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Guang-Can Guo

Publications and source records attributed to Guang-Can Guo.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Scalable Generation of Macroscopic Fock States Exceeding 10,000 Photons

The scalable preparation of bosonic quantum states with macroscopic excitations poses a fundamental challenge in quantum technologies, limited by control complexity and photon-loss rates that severely constrain prior theoretical and experimental efforts to merely dozens of excitations per mode. Here, based on the duality of the quantum state evolution in Fock state space and the optical wave-function propagation in a waveguide array, we introduce a Kerr-engineered multi-lens protocol in a single bosonic mode to deterministically generate Fock states exceeding $10,000$ photons. By optimizing phase and displacement operations across lens groups, our approach compensates for non-paraxial aberrations, achieving fidelities above $73\%$ in numerical simulations for photon numbers up to $N=100,000$. Counterintuitively, the protocol's execution time scales as $N^{-1/2}$ with the target photon number $N$, exhibiting robustness against the photon loss. Our framework enables exploration of quantum-to-classical transitions of giant Fock states, paving the way for advanced quantum metrology with significant quantum gains, and error-corrected quantum information processing in high-dimensional Hilbert spaces.

quant-ph↗

Long-distance distribution of atom-photon entanglement based on a cavity-free cold atomic ensemble

Constructing a quantum memory node with the ability of long-distance atom-photon distribution is the essential task for future quantum networks, enabling distributed quantum computing, quantum cryptography and remote sensing. Here we report the demonstration of a quantum-network node with a simple cavity-free cold atomic ensemble. This node gives an initial retrieval efficiency of approximately 50\% and memory lifetime of 160 $μ$s for atomic qubits. With the aid of a high-efficiency and polarization-independent quantum frequency conversion (QFC) module, the generated entangled photon in the node at 780-nm wavelength is converted to telecom S band at 1522 nm, enabling atom-photon distribution over long distance. We observe an entanglement fidelity between the atoms and telecom photon exceeding 80\% after photon transmission over 20-km fiber, the remaining infidelity being dominated by atomic decoherence. The low-noise QFC with an external efficiency up to 48.5\% gives a signal-to-noise-ratio of 6.9 for transmitted photons with fiber length up to 100 km, laying the cornerstone for entanglement distribution at a hundred-km level. This result provides a new platform towards the realization of a long-distance quantum network.

quant-ph↗

Binarisation-loophole-free observation of high-dimensional quantum nonlocality

Bell inequality tests based on high-dimensional entanglement usually require measurements that can resolve multiple possible outcomes. However, the implementation of high-dimensional multi-outcome measurements is often only emulated via a collection of ``click or no-click'' measurements. This reduction of multi-outcome measurements to binary-outcome measurements opens a loophole in high-dimensional tests Bell inequalities which can be exploited by local hidden variable models [Tavakoli et al., Phys. Rev. A 111, 042433 (2025)]. Here, we close this loophole by using four-dimensional photonic path-mode entanglement and multi-outcome detection. We test both the well-known Collins-Gisin-Linden-Massar-Popescu inequality and a related Bell inequality tailored for maximally entangled states in high-dimension. We observe violations that are large enough to also rule out any quantum model based on entanglement of lower dimension, thereby demonstrating genuinely high-dimensional nonlocality free of the binarisation loophole.

quant-ph↗

Measuring Mixed-State Topological Invariant in Open Photonic Quantum Walk

Pure-state manifestations of geometric phase are well established and have found applications across essentially all branches of physics, yet their generalization to mixed-state regimes remains largely unexplored experimentally. The Uhlmann geometric phase offers a natural extension of pure-state paradigms and can exhibit a topological character. However, observation of this invariant is impeded by the incompatibility between Uhlmann parallel transport and Hamiltonian dynamics, as well as the difficulty of preparing topologically nontrivial mixed states. To address this challenge, we report an experimentally accessible protocol for directly measuring the mixed-state topological invariant. By engineering controlled nonunitary dynamics in a photonic quantum walk, we prepare topologically nontrivial mixed states from a trivial initial state. Furthermore, by machine-learning the full density matrix in momentum space, we directly extract the quantized geometric phase of the nontrivial mixed states. These results highlight a geometric phase framework that naturally extends to open quantum systems both in and out of thermal equilibrium.

quant-ph↗

Volcano Architecture for Scalable Quantum Processor Units

Quantum information processing platforms based on array of matter qubits, such as neutral atoms, trapped ions, and quantum dots, face significant challenges in scalable addressing and readout as system sizes increase. Here, we propose the "Volcano" architecture that establishes a new quantum processing unit implementation method based on optical channel mapping on a arbitrarily arranged static qubit array. To support the feasibility of Volcano architecture, we show a proof-of-principle demonstration by employing a photonic chip that leverages custom-designed three-dimensional waveguide structures to transform one-dimensional beam arrays into arbitrary two-dimensional output patterns matching qubit array geometries. We demonstrate parallel and independent control of 49-channel with negligible crosstalk and high uniformity. This architecture addresses the challenges in scaling up quantum processors, including both the classical link for parallel qubit control and the quantum link for efficient photon collection, and holds the potential for interfacing with neutral atom arrays and trapped ion crystals, as well as networking of heterogeneous quantum systems.

quant-ph↗

5-GHz chip-based quantum key distribution with 1Mbps secure key rate over 150 km

Quantum key distribution (QKD) enables secure communication by harnessing the fundamental principles of quantum physics, which inherently guarantee information-theoretic security and intrinsic resistance to quantum computing attacks. However, the secure key rate of QKD typically decreases exponentially with increasing channel distance. In this work, by developing a novel polarization-state preparation method, an ultra-low time-jitter laser source and superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors, we demonstrate a 5-GHz integrated QKD system featuring ultra-low quantum bit error rates (QBERs). The system achieves secure key rates of 1.076 Mbps at 150 km and 105 kbps at 200 km over standard single-mode fiber channels, respectively. Our system substantially enhances the secure key rate, enabling high-resolution video calls with one-time-pad encryption over intercity backbone QKD links. This work represents a significant step forward in the development of high-performance practical QKD systems.

quant-ph↗

High-fidelity realisation of CNOT gate in Majorana-based optical platform

We present the experimental realisation of a robust CNOT quantum gate using Majorana zero modes simulated on a photonic platform. Three Kitaev chains supporting Majorana zero modes at their endpoints are used to encode two logical qubits, and both intra-chain and inter-chain braiding operations are performed to implement the CNOT gate. While the topological encoding of quantum information in Majorana fermions does not offer full topological protection in our non-interacting photonic setting, it nevertheless exhibits a natural resilience to the dominant noise and decoherence effects present in the experiment. Consequently, the fidelity of the CNOT gate is significantly enhanced, surpassing 0.992 and addressing a key limitation in the path toward scalable quantum computation. These results represent a major advancement in topological quantum computing with Majorana fermions and underscore the potential of photonic platforms for realising high-fidelity quantum gates.

quant-ph↗

Microcomb-driven large-scale fully connected quantum network

Fully connected quantum networks enable simultaneously connecting every user to every other user and are the most versatile and robust networking architecture. However, the scalability of such networks remains great challenge for practical applications. Here we construct a large-scale fully connected quantum network founded on two-photon Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interference, where user-to-user security is guaranteed even with untrusted network provider. Using integrated soliton microcomb (SMC) and photonic encoding chips, we realize precise massive parallel frequency generation and locking, high-visibility HOM interferences and measurement-device-independent (MDI) quantum key distribution. The proposed architecture enables a 200-user fully connected quantum network over 200 kilometers with strict information-theoretic security via untrusted network provider. The implemented networking architecture paves the way for realizing large-scale fully connected MDI quantum networks across metropolitan and intercity regions.

quant-ph↗

Self-supervised prior learning improves structured illumination microscopy resolution

Structured illumination microscopy (SIM) is a wide-field super-resolution technique normally limited to roughly twice the diffraction-limited resolution ($\approx 100$--$200$~nm). Surpassing this bound is a classic ill-posed inverse problem: recovering high-frequency structure from band-limited raw data. We introduce SIMFormer, a fully blind SIM reconstruction framework that learns a powerful, data-driven prior directly from raw images via self-supervision. This learned prior regularizes the solution and enables reliable extrapolation beyond the optical transfer function cutoff, yielding an effective resolution of approximately 45~nm. We validate SIMFormer on synthetic data and the BioSR dataset, where it resolves features such as flattened endoplasmic reticulum lipid bilayers previously reported to require STORM-level resolution. A self-distilled variant, SIMFormer+, further improves noise robustness while preserving high resolution at extremely low photon counts. These results show that learned priors can substantially extend SIM resolution and robustness, enabling rapid, large-scale imaging with STORM-level detail.

physics.optics↗

Minute-Scale Photonic Quantum Memory

Long-lived storage of single photons is a fundamental requirement for enabling quantum communication and foundational tests of quantum physics over extended distances. While the implementation of a global-scale quantum network requires quantum storage times on the order of seconds to minutes, existing photonic quantum memories have so far been limited to subsecond lifetimes. Although $^{151}$Eu$^{3+}$:Y$_2$SiO$_5$ crystals exhibit substantially extended spin coherence times at the `magic' magnetic field, the concomitant weak optical absorption has until now prevented single-photon storage. Here, we overcome this challenge by integrating a noiseless photon echo protocol--which makes full use of the crystal's natural absorption for photonic storage--with a universally robust dynamical decoupling sequence incorporating adiabatic pulses to efficiently protect delocalized spin-wave excitation, enabling long-lived quantum storage at the `magic' magnetic field. At a storage time of 5.6 s, we achieve a time-bin qubit storage fidelity of 88.0 $\pm$ 2.1%, surpassing the maximum fidelity attainable via classical strategies. Our device reaches a $1/e$ storage lifetime of 27.6 $\pm$ 0.5 s, enabling single-photon-level storage for 42 s with a signal-to-noise ratio greater than unity. This work establishes photonic quantum memory in the minute-scale regime, laying a solid foundation for global-scale quantum network and deep-space quantum experiments.

quant-ph↗

Acoustically control of integrated optical microrings: from photonic molecule to Mobius strip

Microring resonators (MRRs) are fundamental building blocks of photonic integrated circuits, yet their dynamic reconfiguration has been limited to tuning refractive index or absorption. Here, we demonstrate acoustic control over optical path topology on a lithium niobate on sapphire platform. By launching gigahertz acoustic waves into a hybrid phononic-photonic waveguide, a dynamic Bragg mirror (DBM) is created within the optical path, coupling forward and backward propagating light. Employing a pair of coupled MRRs, we achieve strong coupling between supermodes of the photonic molecule with only milliwatt-level drive power, yielding a cooperativity of 2.46 per milliwatt. At higher power, DBM reflectivity up to 24% is achieved, revealing breakdowns of both the photonic molecule picture and perturbative coupled mode theory, indicating the transformation toward Mobius strip topology. Our work establishes a new dimension for controlling photonic devices, opening pathways toward fully reconfigurable photonic circuits through acoustic drive.

physics.optics↗

Reconfigurable on-chip vortex beam generation via acoustically stimulated Brillouin nonlinear optical radiation

The integrated devices that generate structured optical fields with non-trivial orbital angular momentum (OAM) hold great potential for advanced optical applications, but are restricted to complex nanostructures and static functionalities. Here, we demonstrate a reconfigurable OAM beam generator from a simple microring resonator without requiring grating-like nanostructures. Our approach harnesses Brillouin interaction between confined phonon and optical modes, where the acoustic field is excited through microwave input. The phonon stimulate the conversion from a guided optical mode into a free-space vortex beam. Under the selection rule of the radiation, the OAM order of the emitted light is determined by the acousto-optic phase matching and is rapidly reconfigurable by simply tuning the microwave frequency. Furthermore, this all-microwave control scheme allows for the synthesis of arbitrary high-dimensional OAM superpositions by programming the amplitudes and phases of the driving fields. Analytical and numerical models predict a radiation efficiency over 25\% for experimentally feasible on-chip microcavities. This work introduces a novel paradigm for chip-to-free-space interfaces, replacing fixed nanophotonic structures with programmable acousto-optic interactions for versatile structured light generation.

physics.optics↗

Chip-integrated Brillouin Saser Gyroscope

On-chip Brillouin laser gyroscopes harnessing opto-acoustic interaction are an emerging approach to detect rotation, due to their small footprint, excellent stability and low power consumption. However, previous implementations rely solely on optical readout, leaving the simultaneously generated saser (sound amplification by stimulated emission) undetected due to the lack of capability to access the acoustic output. Here, we propose a gyroscope based on saser detection using a suspension-free chip platform that supports low-loss confinement of both optical and acoustic modes. With experimental feasible parameter with optical and acoustic quality factors of 10^5 and 5000, respectively, sasers show significantly suppressed thermal and frequency noises, leading to gyroscope performance that outperforms its optical counterparts. We predict an angle random walk ~0.1 deg/sqrt(h) by saser gyroscope, while a conventional Brillouin laser gyroscope requires significantly higher pump power and optical quality factor to achieve comparable performance. Our work establishes the foundation for active phononic integrated circuits with Brillouin gain, opening avenues in inertial sensing, quantum transduction, and RF signal processing.

physics.optics↗

Invested and Potential Magic Resources in Measurement-Based Quantum Computation

Magic states and magic gates are crucial for achieving universal quantum computation, but important questions about how magic resources should be implemented to attain maximal quantum advantage have remained unexplored, especially in the context of measurement-based quantum computation (MQC). This work bridges the gap between MQC and the resource theory of magic by introducing the key concepts of "invested" and "potential" magic resources. The former quantifies the magic cost associated with MQC, serving as both a resource witness and a feasible upper bound for the practical realization, and is gate-order independent; The latter represents the maximal achievable magic resource in a given graph structure defining MQC. We utilize both concepts to analyze the quantum Fourier transform (QFT) and provide a fresh perspective on the universality of MQC, highlighting the crucial role of non-Pauli measurements in injecting magic. In particular, we theoretically prove that high-dimensional graphs can generate an exponential advantage of MQC compared to classical computing. We demonstrate experimentally our theoretical findings in a high-fidelity four-photon setup, surpassing conventional magic state injection (MSI) methods in both qubit efficiency and resource utilization. Our findings pave the way for future research exploring magic resource optimization and novel distillation schemes within the MQC framework, advancing fault-tolerant universal quantum computation.

quant-ph↗

Low-Energy Free-Electron Nonclassical Lasing

Harnessing a beam of slow free electrons in artificial photonic structures offers a powerful, tunable platform for generating nonclassical light without the need for heavy physical equipment. Here we present a theory of nonclassical lasing, demonstrating how incoherent electrons in photonic crystal cavities can coherently emit photons through collective dynamics. When photon emission rate exceeds cavity losses, nonclassical lasing with sub-Poissonian photon statistics emerges, driven by multi-photon Rabi oscillations. At specific coupling strengths, quantum state trapping effect emerges, producing high-fidelity Fock states at room temperature (e.g. nearly 90%-fidelity of four photon Fock state). Notably, the frequency of the emitted photons can be readily tuned via the velocity of the injected electrons to match cavity modes. This approach supports photonic integration and offers a scalable, energy-efficient platform for room-temperature quantum light sources and advanced studies in quantum electrodynamics.

physics.optics↗

Hardware-Efficient Bosonic Module for Entangling Superconducting Quantum Processors via Optical Networks

Scaling superconducting quantum processors beyond single dilution refrigerators requires efficient optical interconnects, yet integrating microwave-to-optical (M2O) transducers poses challenges due to frequency mismatches and qubit decoherence. We propose a modular architecture using SNAIL-based parametric coupling to interface Brillouin M2O transducers with long-lived 3D cavities, while maintaining plug-and-play compatibility. Through numerical simulations incorporating realistic noises, including laser heating, propagation losses, and detection inefficiency, we demonstrate raw entangled bit fidelities of F~0.8 at kHz-level rates over 30 km using the Duan-Lukin-Cirac-Zoller (DLCZ) protocol. Implementing asymmetric entanglement pumping tailored to amplitude damping errors, we achieve purified fidelities F~0.94 at 0.2 kHz rates. Our cavity-based approach outperforms transmon schemes, providing a practical pathway for distributed superconducting quantum computing.

quant-ph↗

Coupling between vibration and Luttinger liquid in mechanical nanowires

The vibration of the mechanical nanowire coupled to photons via photon pressure and coupled to charges via the capacity has been widely explored in experiments in the past decades. This system is electrically neutral, thus its coupling to the other degrees of freedom is always challenging. Here, we show that the vibration can slightly change the nanowire length and the associated Fermi velocity, which leads to coupling between vibration and Luttinger liquid. We consider the transverse and longitudinal vibrations of the nanowires, showing that the transverse vibration is much more significant than the longitudinal vibration, which can be measured through the sizable frequency shift. We predict an instability of the vibration induced by this coupling when the frequency becomes negative at a critical temperature for the transverse vibrations in nanowires with low Fermi energy, which can be reached by tuning the chemical potential and magnetic field. The time-dependent oscillation of the conductance, which directly measures the Luttinger parameter, can provide evidence for this coupling. Our theory offers a new mechanism for exploring the coupling between the vibration and the electronic excitations, which may lead to intriguing applications in cooling and controlling the mechanical oscillators with currents.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Observation of Non-Hermitian Spectral Deformation in Complex Momentum Space

Open systems feature a variety of phenomena that arise from non-Hermitian physics. Recent theoretical studies have offered much insights into these phenomena through the non-Bloch band theory, though many of the theory's key features are experimentally elusive. For instance, the correspondence between complex momenta and non-Hermitian bands, while central to non-Bloch band theory, has so far defied direct experimental observation. Here we experimentally study the non-Hermitian spectral deformation in complex-momentum space, by implementing a non-Hermitian lattice with long-range couplings in the synthetic orbital-angular-momentum (OAM) dimension of photons inside a degenerate cavity. Encoding the complex momenta in the phase and amplitude modulations of the OAM modes, and devising a complex-momentum-resolved projective detection, we reconstruct the spectral deformation in momentum space, where the eigenspectrum on the complex plane morphs through distinct geometries. This enables us to experimentally extract key information of the system under the non-Bloch band theory, including exceptional points in the complex-momentum space, the open-boundary spectra, and the generalized Brillouin zone. Our work demonstrates a versatile platform for exploring non-Hermitian physics and non-Bloch band theory, and opens the avenue for direct experimental investigation of non-Bloch features in the complex-momentum space.

quant-ph↗