Continuous-variable quantum computation with spatial degrees of freedom of photons

Journal Article · Sun May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.83.052325· OSTI ID:21546742

Tasca, D S; Gomes, R M; Toscano, F; Souto Ribeiro, P H; Walborn, S P ^[1]

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1. Instituto de Fisica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Caixa Postal 68528, 21941-972 Rio de Janeiro-RJ (Brazil)

We discuss the use of the transverse spatial degrees of freedom of photons propagating in the paraxial approximation for continuous-variable information processing. Given the wide variety of linear optical devices available, a diverse range of operations can be performed on the spatial degrees of freedom of single photons. Here we show how to implement a set of continuous quantum logic gates which allow for universal quantum computation. In contrast with the usual quadratures of the electromagnetic field, the entire set of single-photon gates for spatial degrees of freedom does not require optical nonlinearity and, in principle, can be performed with a single device: the spatial light modulator. Nevertheless, nonlinear optical processes, such as four-wave mixing, are needed in the implementation of two-photon gates. The efficiency of these gates is at present very low; however, small-scale investigations of continuous-variable quantum computation are within the reach of current technology. In this regard, we show how novel cluster states for one-way quantum computing can be produced using spontaneous parametric down-conversion.

• OSTI ID: 21546742
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Vol. 83, Issue 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.83.052325; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 1050-2947
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
APPROXIMATIONS
CONVERSION
DEGREES OF FREEDOM
EFFICIENCY
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
FREQUENCY MIXING
INFORMATION
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
OPTICAL EQUIPMENT
PHOTONS
PROCESSING
QUADRATURES
QUANTUM COMPUTERS
VISIBLE RADIATION
BOSONS
CALCULATION METHODS
COMPUTERS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EQUIPMENT
MASSLESS PARTICLES
RADIATIONS