111 research outputs found
Quantum memory for squeezed light
We produce a 600-ns pulse of 1.86-dB squeezed vacuum at 795 nm in an optical
parametric amplifier and store it in a rubidium vapor cell for 1 us using
electromagnetically induced transparency. The recovered pulse, analyzed using
time-domain homodyne tomography, exhibits up to 0.21+-0.04 dB of squeezing. We
identify the factors leading to the degradation of squeezing and investigate
the phase evolution of the atomic coherence during the storage interval.Comment: To appear in PRL. Changes to version 3: we present a larger data set
featuring somewhat less squeezing, but also better statistics and a lower
margin of error. Some additional revisions are made in response to the
referees' comment
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 post-selection
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.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures; minor change
Diluted maximum-likelihood algorithm for quantum tomography
We propose a refined iterative likelihood-maximization algorithm for
reconstructing a quantum state from a set of tomographic measurements. The
algorithm is characterized by a very high convergence rate and features a
simple adaptive procedure that ensures likelihood increase in every iteration
and convergence to the maximum-likelihood state.
We apply the algorithm to homodyne tomography of optical states and quantum
tomography of entangled spin states of trapped ions and investigate its
convergence properties.Comment: v2: Convergence proof adde
Quantum-secured blockchain
Blockchain is a distributed database which is cryptographically protected
against malicious modifications. While promising for a wide range of
applications, current blockchain platforms rely on digital signatures, which
are vulnerable to attacks by means of quantum computers. The same, albeit to a
lesser extent, applies to cryptographic hash functions that are used in
preparing new blocks, so parties with access to quantum computation would have
unfair advantage in procuring mining rewards. Here we propose a possible
solution to the quantum era blockchain challenge and report an experimental
realization of a quantum-safe blockchain platform that utilizes quantum key
distribution across an urban fiber network for information-theoretically secure
authentication. These results address important questions about realizability
and scalability of quantum-safe blockchains for commercial and governmental
applications.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures; published versio
Highly non-Gaussian states created via cross-Kerr nonlinearity
We propose a feasible scheme for generation of strongly non-Gaussian states
using the cross-Kerr nonlinearity. The resultant states are highly
non-classical states of electromagnetic field and exhibit negativity of their
Wigner function, sub-Poissonian photon statistics, and amplitude squeezing.
Furthermore, the Wigner function has a distinctly pronounced ``banana'' or
``crescent'' shape specific for the Kerr-type interactions, which so far was
not demonstrated experimentally. We show that creating and detecting such
states should be possible with the present technology using electromagnetically
induced transparency in a four-level atomic system in N-configuration.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure
Iterative maximum-likelihood reconstruction in quantum homodyne tomography
I propose an iterative expectation maximization algorithm for reconstructing
a quantum optical ensemble from a set of balanced homodyne measurements
performed on an optical state. The algorithm applies directly to the acquired
data, bypassing the intermediate step of calculating marginal distributions.
The advantages of the new method are made manifest by comparing it with the
traditional inverse Radon transformation technique
Spectroscopy by frequency entangled photon pairs
Quantum spectroscopy was performed using the frequency-entangled broadband
photon pairs generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion. An absorptive
sample was placed in front of the idler photon detector, and the frequency of
signal photons was resolved by a diffraction grating. The absorption spectrum
of the sample was measured by counting the coincidences, and the result is in
agreement with the one measured by a conventional spectrophotometer with a
classical light source.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, to be published in Phys. Lett.
A balanced homodyne detector for high-rate Gaussian-modulated coherent-state quantum key distribution
We discuss excess noise contributions of a practical balanced homodyne
detector in Gaussian-modulated coherent-state (GMCS) quantum key distribution
(QKD). We point out the key generated from the original realistic model of GMCS
QKD may not be secure. In our refined realistic model, we take into account
excess noise due to the finite bandwidth of the homodyne detector and the
fluctuation of the local oscillator. A high speed balanced homodyne detector
suitable for GMCS QKD in the telecommunication wavelength region is built and
experimentally tested. The 3dB bandwidth of the balanced homodyne detector is
found to be 104MHz and its electronic noise level is 13dB below the shot noise
at a local oscillator level of 8.5*10^8 photon per pulse. The secure key rate
of a GMCS QKD experiment with this homodyne detector is expected to reach
Mbits/s over a few kilometers.Comment: 22 pages, 11 figure
Generation of Three-Qubit Entangled W-State by Nonlinear Optical State Truncation
We propose an alternative scheme to generate W state via optical state
truncation using quantum scissors. In particular, these states may be generated
through three-mode optical state truncation in a Kerr nonlinear coupler. The
more general three-qubit state may be also produced if the system is driven by
external classical fields.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figur
Measurement schemes for the spin quadratures on an ensemble of atoms
We consider how to measure collective spin states of an atomic ensemble based
on the recent multi-pass approaches for quantum interface between light and
atoms. We find that a scheme with two passages of a light pulse through the
atomic ensemble is efficient to implement the homodyne tomography of the spin
state. Thereby, we propose to utilize optical pulses as a phase-shifter that
rotates the quadrature of the spins. This method substantially simplifies the
geometry of experimental schemes.Comment: 4pages 2 figure
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