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Craig S. Hamilton

Publications and source records attributed to Craig S. Hamilton.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Input phase noise in Gaussian Boson sampling

Gaussian boson sampling is an important protocol for testing the performance of photonic quantum simulators. As such, various noise sources have been investigated that degrade the operation of such devices. In this paper, we examine a situation with phase noise between different modes of the input state leading to dephasing of the system. This models the phase fluctuations which remain even when the mean phase is controlled. We aim to determine whether these phase-noisy input states still form a computationally difficult problem. To do this, we use Matrix Product Operators to model the system, a technique recently used to model boson sampling scenarios. Our investigation finds that the Entanglement entropy grows linearly with the number of input states even for noisy input states. This implies that, unlike boson loss, this form of experimentally relevant noise remains difficult to simulate with tensor networks and may allow for the demonstration of quantum advantage without the need for implementing the challenging task of input-state phase stabilisation.

quant-ph

Quantum metrology in a nonlinear-interferometer with feedback

In this paper, we propose a nonlinear interferometer with feedback loops and explore its efficiency for phase estimation. We analyse two feedback schemes, one where both modes of the interferometer are fed-back into the device and another where only one mode is fed-back. The quantum Fisher information (QFI) for phase estimation in each feedback scheme increases with each feedback loop, and similar to the standard SU(1,1) nonlinear interferometer, phase estimation in this scheme is sensitive to photon loss when the inputs are vacuum state. In terms of resources, we show that, in the low-loss regime, our scheme performs better than standard nonlinear interferometer. The feedback scheme provides the minimum phase variance when the unknown phase is small. We have also provided a special case where feedback scheme provided enhanced QFI even for large phase values. This is achieved by switching between squeezing and anti-squeezing operators after every few loops.

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Boson Sampling from Non-Gaussian States

Boson sampling has emerged as an important tool to demonstrate the difference between quantum and classical computers and has attracted the interest of experimentalists and theoreticians. In this work we study Boson sampling from general, single-mode states using a scheme that can generate any such state by combining Gaussian states and photon number measurements. We derive a formula that can be used to calculate the output photon number probabilities of these states after they travel through a linear interferometer. This extends the Boson sampling protocol to the widest array of possible single-mode states and from this we show that the complexity scaling of all such states is similar and hence there is no complexity advantage of using complex input states over simpler ones.

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Quantum transport in a combined kicked rotor and quantum walk system

We present a theoretical and numerical study of the competition between two opposite interference effects, namely interference-induced ballistic transport on one hand, and strong (Anderson) localization on the other. While the former effect allows for resistance free transport, the latter brings the transport to a complete halt. As a model system, we consider the quantum kicked rotor, where strong localization is observed in the discrete momentum coordinate. In this model, we introduce the ballistic transport in the form of a Hadamard quantum walk in that momentum coordinate. The two transport mechanisms are combined by alternating the corresponding Floquet operators. Extending the corresponding calculation for the kicked rotor, we estimate the classical diffusion coefficient for thecombined dynamics. Another argument, based on the introduction of an effective Heisenberg time should then allow to estimate the localization time and the localization length. While this is known to work reasonably well in the kicked rotor case, we find that it fails in our case. While the combined dynamics still shows localization, it takes place at much larger times and shows much larger localization lengths than predicted. Finally, we combine the kicked rotor with other types of quantum walks, namely diffusive and localizing quantum walks. In the diffusive case, the localizing dynamics of the kicked rotor is completely canceled and we get pure diffusion. In the case of the localizing quantum walk, the combined system remains localized, but with a larger localization length.

quant-ph

A detailed study of Gaussian Boson Sampling

Since the development of Boson sampling, there has been a quest to construct more efficient and experimentally feasible protocols to test the computational complexity of sampling from photonic states. In this paper we interpret and extend the results presented in [Phys. Rev. Lett. 119, 170501 (2017)]. We derive an expression that relates the probability to measure a specific photon output pattern from a Gaussian state to the \textit{hafnian} matrix function and us it to design a Gaussian Boson sampling protocol. Then, we discuss the advantages that this protocol has relative to other photonic protocols and the experimental requirements for Gaussian Boson Sampling. Finally, we relate it to the previously most general protocol, Scattershot Boson Sampling [Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 100502 (2014)]

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Gaussian Boson Sampling

Boson Sampling has emerged as a tool to explore the advantages of quantum over classical computers as it does not require a universal control over the quantum system, which favours current photonic experimental platforms.Here, we introduce Gaussian Boson Sampling, a classically hard-to-solve problem that uses squeezed states as a non-classical resource. We relate the probability to measure specific photon patterns from a general Gaussian state in the Fock basis to a matrix function called the hafnian, which answers the last remaining question of sampling from Gaussian states. Based on this result, we design Gaussian Boson Sampling, a #P hard problem, using squeezed states. This approach leads to a more efficient photonic boson sampler with significant advantages in generation probability and measurement time over currently existing protocols.

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Driven Discrete Time Quantum Walks

We introduce the driven discrete time quantum walk, where walkers are added during the walk instead of only at the beginning. This leads to interference in walker number and very different dynamics when compared to the original quantum walk. These dynamics have two regimes, which we illustrate using the one-dimensional line. Then, we explore a search application which has certain advantages over current search protocols, namely that it does not require a complicated initial state nor a specific measurement time to observe the marked state. Finally, we describe a potential experimental implementation using existing technology.

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Driven Boson Sampling

Sampling the distribution of bosons that have undergone a random unitary evolution is strongly believed to be a computationally hard problem. Key to outperforming classical simulations of this task is to increase both the number of input photons and the size of the network. We propose driven boson sampling, in which photons are input within the network itself, as a means to approach this goal. When using heralded single-photon sources based on parametric down-conversion, this approach offers an $\sim e$-fold enhancement in the input state generation rate over scattershot boson sampling, reaching the scaling limit for such sources. More significantly, this approach offers a dramatic increase in the signal-to-noise ratio with respect to higher-order photon generation from such probabilistic sources, which removes the need for photon number resolution during the heralding process as the size of the system increases.

quant-ph

Dual-path source engineering in integrated quantum optics

Quantum optics in combination with integrated optical devices shows great promise for efficient manipulation of single photons. New physical concepts, however, can only be found when these fields truly merge and reciprocally enhance each other. Here we work at the merging point and investigate the physical concept behind a two-coupled-waveguide system with an integrated parametric down-conversion process. We use the eigenmode description of the linear system and the resulting modification in momentum conservation to derive the state generation protocol for this type of device. With this new concept of state engineering, we are able to effectively implement a two-in-one waveguide source that produces the useful two-photon NOON state without extra overhead such as phase stabilization or narrow-band filtering. Experimentally, we benchmark our device by measuring a two-photon NOON state fidelity of $\mathcal{F} = (84.2 \pm 2.6) \%$ and observe the characteristic interferometric pattern directly given by the doubled phase dependence with a visibility of $V_{\mathrm{NOON}} = (93.3 \pm 3.7) \%$.

quant-ph

N00N states from a single non-linear directional coupler

In the quest for applicable quantum information technology miniaturised, compact and scalable sources are of paramount importance. Here, we present the concept for the generation of 2-photon N00N states without further post-processing in a single non-linear optical element. Based upon a periodically poled waveguide coupler, we present the principle of state generation via type-0 parametric down-conversion inside this type of devices. With the eigenmode description of the linear optical element, we utilise the delocalised photon pair generation to generate a N00N state in the measurement basis. We show, that we are able to eliminate the need for narrow-band spectral filtering, as well as for phase-stabilisation of the pump light, making this approach an elegant way to produce 2-photon N00N states.

quant-ph

Driven Quantum Walks

In this letter we introduce the concept of a driven quantum walk. This work is motivated by recent theoretical and experimental progress that combines quantum walks and parametric down- conversion, leading to fundamentally different phenomena. We compare these striking differences by relating the driven quantum walks to the original quantum walk. Next, we illustrate typical dynamics of such systems and show these walks can be controlled by various pump configurations and phase matchings. Finally, we end by proposing an application of this process based on a quantum search algorithm that performs faster than a classical search.

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Spatio-spectral characteristics of parametric down-conversion in waveguide arrays

High dimensional quantum states are of fundamental interest for quantum information processing. They give access to large Hilbert spaces and, in turn, enable the encoding of quantum information on multiple modes. One method to create such quantum states is parametric down-conversion (PDC) in waveguide arrays (WGAs) which allows for the creation of highly entangled photon-pairs in controlled, easily accessible spatial modes, with unique spectral properties. In this paper we examine both theoretically and experimentally the PDC process in a lithium niobate WGA. We measure the spatial and spectral properties of the emitted photon-pairs, revealing strong correlations between spectral and spatial degrees of freedom of the created photons. Our measurements show that, in contrast to prior theoretical approaches, spectrally dependent coupling effects have to be taken into account in the theory of PDC in WGAs. To interpret the results, we developed a theoretical model specifically taking into account spectrally dependent coupling effects, which further enables us to explore the capabilities and limitations for engineering the spatial correlations of the generated quantum states.

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General U(4) gate for photon polarization and orbital angular momentum

We examine the implementation of an arbitrary U(4) gate consisting of CNOT gates and single qubit unitary gates for the Hilbert space of photon spin polarization and two states of photon orbital angular momentum. Our scheme improves over a recently proposed one that uses q-plates because the fidelity is limited only by losses thus in principle it could be used to achieve a perfect transformation.

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Fidelity for imperfect postselection

We describe a simple measure of fidelity for mixed state postselecting devices. The measure is most appropriate for postselection where the task performed by the output is only effected by a specific state.

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