1,981 research outputs found
Cyclical Quantum Memory for Photonic Qubits
We have performed a proof-of-principle experiment in which qubits encoded in
the polarization states of single-photons from a parametric down-conversion
source were coherently stored and read-out from a quantum memory device. The
memory device utilized a simple free-space storage loop, providing a cyclical
read-out that could be synchronized with the cycle time of a quantum computer.
The coherence of the photonic qubits was maintained during switching operations
by using a high-speed polarizing Sagnac interferometer switch.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Optimal focusing for maximal collection of entangled narrow-band photon pairs into single-mode fibers
We present a theoretical and experimental investigation of the emission
characteristics and the flux of photon pairs generated by spontaneous
parametric downconversion in quasi-phase matched bulk crystals for the use in
quantum communication sources. We show that, by careful design, one can attain
well defined modes close to the fundamental mode of optical fibers and obtain
high coupling efficiencies also for bulk crystals, these being more easily
aligned than crystal waveguides. We distinguish between singles coupling,
conditional coincidence, and pair coupling, and show how each of these
parameters can be maximized by varying the focusing of the pump mode and the
fiber-matched modes using standard optical elements. Specifically we analyze a
periodically poled KTP-crystal pumped by a 532 nm laser creating photon pairs
at 810 nm and 1550 nm. Numerical calculations lead to coupling efficiencies
above 94% at optimal focusing, which is found by the geometrical relation L/z_R
to be ~ 1 to 2 for the pump mode and ~ 2 to 3 for the fiber-modes, where L is
the crystal length and z_R is the Rayleigh-range of the mode-profile. These
results are independent on L. By showing that the single-mode bandwidth
decreases as 1/L, we can therefore design the source to produce and couple
narrow bandwidth photon pairs well into the fibers. Smaller bandwidth means
both less chromatic dispersion for long propagation distances in fibers, and
that telecom Bragg gratings can be utilized to compensate for broadened photon
packets--a vital problem for time-multiplexed qubits. Longer crystals also
yield an increase in fiber photon flux proportional to sqrt{L}, and so,
assuming correct focusing, we can only see advantages using long crystals.Comment: 19 pages, 15 figures, ReVTeX4, minor revisio
Photon number resolution using a time-multiplexed single-photon detector
Photon number resolving detectors are needed for a variety of applications
including linear-optics quantum computing. Here we describe the use of
time-multiplexing techniques that allows ordinary single photon detectors, such
as silicon avalanche photodiodes, to be used as photon number-resolving
detectors. The ability of such a detector to correctly measure the number of
photons for an incident number state is analyzed. The predicted results for an
incident coherent state are found to be in good agreement with the results of a
proof-of-principle experimental demonstration.Comment: REVTeX4, 6 pages, 8 eps figures, v2: minor changes, v3: changes in
response to referee report, appendix added, 1 reference adde
Microcavities Using Holey Fibers
Vacuum compatible microcavities consisting of microstructured holey fibers
and separate end mirrors have been constructed and tested. These devices
exhibit excellent transverse mode confinement and the ability to control the
percentage of power guided outside of the fiber core. As a result, these
devices may be a useful tool for enhancing the interaction between light and an
atomic medium
Heralded generation of entangled photon pairs
Entangled photons are a crucial resource for quantum communication and linear
optical quantum computation. Unfortunately, the applicability of many
photon-based schemes is limited due to the stochastic character of the photon
sources. Therefore, a worldwide effort has focused in overcoming the limitation
of probabilistic emission by generating two-photon entangled states conditioned
on the detection of auxiliary photons. Here we present the first heralded
generation of photon states that are maximally entangled in polarization with
linear optics and standard photon detection from spontaneous parametric
down-conversion. We utilize the down-conversion state corresponding to the
generation of three photon pairs, where the coincident detection of four
auxiliary photons unambiguously heralds the successful preparation of the
entangled state. This controlled generation of entangled photon states is a
significant step towards the applicability of a linear optics quantum network,
in particular for entanglement swapping, quantum teleportation, quantum
cryptography and scalable approaches towards photonics-based quantum computing
Comparison of LOQC C-sign gates with ancilla inefficiency and an improvement to functionality under these conditions
We compare three proposals for non-deterministic C-sign gates implemented
using linear optics and conditional measurements with non-ideal ancilla mode
production and detection. The simplified KLM gate [Ralph et al, Phys.Rev.A {\bf
65}, 012314 (2001)] appears to be the most resilient under these conditions. We
also find that the operation of this gate can be improved by adjusting the
beamsplitter ratios to compensate to some extent for the effects of the
imperfect ancilla.Comment: to appear in PR
All-Optical Switching Demonstration using Two-Photon Absorption and the Classical Zeno Effect
Low-contrast all-optical Zeno switching has been demonstrated in a silicon
nitride microdisk resonator coupled to a hot atomic vapor. The device is based
on the suppression of the field build-up within a microcavity due to
non-degenerate two-photon absorption. This experiment used one beam in a
resonator and one in free-space due to limitations related to device physics.
These results suggest that a similar scheme with both beams resonant in the
cavity would correspond to input power levels near 20 nW.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
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