental generation of large-amplitude squeezed coherent-state superpositions (squeezed cat states) on free-space optical pulses, reaching an amplitude of α=2.47, which, to our knowledge, exceeds all previously reported values. Our protocol relies on the controlled mixing of the Fock states ∣1⟩ and ∣2⟩ through a tunable beam splitter, followed by heralding via homodyne detection. The resulting state displays three well-resolved negative regions in its Wigner function and achieves a fidelity of 0.53 with the target state ∝S^(z)(∣α⟩−∣−α⟩), with α=2.47 and squeezing parameter z=0.56. These results constitute a significant milestone for temporal breeding protocols and for the iterative generation of optical GKP states, opening new perspectives for scalable and fault-tolerant photonic quantum architectures.
Multipartite entangled states are significant resources for both quantum information processing and quantum metrology. In particular, non-Gaussian entangled states are predicted to achieve a higher sensitivity of precision measurements than Gaussian states. On the basis of metrological sensitivity, the conventional linear Ramsey squeezing parameter (RSP) efficiently characterizes the Gaussian entangled atomic states but fails for much wider classes of highly sensitive non-Gaussian states. These complex non-Gaussian entangled states can be classified by the nonlinear squeezing parameter (NLSP), as a generalization of the RSP with respect to nonlinear observables and identified via the Fisher information. However, the NLSP has never been measured experimentally. Using a 19-qubit programmable superconducting processor, we report the characterization of multiparticle entangled states generated during its nonlinear dynamics. First, selecting ten qubits, we measure the RSP and the NLSP by single-shot readouts of collective spin operators in several different directions. Then, by extracting the Fisher information of the time-evolved state of all 19 qubits, we observe a large metrological gain of 9.89_{-0.29}^{+0.28} dB over the standard quantum limit, indicating a high level of multiparticle entanglement for quantum-enhanced phase sensitivity. Benefiting from high-fidelity full controls and addressable single-shot readouts, the superconducting processor with interconnected qubits provides an ideal platform for engineering and benchmarking non-Gaussian entangled states that are useful for quantum-enhanced metrology.