Reconfigurable unitary transformations of optical beam arrays
Spatial transformations of light are ubiquitous in optics, with examples ranging from simple imaging with a lens to quantum and classical information processing in waveguide meshes. Multi-plane light converter (MPLC) systems have emerged as a platform that promises completely general spatial transformations, i.e., a universal unitary. However, until now, MPLC systems have demonstrated transformations that are far from general, e.g., converting from a Gaussian to Laguerre-Gauss mode. Here, we demonstrate the promise of an MLPC, the ability to impose an arbitrary unitary transformation that can be reconfigured dynamically. Specifically, we consider transformations on superpositions of parallel free-space beams arranged in an array, which is a common information encoding in photonics. We experimentally test the full gamut of unitary transformations for a system of two parallel beams and make a map of their fidelity. We obtain an average transformation fidelity of 0.85 ± 0.03. This high-fidelity suggests that MPLCs are a useful tool for implementing the unitary transformations that comprise quantum and classical information processing.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0012704
- OSTI ID:
- 2475001
- Report Number(s):
- BNL--226422-2024-JAAM
- Journal Information:
- Optics Express, Journal Name: Optics Express Journal Issue: 23 Vol. 32; ISSN 1094-4087
- Publisher:
- Optical Society of America (OSA)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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