Raussendorf, R. (2010). Quantum computing: Shaking up ground states. Nat. Phys., 6(11), 840–841.
Abstract: Measurement-based quantum computation with an Affleck-Kennedy-Lieb-Tasaki state is experimentally realized for the first time.
|
Kawano, Y., & Ishibashi, K. (2008). An on-chip near-field terahertz probe and detector. Nature Photon, 2(10), 618–621.
Abstract: The advantageous properties of terahertz waves, such as their transmission through objects opaque to visible light, are attracting attention for imaging applications. A promising approach for achieving high spatial resolution is the use of near-field imaging. Although this method has been well established in the visible and microwave regions, it is challenging to perform in the terahertz region. In the terahertz techniques investigated to date, detectors have been located remotely from the probe, which degrades sensitivity, and the influence of far-field waves is unavoidable. Here we present a new integrated detection device for terahertz near-field imaging in which all the necessary detection components — an aperture, a probe and a terahertz detector — are integrated on one semiconductor chip, which is cryogenically cooled. This scheme allows highly sensitive, high-resolution detection of the evanescent field alone and promises new capabilities for high-resolution terahertz imaging.
|
Lydersen, L., Wiechers, C., Wittmann, C., Elser, D., Skaar, J., & Makarov, V. (2010). Hacking commercial quantum cryptography systems by tailored bright illumination. Nat. Photon., 4(10), 686–689.
Abstract: The peculiar properties of quantum mechanics allow two remote parties to communicate a private, secret key, which is protected from eavesdropping by the laws of physics. So-called quantum key distribution (QKD) implementations always rely on detectors to measure the relevant quantum property of single photons. Here we demonstrate experimentally that the detectors in two commercially available QKD systems can be fully remote-controlled using specially tailored bright illumination. This makes it possible to tracelessly acquire the full secret key; we propose an eavesdropping apparatus built of off-the-shelf components. The loophole is likely to be present in most QKD systems using avalanche photodiodes to detect single photons. We believe that our findings are crucial for strengthening the security of practical QKD, by identifying and patching technological deficiencies.
|
Zhang, Q., Goebel, A., Wagenknecht, C., Chen, Y. - A., Zhao, B., Yang, T., et al. (2006). Experimental quantum teleportation of a two-qubit composite system. Nat. Phys., 2(10), 678–682.
Abstract: Quantum teleportation, a way to transfer the state of a quantum system from one location to another, is central to quantum communication and plays an important role in a number of quantum computation protocols. Previous experimental demonstrations have been implemented with single photonic or ionic qubits. However, teleportation of single qubits is insufficient for a large-scale realization of quantum communication and computation. Here, we present the experimental realization of quantum teleportation of a two-qubit composite system. In the experiment, we develop and exploit a six-photon interferometer to teleport an arbitrary polarization state of two photons. The observed teleportation fidelities for different initial states are all well beyond the state estimation limit of 0.40 for a two-qubit system. Not only does our six-photon interferometer provide an important step towards teleportation of a complex system, it will also enable future experimental investigations on a number of fundamental quantum communication and computation protocols
|
Prevedel, R., Hamel, D. R., Colbeck, R., Fisher, K., & Resch, K. J. (2011). Experimental investigation of the uncertainty principle in the presence of quantum memory and its application to witnessing entanglement. Nat. Phys., 7(10), 757–761.
Abstract: Heisenberg's uncertainty principle provides a fundamental limitation on the ability of an observer holding classical information to predict the outcome when one of two measurements is performed on a quantum system. However, an observer with access to a particle (stored in a quantum memory) which is entangled with the system generally has a reduced uncertainty: indeed, if the particle and system are maximally entangled, the observer can perfectly predict the outcome of whichever measurement is chosen. This effect has recently been quantified in a new entropic uncertainty relation. Here we experimentally investigate this relation, showing its effectiveness as an efficient entanglement witness. We use entangled photon pairs, an optical delay line serving as a simple quantum memory and fast, active feed-forward. Our results quantitatively agree with the new uncertainty relation. Our technique acts as a witness for almost all entangled states in our experiment as we obtain lower uncertainties than would be possible without the entangled particle.
|
Fuchs, G. D., Burkard, G., Klimov, P. V., & Awschalom, D. D. (2011). A quantum memory intrinsic to single nitrogen–vacancy centres in diamond. Nat. Phys., 7(10), 789–793.
Abstract: A quantum memory, composed of a long-lived qubit coupled to each processing qubit, is important to building a scalable platform for quantum information science. These two qubits should be connected by a fast and high-fidelity operation to store and retrieve coherent quantum states. Here, we demonstrate a room-temperature quantum memory based on the spin of the nitrogen nucleus intrinsic to each nitrogen–vacancy (NV) centre in diamond. We perform coherent storage of a single NV centre electronic spin in a single nitrogen nuclear spin using Landau–Zener transitions across a hyperfine-mediated avoided level crossing. By working outside the asymptotic regime, we demonstrate coherent state transfer in as little as 120 ns with total storage fidelity of 88±6%. This work demonstrates the use of a quantum memory that is compatible with scaling as the nitrogen nucleus is deterministically present in each NV centre defect.
|
Hosseini, M., Campbell, G., Sparkes, B. M., Lam, P. K., & Buchler, B. C. (2011). Unconditional room-temperature quantum memory. Nat. Phys., 7(10), 794–798.
Abstract: Just as classical information systems require buffers and memory, the same is true for quantum information systems. The potential that optical quantum information processing holds for revolutionizing computation and communication is therefore driving significant research into developing optical quantum memory. A practical optical quantum memory must be able to store and recall quantum states on demand with high efficiency and low noise. Ideally, the platform for the memory would also be simple and inexpensive. Here, we present a complete tomographic reconstruction of quantum states that have been stored in the ground states of rubidium in a vapour cell operating at around 80 °C. Without conditional measurements, we show recall fidelity up to 98% for coherent pulses containing around one photon. To unambiguously verify that our memory beats the quantum no-cloning limit we employ state-independent verification using conditional variance and signal-transfer coefficients.
|
Gao, J., McMillan, J. F., & Wong, C. W. (2012). Nanophotonics: Remote on-chip coupling. Nat. Photon., 6(1), 7–8.
Abstract: Scientists have demonstrated strongly coupled photon states between two distant high-Q photonic crystal cavities connected by a photonic crystal waveguide. Remote dynamic control over the coupled states could aid the development of delay lines, optical buffers and qubit operations in both classical and quantum information processing.
|
Pile, D. (2012). How many bits can a photon carry. Nat. Photon., 6(1), 14–15.
Abstract: Quantum physics offers a way to enhance the amount of information a photon can carry, with potential applications in optical communication, lithography, metrology and imaging.
|
Hanneke, D., Home, J. P., Jost, J. D., Amini, J. M., Leibfried, D., & Wineland, D. J. (2010). Realization of a programmable two-qubit quantum processor. Nat. Phys., 6(1), 13–16.
Abstract: The universal quantum computer is a device capable of simulating any physical system and represents a major goal for the field of quantum information science. In the context of quantum information, `universal' refers to the ability to carry out arbitrary unitary transformations in the system's computational space. Combining arbitrary single-quantum-bit (qubit) gates with an entangling two-qubit gate provides a set of gates capable of achieving universal control of any number of qubits, provided that these gates can be carried out repeatedly and between arbitrary pairs of qubits. Although gate sets have been demonstrated in several technologies, they have so far been tailored towards specific tasks, forming a small subset of all unitary operators. Here we demonstrate a quantum processor that can be programmed with 15 classical inputs to realize arbitrary unitary transformations on two qubits, which are stored in trapped atomic ions. Using quantum state and process tomography, we characterize the fidelity of our implementation for 160 randomly chosen operations. This universal control is equivalent to simulating any pairwise interaction between spin-1/2 systems. A programmable multiqubit register could form a core component of a large-scale quantum processor, and the methods used here are suitable for such a device.
|
