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In situ quantum verification of polarization-stabilized optical channels

Matthew L. Stevens, Noah I. Wasserbeck, Zachary Goisman, Arefur Rahman, John Michael Record, T. K. Truong, Ariq Haqq, Muneer Alshowkan, Brian T. Kirby, Nils T. Otterstrom, Joseph M. Lukens

Published Jan 1, 2026• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We demonstrate in situ benchmarking of classical polarization stabilization in deployed fiber-optic channels via coexistent ancilla-assisted process tomography, leveraging sliding windows to enhance temporal sensitivity to environmental fluctuations.
DOI
10.1364/cleo_fs.2026.fth2a.2

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The active stabilization of polarization channels is a task of growing importance as quantum networks move to deployed demonstrations over existing fiber infrastructure. However, the uniquely strict requirements for high-fidelity qubit transmission complicate the extent to which classical solutions may apply to future quantum networks, particularly in terms of recognizing noise sources present in low-flux, nonunitary channels. Here we introduce a novel in situ benchmarking approach that augments a classical polarization tracking system, limited to unitary correction, with simultaneously transmitted quantum light for ancilla-assisted process tomography of the full quantum map. Implemented in a local-area quantum network, our method uses the reconstructed map both to validate the classical compensation and to expose noise sources it fails to capture. A sliding measurement window that continuously updates the estimated quantum process further increases sensitivity to rapid channel fluctuations. Our results should unlock new opportunities for in situ channel characterization in quantum-classical coexistence networks.
The development of large-scale quantum networks requires reliable quantum channels, the quality of which can be quantified by the framework of quantum process tomography. In this work, we leverage ancilla-assisted process tomography (AAPT) and Bayesian inference to probe a 1.6 km deployed fiber-optic link. We send one of the two polarization-entangled photons at Alice in one building to Bob in another, exploiting the local qubit as an ancilla system to characterize the corresponding quantum channel. Monitoring over a 24 h period returns a steady process fidelity of 97.6(1)%, while controllable spectral filtering with passbands from 0.025 to 4.38 THz finds fidelities that first increase, and then level off with bandwidth, suggesting both stable operation with time and minimal polarization mode dispersion. To our knowledge, these results represent the first AAPT of a deployed quantum link, revealing a valuable tool for in situ analysis of entanglement-based quantum networks.
In a large-scale quantum network, quantum process tomography is a powerful tool for quantifying and verifying the quality of quantum channels. Within this framework, ancilla-assisted process tomography (AAPT) provides a significant advantage for in situ network metrology, as the same states used for entanglement distribution can also be used for tomography. Here, we perform AAPT within a reconfigurable three-node topology on the Washington DC metropolitan quantum network (DC-QNet), consisting of deployed fiber links up to 11.5 km in length. Using a source of polarization-entangled photon pairs at one node, single photons are routed to either of the two receiver nodes via optical switch, and correlations to the local (ancilla) qubits are leveraged to characterize all relevant links in the network. Additionally, AAPT performance is characterized in the presence of noise from coexistent classical synchronization signals, and the advantages of dynamic routing are shown theoretically for larger network topologies.