Generation of entangled states of qudits using twin photons

We report an experiment to generate entangled states of D-dimensional quantum systems, qudits, by using transverse spatial correlations of two parametric down-converted photons. Apertures with D slits in the arms of the twin photons define the qudit space. By manipulating the pump beam correctly, the twin photons will pass only by symmetrically opposite slits, generating entangled states between these different paths. Experimental results for qudits with D = 4 and 8 are shown. We demonstrate that the generated states are entangled states.     

Minimizing the loss of entanglement under dimensional reduction

We investigate the possibility of transforming, under local operations and classical communication, a general bipartite quantum state on a d_A x d_B tensor-product space into a final state in 2 x 2 dimensions, while maintaining as much entanglement as possible. For pure states, we prove that Nielsens theorem provides the optimal protocol, and we present quantitative results on the degree of entanglement before and after the dimensional reduction. For mixed states, we identify a protocol that we argue is optimal for isotropic and Werner states. In the literature, it has been conjectured that some Werner states are bound entangled and in support of this conjecture our protocol gives final states without entanglement for this class of states. For all other entangled Werner states and for all entangled isotropic states some degree of free entanglement is maintained. In this sense, our protocol may be used to discriminate between bound and free entanglement.Received: 21 January 2004, Published online: 2 March 2004PACS: 03.67.Mn Entanglement production, characterization, and manipulation - 42.50.Dv Nonclassical states of the electromagnetic field, including entangled photon states; quantum state engineering and measurements - 03.65.Ud Entanglement and quantum nonlocality (e.g. EPR paradox, Bells inequalities, GHZ states, etc.)     

How a single photon can mediate entanglement between two others

We describe a novel quantum information protocol, which probabilistically entangles two distant photons that have never interacted. Different from the entanglement swapping protocol, which requires two pairs of maximally entangled photons as the input states, as well as a Bell-state measurement (BSM), the present scheme only requires three photons: two to be entangled and another to mediate the correlation, and no BSM, in a process that we call “entanglement mediation”. Furthermore, in analyzing the paths of the photons in our arrangement, we conclude that one of them, the mediator, exchanges information with the two others simultaneously, which seems to be a new quantum-mechanical feature.     

Generation of quantum‐entangled twin photons by waveguide nonlinear‐optic devices

This paper reviews the quasi‐phase‐matched (QPM) waveguide nonlinear‐optic device technologies for generation of quantum‐entangled twin photons indispensable for quantum‐information techniques. After a brief introduction to the concept of entanglement, quantum theory analysis of twin‐photon generation (TPG) is outlined to clarify the properties of twin photons. Then, methods for entangled‐photon generation are discussed. Practical design and theoretical performances of LiNbO₃ waveguide QPM TPG devices, as well as the fabrication techniques, are described. Finally, experimental demonstrations of polarization‐entangled twin‐photon generation by waveguide Type‐I and Type‐II QPM TPG devices are presented.     

Generation of hyperentangled photon pairs

We experimentally demonstrate the first quantum system entangled in every degree of freedom (hyperentangled). Using pairs of photons produced in spontaneous parametric down-conversion, we verify entanglement by observing a Bell-type inequality violation in each degree of freedom: polarization, spatial mode, and time energy. We also produce and characterize maximally hyperentangled states and novel states simultaneously exhibiting both quantum and classical correlations. Finally, we report the tomography of a 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 system (36-dimensional Hilbert space), which we believe is the first reported photonic entangled system of this size to be so characterized.     

Full-field quantum correlations of spatially entangled photons

Spatially entangled twin photons allow the study of high-dimensional entanglement, and the Laguerre-Gauss modes are the most commonly used basis to discretize the single-photon mode spaces. In this basis, to date only the azimuthal degree of freedom has been investigated experimentally due to its fundamental and experimental simplicity. We show that the full spatial entanglement is indeed accessible experimentally; i.e., we have found practicable radial detection modes with negligible cross correlations. This allows us to demonstrate hybrid azimuthal-radial quantum correlations in a Hilbert space with more than 100 dimensions per photon.     

Teleportation of tripartite entangled coherent states

This paper proposes a feasible scheme for the quantum teleportation of tripartite entangled coherent states by using linear optical devices such as beam splitters, phase shifters and photo detectors. The scheme is based on the bipartite maximally entangled coherent state and the tripartite entangled coherent state with bipartite maximal entanglement as quantum channels. It shows that when the mean number of photons is equal to 2, the total minimum of the average fidelity for an arbitrary tripartite entangled state is 1-0.67×10 ^-3.     

Efficient Multipartite Polarization Entanglement Distribution Over Arbitrary Noise Channel

We present an efficient faithful multipartite polarization entanglement distribution protocol over an arbitrary noisy channel. The spatial degree of freedom is used to carry the entanglement during the transmission. We describe the principle by distributing n-qubit Greenberge-Horne-Zeilinger state and n-qubit W state. Our scheme can be used to distribute arbitrary n-qubit entangled states to n distant locations. The remote parties can obtain maximally entangled states deterministically on the polarization of photons. Only passive linear optics are employed in our setup, which makes our scheme more feasible and efficient for practical application in long distance quantum communication.     

Experimental demonstration of fractional orbital angular momentum entanglement of two photons

The singular nature of a noninteger spiral phase plate allows easy manipulation of spatial degrees of freedom of photon states. Using two such devices, we have observed very high-dimensional spatial entanglement of twin photons generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion.     

Twin photons entangled in polarization and angular momentum

Quantum states of twin photons entangled in angular momentum and polarization provide new degrees of freedom to researchers in quantum information and imaging. This work discuss these states and also emphasizes differences between two proposed models for twin photons entangled in angular momentum. Answers to the presented questions would contribute to a better understanding of this nonlinear process. Received 30 August 2002 / Received in final form 10 October 2002 Published online 21 January 2003     

Conditional preparation of X (2) macroscopic entangled states

Two experimental arrangements consisting of coupled spontaneous parametric down-converters with type-I phase matching pumped simultaneously by a powerful optical field in a coherent state through a balanced beam splitter and linear optical elements are proposed for conditional preparation of macroscopic entangled states in output pumping modes of the studied system. Successful generation of the macroscopic entangled state in the pumping modes is unambiguously heralded by coincident detection of two photons in the generated signal and idler modes of the system. We calculate the amount of entanglement and probabilities of successfully observing the X ⁽²⁾ macroscopic entangled states in the total wavefunction. We show that the proposed schemes can be used to obtain a new type of macroscopic entangled states. The text was submitted by author in English.     

Concentration of higher dimensional entanglement: qutrits of photon orbital angular momentum

Enhancement of entanglement is necessary for most quantum communication protocols many of which are defined in Hilbert spaces larger than 2. In this work we present the experimental realization of entanglement concentration of orbital angular momentum entangled photons. We investigate the specific case of three dimensions and the possibility of generating different entangled states out of an initial state. The results presented here are of importance for pure states as well as for mixed states.     

纠缠相干态的纠缠浓缩

利用线性光学元器件对光场量子态进行操纵,可以实现远程的量子纠缠调控和量子通讯.通过分析光学分束器对相干态光场的作用,发现当初始光场态是两个两部分纠缠态的直乘时,让其中的两模通过光学分束器作用后再对其进行光子计数,另外两模将会塌缩到新的纠缠态.基于这个特点,提出了一个实现部分纠缠相干态纠缠浓缩的方案.在这个方案中,两个部分纠缠相干态被用来作为量子信道,通过光学分束器作用后对光场进行光子数探测时,如果测量到光场的两模分别处于奇光子数态和零光子数态,则光场另外的两模将塌缩到最大纠缠态,从而完成纠缠浓缩的过程.计算结果表明,对于纠缠相干态,无论其初始的纠缠是多么微弱,利用这种方法总有一定的几率可以从中提纯出最大纠缠态.     

Photonic Four-qubit Entangled Decoherence-free States Assisted by Cavity-QED System

We propose an efficient preparation of photonic four-qubit entangled decoherence-free states assisted by the cavity-QED system. By using the optical selection rule derived by a single electron charged self-assembled GaAs/InAs quantum dot in a micropillar resonator, two photons are used to generate four-qubit entangled decoherence-free states. Compared with previous entanglement based photonic protocols, the present one requires single-photon resources and is deterministic. These states may be applied to long-distance communications because only two photons are transmitted.     

脉冲激光作用下的量子定位实验方案的设计及分析

基于量子相干和量子空间定位的原理,设计了量子空间定位的实验方案.讨论了在脉冲激光作用下,由第二类自发参量下转换所产生的纠缠光子对的光谱特征、对应的相干函数特点以及对量子定位的影响.结果表明,随着激光脉冲宽度的增加,纠缠光子对的相干性减小,量子定位的测量准确度降低.     

Separable States to Distribute Entanglement

It was shown [Cubitt et al. in Phys. Rev. Lett. 91: 037902, 2003] that two distant particles can be entangled by sending a third particle never entangled with the other two. In this paper, we present classes of multi-qubit separable states to distribute entanglement by the same way, and investigate the classes. Furthermore, we calculate the maximal amount of entanglement which two parties of separable states in the classes can have after applying the way.     

六光子量子纠缠态的制备

我们提出了一个完全基于量子擦除概念上的六光子纠缠态的制备方案。首先，提出了利用一组四纠缠光子来制备六光子纠缠态的方案。接着，运用同样的技术，通过五粒子纠缠和Bell态的相互作用来制备六光子纠缠态。我们的实验方案可以应用于以测量为基础的量子计算和多体量子通信领域的研究。我们发现该方案成功的概率取决于纠缠态的系数。     

PPLN waveguide for quantum communication

We report on energy-time and time-bin entangled photon-pair sources based on a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide. Degenerate twin photons at 1 314 nm wavelength are created by spontaneous parametric down-conversion and coupled into standard telecom fibers. Our PPLN waveguide features a very high conversion efficiency of about 10^-6, roughly 4 orders of magnitude more than that obtained employing bulk crystals [#!Tanzilli01a!#]. Even if using low power laser diodes, this engenders a significant probability for creating two pairs at a time - an important advantage for some quantum communication protocols. We point out a simple means to characterize the pair creation probability in case of a pulsed pump. To investigate the quality of the entangled states, we perform photon-pair interference experiments, leading to visibilities of 97% for the case of energy-time entanglement and of 84% for the case of time-bin entanglement. Although the last figure must still be improved, these tests demonstrate the high potential of PPLN waveguide based sources to become a key element for future quantum communication schemes. Received 13 July 2001     

Implementing multi-qubit entanglement of two-level systems inside a superconducting phase qubit

The interaction between a superconducting phase qubit and the two-level systems located inside the Josephson tunnel barrier is described by the XY model, which is naturally used to implement the i-SWAP gate. With this gate, we propose a scheme to efficiently generate multi-qubit entangled states of such two-level systems, including multipartite W state and cluster states. In particular, it is found that, with the help of the phase qubit, the entanglement witness can be used to efficiently detect the produced multi-qubit entangled states.