Time-reversal and super-resolving phase measurements

We demonstrate phase super-resolution in the absence of entangled states. The key insight is to use the inherent time-reversal symmetry of quantum mechanics: our theory shows that it is possible to measure, as opposed to prepare, entangled states. Our approach is robust, requiring only photons that exhibit classical interference: we experimentally demonstrate high-visibility phase super-resolution with three, four, and six photons using a standard laser and photon counters. Our six-photon experiment demonstrates the best phase super-resolution yet reported with high visibility and resolution.     

Quantum diffraction of position-momentum entangled photons from a sharp edge

In this paper, an experiment of quantum diffraction of position-momentum entangled photons from a straight sharp edge is presented. Path of a single photon of an entangled pair is partially blocked by a sharp edge whereas the other photon is detected at a stationary location without revealing the which-path information of the other photon. Quantum diffraction pattern of the sharp edge is revealed only in the correlated conditional detection of spatially separated photons and no diffraction pattern is formed in local detections of individual photons. Theoretical analysis of the quantum diffraction of position-momentum entangled photons from a sharp edge is also presented in this paper. Experimental measurements of the quantum diffraction pattern are compared with theoretically calculated quantum diffraction pattern of position-momentum entangled photons.     

Nonclassical interference and entanglement generation using a photonic crystal fiber pair photon source

We demonstrate two key components for optical quantum information processing: a bright source of heralded single photons; and a bright source of entangled photon pairs. A pair of pump photons produces a correlated pair of photons at widely spaced wavelengths (583 nm and 900 nm), via a chi((3)) four-wave mixing process. We demonstrate nonclassical interference between heralded photons from independent sources with a visibility of 95% (after correction for background), and an entangled photon pair source, with a fidelity of 89% with a Bell state.     

Random delayed-choice quantum eraser via two-photon imaging

We report on a delayed-choice quantum eraser experiment based on a two-photon imaging scheme using entangled photon pairs. After the detection of a photon which passed through a double-slit, a random delayed choice is made to erase or not erase the which-path information by the measurement of its distant entangled twin; the particle-like and wave-like behavior of the photon are then recorded simultaneously and respectively by only one set of joint detection devices. The present eraser takes advantage of two-photon imaging. The complete which-path information of a photon is transferred to its distant entangled twin through a “ghost" image. The choice is made on the Fourier transform plane of the ghost image between reading “complete information" or “partial information" of the double-path.     

Erasing distinguishability using quantum frequency up-conversion

The frequency distinguishability of two single photons was successfully erased using single photon frequency up-conversion. A frequency nondegenerate photon pair generated via spontaneous four-wave mixing in a dispersion shifted fiber was used to emulate two telecom-band single photons that were in the same temporal mode but in different frequency modes. The frequencies of these photons were converted to the same frequency by using the sum-frequency generation process in periodically poled lithium niobate waveguides, while maintaining their temporal indistinguishability. As a result, the two converted photons exhibited a nonclassical dip in a Hong-Ou-Mandel quantum interference experiment. The present scheme will add flexibility to networking quantum information systems that use photons with various wavelengths.     

Ghost interference with partially coherent radiation

Ghost interference with partially coherent radiation sources is studied using optical coherence theory. The visibility of the ghost interference fringes is strongly influenced by the transverse size and transverse coherence width of the source. An increase of the transverse source size leads to a decrease of the fringes' visibility. An increase of the transverse coherence results in an increase of the visibility. The difference between ghost interference formed with entangled photon pairs and with partially coherent light is discussed.     

Resolution of ghost imaging with entangled photons for different types of momentum correlation

We present an analytical analysis of the spatial resolution of quantum ghost imaging implemented by entangled photons from a general, spontaneously parametric, down-conversion process. We find that the resolution is affected by both the pump beam waist and the nonlinear crystal length. Hence, we determined a method to improve the resolution for a certain imaging setup. It should be noted that the resolution is not uniquely related to the degree of entanglement of the photon pair since the resolution can be optimized for a certain degree of entanglement. For certain types of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen(EPR) states——namely the momentum-correlated or momentum-positively correlated states——the resolution exhibits a simpler relationship with the pump beam waist and crystal length. Further, a vivid numerical simulation of ghost imaging is presented for different types of EPR states,which supports our analysis. This work discusses applicable references to the applications of quantum ghost imaging.     

Quantum nonlocality and interference in frequency domain

The experiment is proposed which should demonstrate that if the filter providing the spectral selection is placed in the route of one photon of the entangled pair produced by spontaneous down-conversion and the photon is detected behind it then the interference appears in the (distant) Mach-Zehnder interferometer placed in the route of the other photon of the pair even if the optical path difference through the interferometer greatly exceeds the coherence length of the light and if the spectra of these two photons do not overlap. The theoretical analysis is carried out and physical interpretation is discussed.     

Fast path and polarization manipulation of telecom wavelength single photons in lithium niobate waveguide devices

We demonstrate fast polarization and path control of photons at 1550?nm in lithium niobate waveguide devices using the electro-optic effect. We show heralded single photon state engineering, quantum interference, fast state preparation of two entangled photons, and feedback control of quantum interference. These results point the way to a single platform that will enable the integration of nonlinear single photon sources and fast reconfigurable circuits for future photonic quantum information science and technology.     

Spacelike separation in a Bell test assuming gravitationally induced collapses

We report on a Bell experiment with spacelike separation assuming that the measurement time is related to gravity-induced state reduction. Two energy-time entangled photons are sent through optical fibers and directed into unbalanced interferometers at two receiving stations separated by 18 km. At each station, the detection of a photon triggers the displacement of a macroscopic mass. The timing ensures spacelike separation from the moment a photon enters its interferometer until the mass has moved. Two-photon interference fringes with a visibility of up to 90.5% are obtained, leading to a violation of the Bell inequality.     

Experimental free-space distribution of entangled photon pairs over 13 km: towards satellite-based global quantum communication

We report free-space distribution of entangled photon pairs over a noisy ground atmosphere of 13 km. It is shown that the desired entanglement can still survive after both entangled photons have passed through the noisy ground atmosphere with a distance beyond the effective thickness of the aerosphere. This is confirmed by observing a spacelike separated violation of Bell inequality of 2.45+/-0.09. On this basis, we exploit the distributed entangled photon source to demonstrate the Bennett-Brassard 1984 quantum cryptography scheme. The distribution distance of entangled photon pairs achieved in the experiment is for the first time well beyond the effective thickness of the aerosphere, hence presenting a significant step towards satellite-based global quantum communication.     

Violation of Bell's inequality with photons from independent sources

We report a violation of Bell's inequality using one photon from a parametric down-conversion source and a second photon from an attenuated laser beam. The two photons were entangled at a beam splitter using the postselection technique of Shih and Alley [Phys. Rev. Lett. 61, 2921 (1988)]]. A quantum interference pattern with a visibility of 91% was obtained using the photons from these independent sources, as compared with a visibility of 99.4% using two photons from a central parametric down-conversion source.     

Thermal dissipation effects of the entangled photon generated by a nonlinear ring resonator

We firstly analyze the thermal dissipation effects of the entangled photons generated by a nonlinear optical ring resonator. To obtain the corresponding equation of motion of the entangled photons generated by a four-wave mixing process within the system, we propose the Markov approximation to repel the reservoir operators. The system master equation in the interaction picture for both degenerate and non-degenerate cases is analyzed and obtained. The established system can be used to characterize the optimum entangled photons in some cases where the thermal dissipation effects may introduce noise into the system. In this work, the entangled photons can be generated into two forms, firstly, the two entangled photon states are generated and, the other, the four entangled photon states, can be easily obtained. Results obtained have shown that the optimum entangled photon in terms of entangled photon visibility can be compensated (i.e. unchanged) under thermal dissipation effects.     

Thermal dissipation effects of the entangled photon generated by four-wave mixing process in a nonlinear ring resonator

We firstly analyze the thermal dissipation effects of the entangled photons generated by a nonlinear optical ring resonator. To obtain the corresponding equation of motion of the entangled photons generated by a four-wave mixing process within the system, we propose the Markov approximation to repel the reservoir operators. The system master equation in the interaction picture for both degenerate and non-degenerate cases is analyzed and obtained. The established system can be used to characterize the optimum entangled photons in some cases where the thermal dissipation effects may be introduced noise into the system. In this work, the entangled photons can be generated into two forms, firstly, the two entangled photon states is generated, the other, the four entangled photon states can be easily obtained. Results obtained have shown that the optimum entangled photon in term of entangled photon visibility can be compensated (i.e. unchanged) under thermal dissipation effects.     

量子态远程传送的实验实现

量子态的远程传送在量子通信与量子计算网络中扮演着极为重要的角色,文章报道了国际上关于量子态远程传送的和线个实验实现,在实验中,通过对携带极化信息的初始光子以及ＥＰＲ关联对中的另一个光子进行联合的Ｂｅｌｌ态,使得关联对中的另一个光子获得了初始光子的极化信息,而后一光子可以与初始光子相距任意远。     

Quantum secret sharing protocol using modulated doubly entangled photons

In this paper, we propose a quantum secret sharing protocol utilizing polarization modulated doubly entangled photon pairs. The measurement devices are constructed. By modulating the polarizations of entangled photons, the boss could encode secret information on the initial state and share the photons with different members to realize the secret sharing process. This protocol shows the security against intercept-resend attack and dishonest member cheating. The generalized quantum secret sharing protocol is also discussed.     

Stimulated emission as a result of multiphoton interference

By performing an experiment on stimulated emission by two photons in the parametric amplification process and comparing it to a three-photon interference scheme, we present evidence in support of the idea that the underlying physics of stimulated emission is simply the constructive interference due to photon indistinguishability. So the observed signal enhancement upon the input of photons can be interpreted as a result of multiphoton interference of the input photons and the otherwise spontaneously emitted photon from the amplifier.     

Experimental demonstration of switching entangled photons based on the Rydberg blockade effect

The long-range interaction between Rydberg-excited atoms endows a medium with large optical nonlinearity. Here, we demonstrate an optical switch to operate on a single photon from an entangled photon pair under a Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency configuration. With the presence of the Rydberg blockade effect, we switch on a gate field to make the atomic medium nontransparent thereby absorbing the single photon emitted from another atomic ensemble via the spontaneous fourwave mixing process. In contrast to the case without a gate field, more than 50% of the photons sent to the switch are blocked,and finally achieve an effective single-photon switch. There are on average 1-2 gate photons per effective blockade sphere in one gate pulse. This switching effect on a single entangled photon depends on the principal quantum number and the photon number of the gate field. Our experimental progress is significant in the quantum information process especially in controlling the interaction between Rydberg atoms and entangled photon pairs.     

光学超晶格中级联参量过程制备纠缠光子对

探索制备纠缠光子对的新途径是量子光学领域的一个研究热点.从理论上证明在准周期极化 的光学超晶格晶体中的级联参量过程能够产生纠缠光子对.分别利用脉冲和连续的532nm抽运 光在一块准周期极化的 LiTaO3晶体中同时实现非简并参量下转换（产生信号光与闲置光 ）与和频（闲置光与抽运光和频生成和频光）的级联参量过程，获得630nm的信号光与460nm 的和频光.指出信号光与和频光之间存在纠缠关联性质.该方案的优点是可产生短波长的纠缠 光子对. 关键词： 准相位匹配 级联参量过程 光量子纠缠态     

An investigation of the entangled photon walk-off compensation generated by a fiber ring resonator

We firstly present an experimental investigation of the entangled photon states’ recovery using a fiber optic ring resonator incorporating an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA). The weak light entangled photons can be recovered in both amplitude and states after the optical pumping and polarization control parts are used in the system. A new experimental result of the investigation of thermal effects on the entangled states’ walk-off and compensations has shown that the entangled photon walk-off compensation is achieved by using a pair of polarization control devices. The relationship between thermal effects and the entangled states’ phase shift is investigated and discussed. The walk-off compensation due to temperature changes from 30 to 80 °C is achieved. This shows that the changes in phase of the entangled photons can be negligible when the compensation is employed.