arXiv subjects

Sonja Barkhofen

Publications and source records attributed to Sonja Barkhofen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Beyond Antibunching: Photon Correlation Analysis Reveals Blinking Origin

A variety of quantum emitters compete in the quest for the best single-photon source for photonic quantum technologies. Consequently, only a consistent approach to analyze the second-order auto correlation function allows comparison of the multi-photon contribution ($g^{(2)}(0)$) of different sources. However, the community employs different and inconsistent methods for blinking sources, leading to incomparable benchmarks of source quality. Here, we use the emission of an inherently non-blinking quantum dot (QD) and apply artificial blinking through two different mechanisms: masking the recorded raw data in post-processing and emulation of a blinking system by gating the laser excitation pulses. We then compare the $g^{(2)}(0)$ values with the non-blinking result. For the analysis, we investigate five estimators of $g^{(2)}(0)$ actively used in the literature. While fitting the envelope of the correlations on long-time scales with the correct blinking model is the best choice, normalizing to the Poisson level gives by far the worst proximity. Furthermore, we test our predictive model to identify the underlying blinking mechanism of a QD in a circular Bragg grating cavity.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

A systematic design approach for one-dimensional and crossed photonic nanobeam cavities for quantum dot integration

We present a systematic workflow for the design of one-dimensional photonic crystal nanobeam cavities with non-zero cavity lengths. By simultaneously optimizing the lattice periodicity, air-hole geometry, and cavity length, our approach enables precise control of optical confinement while mitigating radiative losses and linewidth broadening effects. The method is further extended to the design of crossed nanobeam cavities with both matching and mismatched resonance frequencies. This strategy significantly reduces the need for extensive parameter sweeps, providing an efficient route toward optimized cavity designs for integrated quantum photonic applications. Moreover, the resulting structures are inherently compatible with the integration of single-photon emitters.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Realization of high-fidelity unitary operations on up to 64 frequency bins

The ability to apply user-chosen large-scale unitary operations with high fidelity to a quantum state is key to realizing future photonic quantum technologies. Here, we realize the implementation of programmable unitary operations on up to 64 frequency-bin modes. To benchmark the performance of our system, we probe different quantum walk unitary operations, in particular Grover walks on four-dimensional hypercubes with similarities exceeding 95\% and quantum walks with 400 steps on circles and finite lines with similarities of 98\%. Our results open a new path towards implementing high-quality unitary operations, which can form the basis for applications in complex tasks, such as Gaussian boson sampling.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Decomposing large unitaries into multimode devices of arbitrary size

Decomposing complex unitary evolution into a series of constituent components is a cornerstone of practical quantum information processing. While the decompostion of an $n\times n$ unitary into a series of $2\times2$ subunitaries is well established (i.e. beamsplitters and phase shifters in linear optics), we show how this decomposition can be generalised into a series of $m\times m$ multimode devices, where $m>2$. If the cost associated with building each $m\times m$ multimode device is less than constructing with $\frac{m(m-1)}{2}$ individual $2\times 2$ devices, we show that the decomposition of large unitaries into $m\times m$ submatrices is is more resource efficient and exhibits a higher tolerance to errors, than its $2\times 2$ counterpart. This allows larger-scale unitaries to be constructed with lower errors, which is necessary for various tasks, not least Boson sampling, the quantum Fourier transform and quantum simulations.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Dynamic conditioning of two particle discrete-time quantum walks

In real photonic quantum systems losses are an unavoidable factor limiting the scalability to many modes and particles, restraining their application in fields as quantum information and communication. For this reason, a considerable amount of engineering effort has been taken in order to improve the quality of particle sources and system components. At the same time, data analysis and collection methods based on post-selection have been used to mitigate the effect of particle losses. This has allowed for investigating experimentally multi-particle evolutions where the observer lacks knowledge about the system's intermediate propagation states. Nonetheless, the fundamental question how losses affect the behaviour of the surviving subset of a multi-particle system has not been investigated so far. For this reason, here we study the impact of particle losses in a quantum walk of two photons reconstructing the output probability distributions for one photon conditioned on the loss of the other in a known mode and temporal step of our evolution network. We present the underlying theoretical scheme that we have devised in order to model controlled particle losses, we describe an experimental platform capable of implementing our theory in a time multiplexing encoding. In the end we show how localized particle losses change the output distributions without altering their asymptotic spreading properties. Finally we devise a quantum civilization problem, a two walker generalisation of single particle recurrence processes.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Experimental Observation of Topological Quantum Criticality

We report on the observation of quantum criticality forming at the transition point between topological Anderson insulator phases in a one-dimensional photonic quantum walk with spin. The walker's probability distribution reveals a time-staggered profile of the dynamical spin-susceptibility, recently suggested as a smoking gun signature for topological Anderson criticality in the chiral symmetry class AIII. Controlled breaking of phase coherence removes the signal, revealing its origin in quantum coherence.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Scalable generation of multi-photon entangled states by active feed-forward and multiplexing

Multi-photon entangled states of light are key to advancing quantum communication, computation, and metrology. Current methods for building such states are based on stitching together photons from probabilistic sources. The probability of $N$ such sources firing simultaneously decreases exponentially with $N$, imposing severe limitations on the practically achievable number of coincident photons. We tackle this challenge with a quantum interference buffer (QIB), which combines three functionalities: firstly, it stores polarization qubits, enabling the use of polarization-entangled states as resource; secondly, it implements entangled-source multiplexing, greatly enhancing the resource-state generation rates; thirdly, it implements time-multiplexed, on-demand linear optical networks for interfering subsequent states. Using the QIB, we multiplex 21 Bell-state sources and demonstrate a nine-fold enhancement in the generation rate of four-photon GHZ states. The enhancement scales exponentially with the photon number; larger states benefit more strongly. Multiplexed photon entanglement and interference will find diverse applications in quantum photonics, allowing for practical realisations of multi-photon protocols.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Semiclassical Formulae For Wigner Distributions

In this paper we give an overview over some aspects of the modern mathematical theory of Ruelle resonances for chaotic, i.e. uniformly hyperbolic, dynamical systems and their implications in physics. First we recall recent developments in the mathematical theory of resonances, in particular how invariant Ruelle distributions arise as residues of weighted zeta functions. Then we derive a correspondence between weighted and semiclassical zeta functions in the setting of negatively curved surfaces. Combining this with results of Hilgert, Guillarmou and Weich yields a high frequency interpretation of invariant Ruelle distributions as quantum mechanical matrix coefficients in constant negative curvature. We finish by presenting numerical calculations of phase space distributions in the more physical setting of 3-disk scattering systems.

math-ph↗

arXiv2022

Driven Gaussian quantum walks

Quantum walks function as essential means to implement quantum simulators, allowing one to study complex and often directly inaccessible quantum processes in controllable systems. In this contribution, the notion of a driven Gaussian quantum walk is introduced. In contrast to typically considered quantum walks in optical settings, we describe the operation of the walk in terms of a nonlinear map rather than a unitary operation, e.g., by replacing a beam-splitter-type coin with a two-mode squeezer, being a process that is controlled and driven by a pump field. This opens previously unattainable possibilities for quantum walks that include nonlinear elements as core components of their operation, vastly extending their range of applications. A full framework for driven Gaussian quantum walks is developed, including methods to dynamically characterize nonlinear, quantum, and quantum-nonlinear effects. Moreover, driven Gaussian quantum walks are compared with their classically interfering and linear counterparts, which are based on classical coherence of light rather than quantum superpositions. In particular, the generation and boost of highly multimode entanglement, squeezing, and other quantum effects are studied over the duration of the nonlinear walk. Importantly, we prove the quantumness of the evolution itself, regardless of the input state. A scheme for an experimental realization is proposed. Furthermore, nonlinear properties of driven Gaussian quantum walks are explored, such as amplification that leads to an ever increasing number of correlated quantum particles, constituting a source of new walkers during the walk. Therefore, a concept for quantum walks is proposed that leads to -- and even produces -- directly accessible quantum phenomena, and that renders the quantum simulation of nonlinear processes possible.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Meromorphic Continuation of Weighted Zeta Functions on Open Hyperbolic Systems

In this article we prove meromorphic continuation of weighted zeta functions in the framework of open hyperbolic systems by using the meromorphically continued restricted resolvent of Dyatlov and Guillarmou (2016). We obtain a residue formula proving equality between residues of weighted zetas and invariant Ruelle distributions. We combine this equality with results of Guillarmou, Hilgert and Weich (2021) in order to relate the residues to Patterson-Sullivan distributions. Finally we provide proof-of-principle results concerning the numerical calculation of invariant Ruelle distributions for 3-disc scattering systems.

math.DS↗

arXiv2021

Probing the topological Anderson transition with quantum walks

We consider one-dimensional quantum walks in optical linear networks with synthetically introduced disorder and tunable system parameters allowing for the engineered realization of distinct topological phases. The option to directly monitor the walker's probability distribution makes this optical platform ideally suited for the experimental observation of the unique signatures of the one-dimensional topological Anderson transition. We analytically calculate the probability distribution describing the quantum critical walk in terms of a (time staggered) spin polarization signal and propose a concrete experimental protocol for its measurement. Numerical simulations back the realizability of our blueprint with current date experimental hardware.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Experimental entanglement characterization of two-rebit states

We characterize entanglement subject to its definition over real and complex, composite quantum systems. In particular, a method is established to assess quantum correlations with respect to a selected number system, illuminating the deeply rooted, yet rarely discussed question of why quantum states are described via complex numbers. With our experiment, we then realize two-photon polarization states that are entangled with respect to the notion of two rebits, comprising two two-level systems over real numbers. At the same time, the generated states are separable with respect to two complex qubits. Among other results, we reconstruct the best approximation of the generated states in terms of a real-valued, local expansion and show that this yields an incomplete description of our data. Conversely, the generated states are shown to be fully decomposable in terms of tensor-product states with complex wave functions. Thereby, we probe paradigms of quantum physics with modern theoretical tools and experimental platforms that are relevant for applications in quantum information science and technology and connected to the fundamentals of the quantum description of nature.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Local versus Global Two-Photon Interference in Quantum Networks

We devise an approach to characterizing the intricate interplay between classical and quantum interference of two-photon states in a network, which comprises multiple time-bin modes. By controlling the phases of delocalized single photons, we manipulate the global mode structure, resulting in distinct two-photon interference phenomena for time-bin resolved (local) and time-bucket (global) coincidence detection. This coherent control over the photons' mode structure allows for synthesizing two-photon interference patterns, where local measurements yield standard Hong-Ou-Mandel dips while the global two-photon visibility is governed by the overlap of the delocalized single-photon states. Thus, our experiment introduces a method for engineering distributed quantum interferences in networks.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Experimental Control of the Degree of Non-Classicality via Quantum Coherence

The origin of non-classicality in physical systems and its connection to distinctly quantum features such as entanglement and coherence is a central question in quantum physics. This work analyses this question theoretically and experimentally, linking quantitatively non-classicality with quantum coherence. On the theoretical front, we show when the coherence of an observable is linearly related to the degree of violation of the Kolmogorov condition, which quantifies the deviation from any classical (non-invasive) explanation of the multi-time statistics. Experimentally, we probe this connection between coherence and non-classicality in a time-multiplexed optical quantum walk. We demonstrate exquisite control of quantum coherence of the walker by varying the degree of coherent superposition effected by the coin, and we show a concomitant variation in the degree of non-classicality of the walker statistics, which can be accessed directly by virtue of the unprecedented control on the measurement-induced effects obtained via fast programmable electro-optic modulators.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Subdiffusion via Disordered Quantum Walks

Transport phenomena play a crucial role in modern physics and applied sciences. Examples include the dissipation of energy across a large system, the distribution of quantum information in optical networks, and the timely modeling of spreading diseases. In this work, we experimentally prove the feasibility of disordered quantum walks to realize a quantum simulator that is able to model general subdiffusive phenomena, exhibiting a sublinear spreading in space over time. Our experiment simulates such phenomena by means of a finely controlled insertion of various levels of disorder during the evolution of the walker, enabled by the unique flexibility of our setup. This allows us to explore the full range of subdiffusive behaviors, ranging from anomalous Anderson localization to normal diffusion.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

A high dynamic range optical detector for measuring single photons and bright light

Detecting light is fundamental to all optical experiments and applications. At the single photon level, the quantised nature of light requires specialised detectors, which typically saturate for more than one photon, rendering the measurement of bright light impossible. Saturation can be partially overcome by multiplexing single-photon-sensitive detectors, enabling measurement up to tens of photons. However, current approaches are still far from bridging the gap to bright light levels. Here, we report on a massively-multiplexed single-photon detector, which exhibits a dynamic range of 123 dB, from optical energies as low as $\mathbf{10^{-7}}$ photons per pulse to $\mathbf{\sim2.5\times10^{5}}$ photons per pulse. This allows us to calibrate a single photon detector directly to a power meter. The use of a single-photon sensitive detector further allows us to characterise the nonclassical features of a variety of quantum states. This device will find application where high dynamic range and single-photon sensitivity are required.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

Photonic quantum walks with four-dimensional coins

The dimensionality of the internal coin space of discrete-time quantum walks has a strong impact on the complexity and richness of the dynamics of quantum walkers. While two-dimensional coin operators are sufficient to define a certain range of dynamics on complex graphs, higher dimensional coins are necessary to unleash the full potential of discrete-time quantum walks. In this work we present an experimental realization of a discrete-time quantum walk on a line graph that, instead of two-dimensional, exhibits a four-dimensional coin space. Making use of the extra degree of freedom we observe multiple ballistic propagation speeds specific to higher dimensional coin operators. By implementing a scalable technique, we demonstrate quantum walks on circles of various sizes, as well as on an example of a Husimi cactus graph. The quantum walks are realized via time-multiplexing in a Michelson interferometer loop architecture, employing as the coin degrees of freedom the polarization and the traveling direction of the pulses in the loop. Our theoretical analysis shows that the platform supports implementations of quantum walks with arbitrary $4 \times 4$ unitary coin operations, and usual quantum walks on a line with various periodic and twisted boundary conditions.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

Wave-particle duality revisited: Neither wave nor particle

A textbook interpretation of quantum physics is that quantum objects can be described in a particle or a wave picture, depending on the operations and measurements performed. Beyond this widely held believe, we demonstrate in this contribution that neither the wave nor the particle description is sufficient to predict the outcomes of quantum-optical experiments. To show this, we derive correlation-based criteria that have to be satisfied when either particles or waves are fed into our interferometer. Using squeezed light, it is then confirmed that measured correlations are incompatible with either picture. Thus, within one single experiment, it is proven that neither a wave nor a particle model explains the observed phenomena. Moreover, we formulate a relation of wave and particle representations to two incompatible notions of quantum coherence, a recently discovered resource for quantum information processing.For such an information-theoretic interpretation of our method, we certify the nonclassicality of coherent states - the quantum counterpart to classical waves - in the particle picture, complementing the known fact that photon states are nonclassical in the typically applied wave picture.

quant-ph↗