arXiv subjects

Xi-Feng Ren

Publications and source records attributed to Xi-Feng Ren.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Hundred-hertz quantum circuit iteration rate in a reusable neutral-atom array

Neutral-atom quantum processors have rapidly advanced in scale and coherence, yet their practical performance remains constrained by limited quantum circuit iteration rates (qCIRs) and information throughput. Here we experimentally demonstrate a high-throughput neutral-atom system based on non-destructive readout and atom reuse. By integrating a chip-based photonic interface with a 10-qubit array, we implement non-destructive readout with a retention probability of 99.7%, and further achieve a raw qCIR of 101Hz and a post-selected qCIR of 74.8Hz. More importantly, we verify a general throughput optimization methodology and obtain a normalized Fisher information rate of 57.7Hz, improving the achievable throughput by more than one order of magnitude compared with conventional methods. Our results establish a practical route toward high-throughput neutral-atom quantum processors.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

A scalable chip-integrated single-photon source array based on 50 individually addressable neutral atoms

Scalable arrays of identical single-photon sources are a central resource for photonic quantum information processing, quantum networks and quantum metrology. Neutral atoms provide intrinsically identical emitters that can be assembled and rearranged in optical tweezers, but a many-channel fiber interface to individually trapped atoms has remained a major technical challenge. Here we demonstrate a chip-interfaced single-photon source array based on 50 individually addressable $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ atoms. A glass waveguide fan-out converts the \SI{5}{\micro m} pitch of the optical-tweezer array to the \SI{127}{\micro m} pitch of a commercial fiber array, mapping each atom to its own waveguide, fiber and single-photon detector. We resolve all 50 channels with an average nearest-neighbor cross-talk of $0.4\%$ and a uniform insertion loss of \SI{2.9}{dB}, and verify single-photon emission with $g^{(2)}(0)=0.29$, presently limited by detector dark counts and residual cooling-light scattering. Combining per-channel atom discrimination, rearrangement and reservoir replenishment, we prepare source subarrays of up to 24 atoms with a $93\%$ fill fraction. For small target numbers, atom loss is repaired from the reservoir at the detection-limited rate of \SI{118}{Hz}. We further fabricate a 784-channel waveguide chip, showing that the photonic interface can be extended well beyond the present number. This architecture establishes a fiber-native neutral-atom platform for larger arrays of identical single-photon sources.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2026

On-chip generation of multi-qubit graph states with high-dimensional encoded single photons

Photonic multi-qubit entanglement is key to optical quantum information processing, particularly universal quantum computing. Yet multi-photon sources suffer from low emission efficiency, making single-photon high-dimensional encoding an appealing alternative. Here we propose an explicit and resource-efficient high-dimensional encoding approach to achieve the target multi-qubit quantum state. The technically challenging preparation of multi-photon quantum states is replaced by single-photon operations involving high-dimensional expansion, routing, and multi-layered quantum measurement. Besides, each photon in the resource multi-photon quantum state can be used to encode multiple qubits in a distributed manner, and a larger entangled state will be constructed. We demonstrate this approach using programmable photonic integrated circuits, where multi-qubit graph states--including the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger state and the cluster state--are generated and characterized. We additionally demonstrate the Grover search algorithm using the single-photon cluster state. Our findings unlock a novel route towards diverse entangled state generation with photons and advance large-scale and universal photonic quantum information processing.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Low-latency FPGA-based electronic control system for fast preparation of defect-free atom arrays

The scalability of neutral atom quantum computing demands integrated electronic control systems with low latency, modular architecture, and real-time feedback capability. Here, we present an FPGA-based electronic control system that eliminates the PC from the feedback loop, integrating photon counting, real-time decision-making, and waveform generation within a unified PXIe architecture. The system achieves a total feedback latency of $282\,\mathrm{\mu s}$ and is validated in practical experiments by assembling defect-free atom arrays from 24 stochastically loaded optical tweezers. A single-round rearrangement achieves a filling fraction of $\sim96\%$, while feedback-controlled iterative rearrangement over five rounds boosts the success probability for generating a 10-atom defect-free array from $65.7\%$ to $95.4\%$. This system establishes the electronic infrastructure necessary for mid-circuit measurement and real-time quantum error correction on neutral-atom platforms.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Beating three-parameter precision trade-offs with entangling collective measurements

Quantum-mechanical incompatibility, which precludes the simultaneous precise measurement of non-commuting observables, imposes fundamental limits on the rate at which classical information can be extracted. While the potential to surpass these limits using entangling collective measurements has been explored for two parameters, the regime of three or more parameters remains largely unexplored despite its fundamental and technological importance. Here, we investigate the three-parameter trade-off relations for estimating the Bloch vector components of a qubit, comparing conventional individual measurements with entangling collective measurements. We theoretically derive and experimentally implement optimal collective measurements on two identically prepared qubits using a programmable photonic circuit. Our experimental results demonstrate a clear violation of the entanglement-free trade-off relation -- by an average of 16 standard deviations -- achieving a tomography precision beyond the reach of any individual measurement scheme. This work directly confirms that optimal collective measurements can surpass the fundamental quantum limits of individual schemes in a three-parameter setting -- thereby deepening our understanding of quantum uncertainty relations beyond the two-parameter regime and providing a clear strategy to overcome the precision trade-offs imposed by quantum incompatibility.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Generating function for Hermitian and non-Hermitian models

It is well known that Hermitian and non-Hermitian models exhibit distinct physics and require different theoretical tools. In this work, we propose a unified generating-function framework for both classes with generic boundary conditions and local impurities. Within this framework, any finite lattice model can be mapped to a generating function of the form G(z)=P(z)/Q(z), where Q(z) and P(z) denote the bulk recurrence relation and boundary terms or impurities, respectively. The problem of solving for eigenstates reduces to a simple criterion based on the cancellation of zeros of Q(z) and P(z). Applying this method to the Hatano-Nelson (HN) model, we show how boundary conditions and impurities determine the location of the zeros, thereby demonstrating the boundary sensitivity of non-Hermitian systems. We further investigate topological edge states in the non-Hermitian Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model and identify its topological phase transition. Inspired by generating-function techniques widely used in discrete mathematics, particularly in the study of the Fibonacci sequence, our results establish a direct connection between non-Hermitian physics and recurrence relations, providing a new perspective for analyzing non-Hermitian systems and exploring their connections with discrete mathematical structures.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

A single programmable photonic circuit for universal quantum measurements

Programmable photonic quantum processors face a critical challenge: despite significant advances in quantum state preparation and manipulation, measurements remain limited to projective techniques. Here, we demonstrate a programmable measurement processor that overcomes this limitation by enabling arbitrary quantum measurements within a scalable circuit framework. Our large-scale integrated photonic architecture achieves precise coherent control of ancillary quantum systems, realizing a universal four-dimensional quantum measurement device. We benchmark the processor by performing measurement tomography on 100 randomly selected measurements, achieving an average fidelity of 97.7%. The processor's performance exceeds the theoretical limits of projective measurements in three key quantum information tasks: state discrimination (with 23 times lower error), state estimation (with 10.6% higher fidelity), and randomness generation (with 37% more randomness yield), demonstrating its high operational quality. This work establishes a fully programmable quantum measurement processor, advancing the development of universal quantum operations for photonic quantum information processing by providing the key missing component.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Practical Quantum Reservoir Computing in Rydberg Atom Arrays

Quantum reservoir computing (QRC) is a promising quantum machine learning framework for near-term quantum platforms, yet the performance of different QRC architectures under realistic constraints remains largely unexplored. Here, we provide a comparative numerical study of single-step-QRC (SS-QRC) and multi-step-QRC (MS-QRC) architectures implemented on a Rydberg atom array. We demonstrate that while MS-QRC performance is highly sensitive to the underlying dynamical phase of matter and decoherence, SS-QRC exhibits greater robustness. Using the randomized measurement toolbox to mitigate measurement overhead, we reveal that sampling noise undermines the convergence property required for MS-QRC. This leads to a significant reduction in the information processing capacity (IPC) of MS-QRC, deteriorating its performance on nonlinear time-series benchmarks. In contrast, SS-QRC maintains high IPC and accuracy across both temporal and non-temporal tasks. Our results suggest SS-QRC as a preferred candidate for near-term practical applications due to its resilience to system configurations and statistical noise.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Echoed Random Quantum Metrology

Quantum metrology typically demands the preparation of exotic quantum probe states, such as entangled or squeezed states, to surpass classical limits. However, the need for carefully calibrated system parameters and finely optimized quantum controls imposes limitations on scalability and robustness. Here, we circumvent these limitations by introducing an echoed random process that achieves sensitivity approaching the Heisenberg limit while remaining blind to the random probe state. We demonstrate that by simply driving a Kerr nonlinear mode with random pulses, the emergence of sub-Planck phase-space structures grants high sensitivity, eliminating the need for complex quantum control. The protocol is statistically robust, yielding high performance across broad driving parameter ranges while exhibiting resilience to control fluctuations and photon loss. Broadly applicable to both bosonic and qubit platforms, our work reveals a practical, hardware-efficient, scalable, and optimization-free route to quantum-enhanced metrology in high-dimensional Hilbert spaces.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

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↗

arXiv2025

Fiber-to-chip grating couplers for Lithium Niobate on Sapphire

Lithium Niobate on Sapphire (LNOS) is an emerging platform for photonic integrated circuits, offering unique properties such as a wide transparency window, high nonlinearity, and strong electro-optic, nonlinear, and acousto-optic effects. Efficient light coupling between optical fibers and on-chip waveguides is crucial for practical applications. We present the design, simulation, and experimental demonstration of high-efficiency fiber-to-chip grating couplers for LNOS. The grating coupler design employs a self-imaging approach with a fixed period and linearly diminished filling factor, enabling a negative diffracted angle to match the fiber array and suppress higher-order diffraction. Numerical simulations predict a coupling efficiency of 42% at 1550 nm wavelength. The grating couplers are fabricated on an X-cut, 400 nm thick LN film with a 220 nm etching depth using electron beam lithography and inductively coupled plasma etching. Experimental characterization using a fiber array and a 6-axis displacement stage reveals a single-end coupling efficiency exceeding 20%, confirming the effectiveness of the design. The demonstrated grating couplers pave the way for efficient light coupling in LN-on-Sapphire photonic circuits, enabling diverse applications in classical and quantum information processing, sensing, and nonlinear optics.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

Skin mode tunability and self-healing effect in photonic Floquet lattices

Non-Hermitian systems host exotic phenomena absent in their Hermitian counterparts, including the recently predicted self-healing effect (SHE) of non-Hermitian skin modes. To date, the SHE of skin modes in non-Hermitian systems has not been observed experimentally. Here we propose a feasible scheme to realize SHE in photonic Floquet lattices by exploiting skin mode tunability (SMT), a mechanism in which the spectrum of skin modes localized at one boundary can be tuned via a potential applied at the opposite boundary. Such tunability arises from the non-Hermitian biorthogonality of the eigenstates. We demonstrate that a certain skin mode is exceptionally sensitive to remote-boundary potentials in an array of $100$ coupled helical waveguides, allowing broad-range spectral control and the generation of SHE with experimentally accessible parameters. Our results establish a general framework for engineering skin modes via local perturbations, thereby expanding the toolbox for non-Hermitian wave control.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

Reentrant phase transition in quasiperiodic photonic waveguides

Anderson transition in quasiperiodic potentials and the associated mobility edges have been a central focus in quantum simulation across multidisciplinary physical platforms. While these transitions have been experimentally observed in ultracold atoms, acoustic systems, optical waveguides, and superconducting junctions, their interplay between quasiperiodic potential and long-range hopping remains unexplored experimentally. In this work, we report the observation of localization-delocalization transition induced by the hopping between the next-nearest neighboring sites using quasiperiodic photonic waveguides. Our findings demonstrate that increasing the next-nearest hopping strength induces a reentrant phase transition, where the system transitions from an initially extended phase into a localized phase before eventually returning to an extended phase. This remarkable interplay between hopping and quasiperiodic potential in the lattice models provides crucial insights into the mechanism of Anderson transition. Furthermore, our numerical simulation reveals that this phase transition exhibits a critical exponent of $\nu \simeq 1/3$, which is experimentally observable for system sizes $L\sim10^3$ - $10^4$. These results establish a framework for direct observation of the Anderson transition and precise determination of its critical exponents, which can significantly advance our understanding of localization physics in quasiperiodic systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Nonreciprocal quantum photon-pair source with chiral ferroelectric nematics

Quantum nonreciprocity-a fundamental phenomenon enabling directional control of quantum states and photon correlations-has long been recognized as pivotal for quantum technologies. However, the experimental realization of nonreciprocal quantum photon-pair generation, as a critical prerequisite for advancing quantum systems, continues to be an outstanding challenge that remains unaddressed in practice. Here, we experimentally implement a highly-efficient nonreciprocal quantum photon source in a micro/nano-scale helical structured nonlinear optical fluid. Intriguing helical quasi-phase matching is achieved by deliberately engineering the pitch of the chiral ferroelectric structure, thus enabling spontaneous parametric down-conversion with record-high brightness (5,801.6 Hz*mW-1, 10,071% enhancement over phase-mismatched systems) and high coincidence-to-accidental ratio, rivaling state-of-the-art centimeter-scale nonlinear crystals. In particular, by tailoring the ferroelectric helix structure with orthogonally aligned head and tail polarization vectors, we demonstrate up to 22.6 dB isolation in biphoton generation coupled with nonreciprocal quantum polarization states, while maintaining classical optical reciprocity. This quantum liquid-crystal-based platform, combining flexible tunability and superior performance of purely quantum nonreciprocity at micro/nano scales, builds a bridge between a wide range of soft-matter systems, nonreciprocal physics, and emerging quantum photonic technologies.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Chip-to-chip quantum photonic controlled-NOT gate teleportation

Quantum networks provide a novel framework for quantum information processing, significantly enhancing system capacity through the interconnection of modular quantum nodes. Beyond the capability to distribute quantum states, the ability to remotely control quantum gates is a pivotal step for quantum networks. In this Letter, we implement high fidelity quantum controlled-NOT (CNOT) gate teleportation with state-of-the-art silicon photonic integrated circuits. Based on on-chip generation of path-entangled quantum state, CNOT gate operation and chip-to-chip quantum photonic interconnect, the CNOT gate is teleported between two remote quantum nodes connected by the single-mode optical fiber. Equip with 5 m (1 km)-long interconnecting fiber, quantum gate teleportation is verified by entangling remote qubits with 95.69% +- 1.19% (94.07% +- 1.54%) average fidelity and gate tomography with 94.81% +- 0.81% (93.04% +- 1.09%) fidelity. These results advance the realization of large-scale and practical quantum networks with photonic integrated circuits.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Polarization entanglement enabled by orthogonally stacked van der Waals NbOCl2 crystals

Polarization entanglement holds significant importance for photonic quantum technologies. Recently emerging subwavelength nonlinear quantum light sources, e.g., GaP and LiNbO3 thin films, benefiting from the relaxed phase-matching constraints and volume confinement, has shown intriguing properties, such as high-dimensional hyperentanglement and robust entanglement anti-degradation. Van der Waals (vdW) NbOCl2 crystal, renowned for its superior optical nonlinearities, has emerged as one of ideal candidates for ultrathin quantum light sources [Nature 613, 53 (2023)]. However, polarization-entanglement is inaccessible in NbOCl2 crystal due to its unfavorable nonlinear susceptibility tensor. Here, by leveraging the twist-stacking degree of freedom inherently in vdW systems, we showcase the preparation of tunable polarization entanglement and quantum Bell states. Our work not only provides a new and tunable polarization-entangled vdW photon-pair source, but also introduces a new knob in engineering the entanglement state of quantum light at the nanoscale.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Global calibration of large-scale photonic integrated circuits

The growing maturity of photonic integrated circuit (PIC) fabrication technology enables the high integration of an increasing number of optical components onto a single chip. With the incremental circuit complexity, the calibration of active phase shifters in a large-scale PIC becomes a crucially important issue. The traditional one-by-one calibration techniques encounter significant hurdles with the propagation of calibration errors, and achieving the decoupling of all phase shifters for independent calibration is not straightforward. To address this issue, we propose a global calibration approach for large-scale PIC. Our method utilizes a custom network to simultaneously learn the nonlinear phase-current relations for all thermo-optic phase shifters on the PIC by minimizing the negative likelihood of the measurement datasets. Moreover, the reflectivities of all static beam splitter components can also be synchronizedly extracted using this calibration method. As an example, a quantum walk PIC with a circuit depth of 12 is calibrated, and a programmable discrete-time quantum walk is experimentally demonstrated. These results will greatly benefit the applications of large-scale PICs in photonic quantum information processing.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Quantum CZ Gate based on Single Gradient Metasurface

We propose a scheme to realize quantum controlled-Z (CZ) gates through single gradient metasurface. Using its unique parallel beam-splitting feature, i.e., a series of connected beam splitters with the same splitting ratio, one metasurface can support a CZ gate, several independent CZ gates, or a cascaded CZ gates. Taking advantage of the input polarization determined output path-locking feature, both polarization-encoded and path-encoded CZ gates can be demonstrated on the same metasurface, which further improves the integration level of quantum devices. Our research paves the way for integrating quantum logical function through the metasurface.

quant-ph↗