Integrated photonic circuits for contextuality tests via sequential measurements in three-level quantum systems

Area of Science:

• Quantum Information Science
• Quantum Optics
• Integrated Photonics

Background:

• Quantum contextuality is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics, challenging classical intuition.
• Testing contextuality typically requires complex experimental setups.
• Qutrit systems, utilizing three-dimensional quantum states, offer enhanced computational power and complexity for quantum tests.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a protocol for implementing contextuality tests on qutrit systems using photonic integrated circuits.
• To leverage the advantages of photonic integrated circuits for scalable and robust quantum experiments.
• To provide a realizable device configuration for both state-dependent and state-independent contextuality tests.

Main Methods:

• Designing photonic integrated circuits capable of manipulating and measuring qutrit states.
• Utilizing thermo-optic phase shifters for precise control over photon phase properties.
• Relating theoretical inequalities to measurable photon counting probabilities at circuit outputs.

Main Results:

• A detailed protocol for fabricating and operating photonic circuits for qutrit contextuality tests.
• Demonstration of how circuit parameters directly influence contextuality test outcomes.
• A specific, realizable device configuration is proposed, accounting for experimental constraints.

Conclusions:

• Photonic integrated circuits provide a scalable, accurate, and robust platform for quantum contextuality tests on qutrit systems.
• The proposed protocol enables efficient quantum measurements and precise phase control, crucial for complex quantum tests.
• This work facilitates advancements in fundamental quantum mechanics research and quantum information processing applications.