Optimal photonic indistinguishability tests in multimode networks.

Area of Science:

• Quantum physics
• Quantum optics
• Quantum information science

Background:

• Particle indistinguishability is fundamental to quantum statistics, impacting phenomena like superconductivity and Bose-Einstein condensation.
• It is essential for quantum computation and simulation, particularly in Boson Sampling devices.
• Developing tools to certify genuine multiphoton interference is critical for advancing these applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify transformations that minimize the error probability in discriminating between distinguishable and indistinguishable photons.
• To evaluate the performance of Sylvester interferometers for certifying multiphoton interference.
• To demonstrate the experimental efficacy of Sylvester transformations.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing total variation distance to identify optimal discrimination transformations.
• Employing Bayesian tests and inference for numerical analysis.
• Conducting experimental demonstrations using 3D integrated circuits.

Main Results:

• Sylvester interferometers are shown to be near-optimal for discriminating photon distinguishability.
• Sylvester transformations significantly outperform Haar-random unitaries in terms of required sample size.
• Experimental validation confirms the efficacy of Sylvester transformations in single- and multiple-source scenarios.

Conclusions:

• Sylvester interferometers provide an efficient and optimal method for assessing multiphoton interference.
• The approach is extendable to a larger number of photons and modes.
• These findings pave the way for advanced applications in quantum experimentation and assessment.