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arXiv:quant-ph/0604138 · Physical Review A

Quantum random walk of two photons in separable and entangled states

Pradyumna K. Pathak, G. S. Agarwal

Published Mar 30, 2007• 83 citations
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Abstract

We discuss quantum random walk of two photons using linear optical elements. We analyze the quantum random walk using photons in a variety of quantum states including entangled states. We find that for photons initially in separable Fock states, the final state is entangled. For polarization entangled photons produced by type-II downconverter, we calculate the joint probability of detecting two photons at a given site. We show the remarkable dependence of the two photon detection probability on the quantum nature of the state. In order to understand the quantum random walk, we present exact analytical results for small number of steps such as five. We present in detail numerical results for a number of cases and supplement the numerical results with asymptotic analytical results.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.75.032351

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We discuss quantum random walk of two photons using linear optical elements. We analyze the quantum random walk using photons in a variety of quantum states including entangled states. We find that for photons initially in separable Fock states, the final state is entangled. For polarization entangled photons produced by type-II downconverter, we calculate the joint probability of detecting two photons at a given site. We show the remarkable dependence of the two photon detection probability on the quantum nature of the state. In order to understand the quantum random walk, we present exact analytical results for small number of steps such as five. We present in detail numerical results for a number of cases and supplement the numerical results with asymptotic analytical results.
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The quantum random walk has drawn special interests because its remarkable features to the classical counterpart could lead to new quantum algorithms. In this paper, we propose a feasible scheme to implement quantum random walks on a line using only linear optics elements. With current single-photon interference technology, the steps that could be experimentally implemented can be extended to very large numbers. We also show that, by decohering the quantum states, our scheme for quantum random walk tends to be classical.
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Quantum walks constitute a rich area of quantum information science, where multipartite entanglement plays a central role in the dynamics and scalability of quantum advantage over classical simulators. In this work, we study the multipartite entanglement of quantum walks in optical settings. We present methods for computing a geometric measure of entanglement for arbitrary partitions of a single-walker quantum walk and for analyzing the entanglement in multi-walker scenarios. These techniques are used for numerical studies on the entanglement dynamics of quantum walks in large systems and under various initial conditions. For a given bipartition, based on the coin degrees of freedom, we derive exact expressions describing the complete entanglement dynamics for arbitrary localized initial conditions. We use these expressions for analytic statements about the asymptotic behavior of the system. Furthermore, we demonstrate the emergence of entanglement typicality in statistical ensembles of random optical networks.
We study the motion of two non-interacting quantum particles performing a random walk on a line and analyze the probability that the two particles are detected at a particular position after a certain number of steps (meeting problem). The results are compared to the corresponding classical problem and differences are pointed out. Analytic formulas for the meeting probability and its asymptotic behavior are derived. The decay of the meeting probability for distinguishable particles is faster then in the classical case, but not quadratically faster. Entangled initial states and the bosonic or fermionic nature of the walkers are considered.
Bell state measurement (BSM) plays an important role in quantum information processing. However, a complete BSM cannot be achieved with linear optics with current technology. In this paper, we present a scheme for realizing single-photon BSM via a one-dimensional photonic quantum random walk. In our scheme, the maximally entangled states with polarization and path degrees of freedom are used as Bell states; then a complete BSM based on quantum random walk can be implemented in single-photon Hilbert space. Detecting single-photon count at different positions can provide unambiguous discrimination of all four Bell states to verify our scheme. Furthermore, we also discuss how to apply our BSM scheme to the proposed single-photon cryptography system.