Peng Xue

Universal quantum computation in decoherence-free subspace with neutral atoms.

We show how realistic cavity-assisted interaction between neutral atoms and coherent optical pulses, and measurement techniques, combined with optical transportation of atoms, allow for a universal set of quantum gates acting on decoherence--free subspace in a deterministic way. The logical qubits are immunized to the dominant source of decoherece-dephasing, while the influences of additional errors are shown by numerical simulations. We analyze the performance and stability of all required operations and emphasize that all techniques are feasible with current experimental technology.

Quantum Walk on a Line for a Trapped Ion

We show that a multistep quantum walk can be realized for a single trapped ion with an interpolation between a quantum and random walk achieved by randomizing the generalized Hadamard coin flip phase. The signature of the quantum walk is manifested not only in the ions position but also in its phonon number, which makes an ion-trap implementation of the quantum walk feasible.

Efficient quantum-key-distribution scheme with nonmaximally entangled states

We propose an efficient quantum key distribution scheme based on entanglement. The sender chooses pairs of photons in one of the two equivalent nonmaximally entangled states randomly, and sends a sequence of photons from each pair to the receiver. They choose from the various bases independently but with substantially different probabilities, thus reducing the fraction of discarded data, and a significant gain in efficiency is achieved. We then show that such a refined data analysis guarantees the security of our scheme against a biased eavesdropping strategy.

Observation of quasiperiodic dynamics in a one-dimensional quantum walk of single photons in space

We realize the quasi-periodic dynamics of a quantum walker over 2.5 quasi-periods by realizing the walker as a single photon passing through a quantum-walk optical-interferometer network. We introduce fully controllable polarization-independent phase shifters in each optical path to realize arbitrary site-dependent phase shifts, and employ large clear-aperture beam displacers, while maintaining high-visibility interference, to enable 10 quantum-walk steps to be reached. By varying the half-wave-plate setting, we control the quantum-coin bias thereby observing a transition from quasi-periodic dynamics to ballistic diffusion.

Experimental Quantum-Walk Revival with a Time-Dependent Coin

We demonstrate a quantum walk with time-dependent coin bias. With this technique we realize an experimental single-photon one-dimensional quantum walk with a linearly ramped time-dependent coin flip operation and thereby demonstrate two periodic revivals of the walker distribution. In our beam-displacer interferometer, the walk corresponds to movement between discretely separated transverse modes of the field serving as lattice sites, and the time-dependent coin flip is effected by implementing a different angle between the optical axis of half-wave plate and the light propagation at each step. Each of the quantum-walk steps required to realize a revival comprises two sequential orthogonal coin-flip operators, with one coin having constant bias and the other coin having a time-dependent ramped coin bias, followed by a conditional translation of the walker.

Realization of Single-Qubit Positive-Operator-Valued Measurement via a One-Dimensional Photonic Quantum Walk.

We perform generalized measurements of a qubit by realizing the qubit as a coin in a photonic quantum walk and subjecting the walker to projective measurements. Our experimental technique can be used to realize, photonically, any rank-1 single-qubit positive-operator-valued measure via constructing an appropriate interferometric quantum-walk network and then projectively measuring the walkers position at the final step.

Two quantum walkers sharing coins

We consider two independent quantum walks on separate lines augmented by partial or full swapping of coins after each step. For classical random walks, swapping or not swapping coins makes little difference to the random walk characteristics, but we show that quantum walks with partial swapping of coins have complicated yet elegant inter-walker correlations. Specifically we study the joint position distribution of the reduced two-walker state after tracing out the coins and analyze total, classical and quantum correlations in terms of the mutual information, the quantum mutual information, and the measurement-induced disturbance. Our analysis shows intriguing quantum features without classical analogues.

Scheme for preparation of mulipartite entanglement of atomic ensembles

We describe an experimental scheme of preparing multipartite W class of maximally entangled states between many atomic ensembles. The scheme is based on laser manipulation of atomic ensembles and single-photon detection, and well fits the status of the current experimental technology. In addition, we show one of the applications of the kind of W class states, teleporting an entangled state of atomic ensembles with unknown coefficients to more than one distant parties, either one of which equally likely receives the transmitted state.

Generation of polarization-entangled photon pairs via concurrent spontaneous parametric downconversions in a single χ (2) nonlinear photonic crystal

We propose a scheme for generating polarization-entangled photon pairs using a χ((2)) nonlinear photonic crystal, which is designed for enabling two concurrent quasi-phase-matched spontaneous parametric downconversion processes. Beamlike photon pairs produced from each process are collinear but noncollinear with the pump. Moreover, the source we design works in a postselection-free way and applies to both degenerate and nondegenerate cases. Combining possible waveguide technologies, our scheme may provide an integrated polarization entanglement source.

Compact source of narrow-band counterpropagating polarization-entangled photon pairs using a single dual-periodically-poled crystal

We propose a scheme for the generation of counterpropagating polarization-entangled photon pairs from a dual-periodically-poled crystal. Compared with the usual forward-wave-type source, this source, in the backward-wave way, has a much narrower bandwidth. With a 2-cm-long bulk crystal, the bandwidths of the example sources are estimated to be 3.6 GHz, and the spectral brightnesses are more than 100 pairs/(s GHz mW). Two concurrent quasi-phase-matched spontaneous parametric down-conversion processes in a single crystal enable our source to be compact and stable. This scheme does not rely on any state projection and applies to both degenerate and nondegenerate cases, facilitating applications of the entangled photons.