No Arabic abstract
Quantum networks hold the promise for revolutionary advances in information processing with quantum resources distributed over remote locations via quantum-repeater architectures. Quantum networks are composed of nodes for storing and processing quantum states, and of channels for transmitting states between them. The scalability of such networks relies critically on the ability to perform conditional operations on states stored in separated quantum memories. Here we report the first implementation of such conditional control of two atomic memories, located in distinct apparatuses, which results in a 28-fold increase of the probability of simultaneously obtaining a pair of single photons, relative to the case without conditional control. As a first application, we demonstrate a high degree of indistinguishability for remotely generated single photons by the observation of destructive interference of their wavepackets. Our results demonstrate experimentally a basic principle for enabling scalable quantum networks, with applications as well to linear optics quantum computation.
Quantum teleportation and quantum memory are two crucial elements for large-scale quantum networks. With the help of prior distributed entanglement as a quantum channel, quantum teleportation provides an intriguing means to faithfully transfer quantum states among distant locations without actual transmission of the physical carriers. Quantum memory enables controlled storage and retrieval of fast-flying photonic quantum bits with stationary matter systems, which is essential to achieve the scalability required for large-scale quantum networks. Combining these two capabilities, here we realize quantum teleportation between two remote atomic-ensemble quantum memory nodes, each composed of 100 million rubidium atoms and connected by a 150-meter optical fiber. The spinwave state of one atomic ensemble is mapped to a propagating photon, and subjected to Bell-state measurements with another single photon that is entangled with the spinwave state of the other ensemble. Two-photon detection events herald the success of teleportation with an average fidelity of 88(7)%. Besides its fundamental interest as the first teleportation between two remote macroscopic objects, our technique may be useful for quantum information transfer between different nodes in quantum networks and distributed quantum computing.
We consider the coherent stimulated Raman process developing in an optically dense and disordered atomic medium in application to the quantum memory scheme. Our theoretical model predicts that the hyperfine interaction in the excited state of alkali atoms can positively affect on the quantum memory efficiency. Based on the concept of the coherent information transfer we analyze and compare the memory requirements for storage of single photon and macroscopic multi-photon light pulses.
We demonstrate a probabilistic entangling quantum gate between two distant trapped ytterbium ions. The gate is implemented between the hyperfine clock state atomic qubits and mediated by the interference of two emitted photons carrying frequency encoded qubits. Heralded by the coincidence detection of these two photons, the gate has an average fidelity of 90+-2%. This entangling gate together with single qubit operations is sufficient to generate large entangled cluster states for scalable quantum computing.
Quantum error correction (QEC) is fundamental for quantum information processing but entails a substantial overhead of classically-controlled quantum operations, which can be architecturally cumbersome to accommodate. Here we discuss a novel approach to designing elementary QEC memory cells, in which all control operations are performed autonomously by an embedded optical feedback loop. Our approach is natural for nanophotonic implementations in which each qubit can be coupled to its own optical resonator, and our design for a memory cell based on the quantum bit-flip or phase-flip code requires only five qubit-cavities (three for the register and two for the controller) connected by wave-guides. The photonic QEC circuit is entirely on-chip, requiring no external clocking or control, and during steady-state operation would only need to be powered by the injection of constant-amplitude coherent fields.
Quantum physics is known to allow for completely new ways to create, manipulate and store information. Quantum communication - the ability to transmit quantum information - is a primitive necessary for any quantum internet. At its core, quantum communication generally requires the formation of entangled links between remote locations. The performance of these links is limited by the classical signaling time between such locations - necessitating the need for long lived quantum memories. Here we present the design of a communications network which neither requires the establishment of entanglement between remote locations nor the use of long-lived quantum memories. The rate at which quantum data can be transmitted along the network is only limited by the time required to perform efficient local gate operations. Our scheme thus potentially provides higher communications rates than previously thought possible.