Unveiling the Potential of Synthetic Photonic Lattices for Quantum Information Processing

Researchers from the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), in collaboration with scientists from Germany, Italy, and Japan, have developed innovative solutions that could lead to the creation of a more efficient quantum information processing system. Their findings were published in the journal Nature Photonics.

The study introduced a novel technique for controlling photon transmission by modifying the photonic states of light. This approach enhances the system's efficiency and improves the detection and quantity of photon coincidences.

Unsuspected Properties

The concept of quantum walks was essential to the study team's experiments.

The development of the field of quantum computing, which began some twenty years ago, has benefited greatly from the notion of quantum walks, which are known to increase the speed and complexity of computer algorithms.

Roberto Morandotti, Professor, Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications Research Centre, Institut national de la recherche scientifique

Synthetic photonic networks are a new idea that the scientific community has recently created.

This work enables us to use the concept of synthetic photonics dimensions to explore many quantum phenomena at the fundamental level, and to apply them to quantum technologies.

Stefania Sciara, Post-Doc and Study Co-Author, Institut national de la recherche scientifique

This kind of lattice was already known to have the ability to replicate things like topological structures, superfluidity of light, and parity-time symmetry, but with traditional technology.

Sciara added, “But despite their potential, a synthetic photonic lattice capable of handling quantum states had never been demonstrated.”

Roberto Morandotti and his group have done just that. Using the idea of quantum walks in simple fiber systems, they have found a temporal synthetic photonic lattice that can produce and control quantum states of light (photons).

Our team has discovered how to use synthetic photonic lattices to process quantum information, based on the quantum walks of high-dimensional photons entangled in their temporal states. The system does not require a lot of resources, as it consists of fiber devices, which are compatible with standard telecom infrastructures.

Roberto Morandotti, Professor, Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications Research Centre, Institut national de la recherche scientifique

An Innovative Technique with Wide-Ranging Applications

This discovery enables the use of quantum walks to simplify synthetic photonic lattices for quantum information processing.

Roberto Morandotti said, “Our approach is unprecedented for two reasons. It allows better control of the evolution of quantum walks in the time domain, and it makes possible the simultaneous manipulation of classical light and entangled photons. This discovery paves the way for a variety of advanced quantum computing and information protocols on telecom-ready architectures compatible with microprocessor chips.”

The researchers' findings have implications for quantum computing, quantum metrology, and secure quantum communications, among other areas of fundamental physics related to quantum information processing.

Stefania Sciara said, “Our system is entirely based on fiber-optic devices used in the telecommunications field and can be combined with current and future telecommunications infrastructures. This discovery is proof that it is possible to realize high-performance quantum systems using devices, techniques, and infrastructures that are within reach. It also demonstrates that it is possible to use quantum networks to transmit personal data securely.”

Journal Reference:

Monika, M., et al. (2024). Quantum state processing through controllable synthetic temporal photonic lattices. Nature Photonics. doi.org/10.1038/s41566-024-01546-4.