Sequential generation of linear cluster states from a single photon emitter

Area of Science:

• Quantum Information Science
• Quantum Optics
• Quantum Computing Hardware

Background:

• Cluster states, crucial for quantum computing, have been challenging to generate efficiently.
• Previous methods relied on probabilistic sources with low efficiencies and high hardware overhead.
• Scalable quantum networks require robust and efficient methods for generating multi-photon entangled states.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a resource-efficient method for generating linear cluster states.
• To demonstrate the generation of individually-addressable photons in a single spatial mode.
• To enable scalable quantum computing networks using advanced photonic states.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a single entangling gate in a fiber loop configuration.
• Employed a semiconductor quantum dot as a highly efficient single-photon source.
• Sequentially entangled photons to build linear cluster states within a single spatial mode.

Main Results:

• Successfully generated polarization-encoded linear cluster states up to four photons.
• Achieved resource-efficient generation within a single-mode fiber.
• Demonstrated individually-addressable photons in the generated cluster states.

Conclusions:

• The reported architecture offers a scalable and efficient approach to generating photonic cluster states.
• This method overcomes limitations of probabilistic sources and reduces hardware complexity.
• The programmable architecture is suitable for various quantum computing schemes, including photonic one-way quantum computing.