First generation quantum repeater networks require independent quantum memories capable of storing and retrieving indistinguishable photons to perform quantum-interference-mediated high-repetition entanglement swapping operations. The ability to perform these coherent operations at room temperature is of prime importance in order to realize large scalable quantum networks. Here we address these significant challenges by observing Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interference between indistinguishable photons carrying polarization qubits retrieved from two independent room-temperature quantum memories. Our elementary quantum network configuration includes: (i) two independent sources generating polarization-encoded qubits; (ii) two atomic-vapor dual-rail quantum memories; and (iii) a HOM interference node. We obtained interference visibilities after quantum memory retrieval of $rm boldsymbol{V=(41.9pm2.0)%}$ for few-photon level inputs and $rm boldsymbol{V=(25.9pm2.5)%}$ for single-photon level inputs. Our prototype network lays the groundwork for future large-scale memory-assisted quantum cryptography and distributed quantum networks.
Guided-wave platforms such as fiber and silicon-on-insulator waveguide show great advances over traditional free space implementations in quantum information technology for significant advantages of low transmission loss, low cost, integrability and compatible with mature fiber communication systems. Interference between independent photon sources is the key to realize complex quantum systems for more sophisticated applications such as multi-photon entanglement generation and quantum teleportation. In this work, we report Hong-Ou-Mandel interference between two independent all fiber photon pair sources over two 100GHz dense wave division multiplexing channels, the visibility reaches 53.2(8.4)% (82.9(5.3)%) without (with) back ground counts subtracted. In addition, we give a general theoretical description of the purity of the photon pair generation in dispersion shifted fiber and obtain the optimized condition for high purity photon pair generation. We also obtain a maximum coincidence to back ground ratio of 131 by cooling the fiber in liquid nitrogen. Our study shows great promising of integrated optical elements for future scalable quantum information promising.
We report direct evidence of the bosonic nature of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in a scattering-based beamsplitter. A parametric down-conversion source is used to produce two indistinguishable photons, each of which is converted into a SPP on a metal-stripe waveguide and then made to interact through a semi-transparent Bragg mirror. In this plasmonic analog of the Hong-Ou-Mandel experiment, we measure a coincidence dip with a visibility of 72%, a key signature that SPPs are bosons and that quantum interference is clearly involved.
Nearly 30 years ago, two-photon interference was observed, marking the beginning of a new quantum era. Indeed, two-photon interference has no classical analogue, giving it a distinct advantage for a range of applications. The peculiarities of quantum physics may now be used to our advantage to outperform classical computations, securely communicate information, simulate highly complex physical systems and increase the sensitivity of precise measurements. This separation from classical to quantum physics has motivated physicists to study two-particle interference for both fermionic and bosonic quantum objects. So far, two-particle interference has been observed with massive particles, among others, such as electrons and atoms, in addition to plasmons, demonstrating the extent of this effect to larger and more complex quantum systems. A wide array of novel applications to this quantum effect is to be expected in the future. This review will thus cover the progress and applications of two-photon (two-particle) interference over the last three decades.
The versatility of silicon photonic integrated circuits has led to a widespread usage of this platform for quantum information based applications, including Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). However, the integration of simple high repetition rate photon sources is yet to be achieved. The use of weak-coherent pulses (WCPs) could represent a viable solution. For example, Measurement Device Independent QKD (MDI-QKD) envisions the use of WCPs to distill a secret key immune to detector side channel attacks at large distances. Thus, the integration of III-V lasers on silicon waveguides is an interesting prospect for quantum photonics. Here, we report the experimental observation of Hong-Ou-Mandel interference with 46pm 2% visibility between WCPs generated by two independent III-V on silicon waveguide integrated lasers. This quantum interference effect is at the heart of many applications, including MDI-QKD. Our work represents a substantial first step towards an implementation of MDI-QKD fully integrated in silicon, and could be beneficial for other applications such as standard QKD and novel quantum communication protocols.
Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interference, i.e. the bunching of indistinguishable photons at a beam splitter is a staple of quantum optics and lies at the heart of many quantum sensing approaches and recent optical quantum computers. Although originally proposed as a method for sensing micron-scale variations in photon propagation path lengths and despite the detection of photon bunching using camera technologies, the technique is still to be extended to the imaging domain. We report a full-field, scan-free, quantum imaging technique that exploits HOM interference to reconstruct the surface depth profile of transparent samples. We measure both the bunched and anti-bunched photon-pair distributions at the HOM interferometer output which are combined to provide a lower-noise image of the sample. This approach demonstrates the possibility of HOM microscopy as a tool for label-free imaging of transparent samples in the very low photon regime.
Mael Flament
,Sonali Gera
,Youngshin Kim
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(2018)
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"Hong-Ou-Mandel interference of polarization qubits stored in independent room-temperature quantum memories"
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Eden Figueroa
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