Programmable multiphoton quantum interference in a single spatial mode

Area of Science:

• Quantum optics
• Quantum information science

Background:

• Nonclassical states of light are crucial for quantum-enhanced applications.
• Current architectures often rely on polarization or spatial modes, leading to resource-intensive scaling.
• Large-scale multiphoton processing faces significant hardware challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a resource-efficient architecture for multiphoton processing.
• To utilize time-bin encoding in a single spatial mode for quantum information tasks.
• To reduce the physical overhead required for complex quantum experiments.

Main Methods:

• Employed an efficient quantum dot single-photon source.
• Utilized a fast programmable time-bin interferometer.
• Observed interference of up to eight photons in 16 modes using a single detector.

Main Results:

• Achieved multiphoton interference with significantly reduced hardware requirements.
• Demonstrated the capability to process multiple photons (up to eight) in multiple modes (16) efficiently.
• Showcased a scalable approach for quantum information processing.

Conclusions:

• The developed architecture offers a resource-efficient pathway for quantum information processing.
• Time-bin encoding in a single spatial mode is a viable strategy for scalable quantum photonics.
• This work lays the foundation for a universal, single-spatial-mode photonics quantum processor.