Seiji Armstrong

Ultra-large-scale continuous-variable cluster states multiplexed in the time domain

A continuous-variable cluster state containing more than 10,000 entangled modes is deterministically generated and fully characterized. The developed time-domain multiplexing method allows each quantum mode to be manipulated by the same optical components at different times. An efficient scheme for measurement-based quantum computation on this cluster state is presented.

Infrared emission of the NV centre in diamond: Zeeman and uniaxial stress studies

An emission band in the infrared (IR) is shown to be associated with a transition within the negative nitrogen-vacancy centre in diamond. The band has a zero-phonon line at 1046?nm, and uniaxial stress and magnetic field measurements indicate that the emission is associated with a transition between 1E and 1A1 singlet levels. Inter-system crossing to these singlets causes the spin polarization that makes the NV- centre attractive for quantum information processing, and the IR emission band provides a new avenue for using the centre in such applications.

Experimental generation of four-mode continuous-variable cluster states

Continuous-variable Gaussian cluster states are a potential resource for universal quantum computation. Here we report on the optical generation and theoretical verification of three different kinds of four-mode continuous variable cluster states.

Multipartite Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen steering and genuine tripartite entanglement with optical networks

This research was conducted by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology (project number CE110001029) and has been supported by the Australian Research Council DECRA and Discovery Project Grants schemes. S.A. is grateful for funding from the Australia–Asia Prime Minister‘s Award. R.Y.T. thanks Swinburne University for a Research SUPRA Award, and Q.H. thanks National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 11121091 and 11274025. This work was supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant No. PHYS-1066293 and the hospitality of the Aspen Center for Physics.

Programmable multimode quantum networks

Entanglement between large numbers of quantum modes is the quintessential resource for future technologies such as the quantum internet. Conventionally, the generation of multimode entanglement in optics requires complex layouts of beamsplitters and phase shifters in order to transform the input modes into entangled modes. Here we report the highly versatile and efficient generation of various multimode entangled states with the ability to switch between different linear optics networks in real time. By defining our modes to be combinations of different spatial regions of one beam, we may use just one pair of multi-pixel detectors in order to measure multiple entangled modes. We programme virtual networks that are fully equivalent to the physical linear optics networks they are emulating. We present results for N=2 up to N=8 entangled modes here, including N=2, 3, 4 cluster states. Our approach introduces the highly sought after attributes of flexibility and scalability to multimode entanglement.

Demonstration of unconditional one-way quantum computations for continuous variables

One-way quantum computation is a very promising candidate to fulfill the capabilities of quantum information processing. Here we demonstrate an important set of unitary operations for continuous variables using a linear cluster state of four entangled optical modes. These operations are performed in a fully measurement-controlled and completely unconditional fashion. We implement three different levels of squeezing operations and a Fourier transformation, all of which are accessible by selecting the correct quadrature measurement angles of the homodyne detections. Though not sufficient, these linear transformations are necessary for universal quantum computation.

Programmable unitary spatial mode manipulation

Free space propagation and conventional optical systems such as lenses and mirrors all perform spatial unitary transforms. However, the subset of transforms available through these conventional systems is limited in scope. We present here a unitary programmable mode converter (UPMC) capable of performing any spatial unitary transform of the light field. It is based on a succession of reflections on programmable deformable mirrors and free space propagation. We first show theoretically that a UPMC without limitations on resources can perform perfectly any transform. We then build an experimental implementation of the UPMC and show that, even when limited to three reflections on an array of 12 pixels, the UPMC is capable of performing single mode tranforms with an efficiency greater than 80% for the first four modes of the transverse electromagnetic basis.

Noise analysis of single-mode Gaussian operations using continuous-variable cluster states

We consider measurement-based quantum computation that uses scalable continuous-variable cluster states with a one-dimensional topology. The physical resource, known here as the dual-rail quantum wire, can be generated using temporally multiplexed offline squeezing and linear optics or by using a single optical parametric oscillator. We focus on an important class of quantum gates, specifically Gaussian unitaries that act on single quantum modes (qumodes), which gives universal quantum computation when supplemented with multi-qumode operations and photon-counting measurements. The dual-rail wire supports two routes for applying single-qumode Gaussian unitaries: The first is to use traditional one-dimensional quantum-wire cluster-state measurement protocols. The second takes advantage of the dual-rail quantum wire in order to apply unitaries by measuring pairs of qumodes called macronodes. We analyze and compare these methods in terms of the suitability for implementing single-qumode Gaussian measurement-based quantum computation.

Asymmetric EPR entanglement in continuous variable systems

Continuous variable entanglement can be produced in nonlinear systems or via the interference of squeezed states. In many optical systems such as parametric down conversion, the production of two perfectly symmetric subsystems is usually assumed when demonstrating the existence of entanglement. This symmetry simplifies the description of entanglement. However, asymmetry in entanglement may arise naturally in a real experiment, or be intentionally introduced in a given quantum information protocol. These asymmetries can emerge from having the output beams experience different losses and environmental contamination, or from the availability of non-identical input quantum states in quantum communication protocols. In this paper, we present a visualization of entanglement using quadrature amplitude plots of the twin beams. We quantitatively discuss the strength of asymmetric entanglement using EPR and inseparability criteria and theoretically show that the optimal beamsplitter ratio for entanglement is dependent on the asymmetries and may not be 50 : 50. To support this theory, we present experimental results showing one particular asymmetric entanglement where a 78 : 22 beamsplitter is optimal for observing entanglement.

Demonstration of a fully tunable entangling gate for continuous-variable one-way quantum computation

We introduce a fully tuneable entangling gate for continuous-variable one-way quantum computation. We present a proof-of-principle demonstration by propagating two independent optical inputs through a three-mode linear cluster state and applying the gate in various regimes. The genuine quantum nature of the gate is confirmed by verifying the entanglement strength in the output state. Our protocol can be readily incorporated into efficient multi-mode interaction operations in the context of large-scale one-way quantum computation, as our tuning process is the generalisation of cluster state shaping.