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Kannan Vijayadharan

Publications and source records attributed to Kannan Vijayadharan.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Postselection-loophole-free Bell test under strict spacetime constraints

Entanglement gives rise to correlations between distant quantum systems that cannot be explained by local realistic theories. Bell inequality violations provide a direct way to reveal these correlations and certify nonlocality, especially when the relevant experimental loopholes are closed. Time-bin encoding, in which quantum information is encoded into well-defined temporal modes, is a commonly used platform for distributing photonic entanglement in optical fibers. Yet loophole-free Bell tests with time-bin entanglement have received comparatively little attention, owing in part to the postselection loophole introduced by conventional interferometric measurements. Here, we demonstrate a fiber-based platform for Bell tests with time-bin entanglement that simultaneously closes the locality, freedom-of-choice, and postselection loopholes. We observe a CHSH violation of $S=2.583 \pm 0.002$, exceeding the local-realistic bound by over 265 standard deviations. Notably, this rigorous certification of nonlocality is achieved at a separation distance of $49.0 \pm 0.7$ m, substantially shorter than previous photonic Bell tests addressing comparable space-time constraints. Beyond its foundational significance, our results demonstrate time-bin entanglement as a viable route towards practical device-independent quantum communication and a future quantum internet.

quant-ph↗

GHz-rate all-fiber active polarization state analyzer for quantum protocols

Active selection of the measurement basis underpins quantum protocols including device-independent quantum key distribution, quantum teleportation with active feed-forward, and Bell tests. High-speed operation is crucial to minimize the latency between consecutive measurement choices, enabling faster protocol execution and higher achievable communication rates. Here, we demonstrate a GHz-rate all-fiber polarization state analyzer enabling active, trial-by-trial reconfiguration of the measurement basis, which we validate by performing a CHSH Bell test. The state analyzer is based on a fiber Sagnac interferometer incorporating a lithium niobate electro-optic phase modulator, built entirely using off-the-shelf fiber-optic components. Operating at a nominal repetition rate of 1 GHz, the system performs dynamic polarization measurements for the CHSH Bell test, achieving polarization visibilities up to 99% and a violation of $S = 2.6975 \pm 0.0005$, certifying entanglement at an unprecedented rate. Furthermore, the system demonstrates excellent long-term stability, preserving the Bell-inequality violation for more than 6 hours without realignment. These results establish the proposed state analyzer as a versatile, scalable platform for quantum communication protocols requiring fast, reconfigurable polarization-state measurements.

quant-ph↗

General model and modulation strategies for Sagnac-based encoders

In recent decades, there has been an increasing demand for faster modulation schemes. Electro-optic modulators are essential components in modern photonic systems, enabling high-speed control of light for applications ranging from telecommunications to quantum communication. Conventional inline and Mach-Zehnder modulators, while widely adopted, are limited by bias drift, high operating voltages, and polarization-mode dispersion. Sagnac loop-based modulators have recently emerged as a promising alternative, offering inherent stability against environmental fluctuations and eliminating the need for active bias control. In this work, we present a comprehensive model of the Sagnac modulator that captures both intensity and polarization modulation. We analyze the role of asymmetry in the loop, highlighting its impact on the achievable repetition rate, and propose modulation strategies to overcome these constraints. Finally, we investigate the symmetric Sagnac configuration and demonstrate practical techniques for achieving robust modulation while mitigating experimental challenges. Our results establish the Sagnac modulator as a versatile and stable platform for next-generation photonic and quantum communication systems.

physics.optics↗

A Sagnac-based arbitrary time-bin state encoder for quantum communication applications

Time-bin encoding of quantum information is highly advantageous for long-distance quantum communication protocols over optical fibres due to its inherent robustness in the channel and the possibility of generating high-dimensional quantum states. The most common implementation of time-bin quantum states using unbalanced interferometers presents challenges in terms of stability and flexibility of operation. In particular, a limited number of states can be generated without modifying the optical scheme. Here we present the implementation of a fully controllable arbitrary time-bin quantum state encoder, which is easily scalable to arbitrary dimensions and time-bin widths. The encoder presents high stability and low quantum bit error rate QBER, even at high speeds of operation. Additionally, we demonstrate phase randomization and phase encoding without additional resources.

quant-ph↗

Variational quantum algorithm for enhanced continuous variable optical phase sensing

Variational quantum algorithms (VQAs) are hybrid quantum-classical approaches used for tackling a wide range of problems on noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices. Testing these algorithms on relevant hardware is crucial to investigate the effect of noise and imperfections and to assess their practical value. Here, we implement a variational algorithm designed for optimized parameter estimation on a continuous variable platform based on squeezed light, a key component for high-precision optical phase estimation. We investigate the ability of the algorithm to identify the optimal metrology process, including the optimization of the probe state and measurement strategy for small-angle optical phase sensing. Two different optimization strategies are employed, the first being a gradient descent optimizer using Gaussian parameter shift rules to estimate the gradient of the cost function directly from the measurements. The second strategy involves a gradient-free Bayesian optimizer, fine-tuning the system using the same cost function and trained on the data acquired through the gradient-dependent algorithm. We find that both algorithms can steer the experiment towards the optimal metrology process. However, they find minima not predicted by our theoretical model, demonstrating the strength of variational algorithms in modelling complex noise environments, a non-trivial task.

quant-ph↗