arXiv subjects

Young-Sik Ra

Publications and source records attributed to Young-Sik Ra.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Camera-enabled scalable homodyne detection of multimode quantum light

Scalability is a key challenge in advancing quantum technologies such as quantum computing, communication, and metrology. Photonic systems offer a promising route to scalability by enabling the deterministic generation of large-scale entangled states. Homodyne detection is an essential quantum measurement to exploit such entangled states, enabling quantum-enhanced measurement, deterministic quantum teleportation, GKP-state breeding, and quantum error correction. Despite the recent progress in generating large-scale quantum states, realizing quantum measurement at scale remains a major challenge. Here we realize scalable and efficient homodyne detection by leveraging a large number of pixels in a charge-coupled-device (CCD) camera. Our approach enables shot-noise-limited quadrature measurements of 60 optical modes simultaneously, while requiring only nanowatt-level local oscillator power per mode -- a six-order-of-magnitude reduction compared to conventional methods. The system achieves clearance exceeding 24 dB for all modes with negligible crosstalk. We demonstrate its compatibility with a large-scale quantum state by directly observing squeezing and entanglement in 60 optical modes. Furthermore, we showcase applications in verifying multipartite entanglement and in the conditional preparation of multimode states. This work provides a scalable method for quantum measurement, paving the way for large-scale quantum information processing.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Efficient ultrafast homodyne detection of quantum light

Ultrafast continuous-variable quantum states offer new opportunities for advanced quantum technologies, but efficient homodyne detection of these states remains challenging. Here, we present a method for efficient ultrafast homodyne detection by exploiting temporal correlations in detector signals. By optimizing the temporal weight used to extract quadrature outcomes, we achieve a substantial increase in the signal-to-noise ratio of ultrafast homodyne detection, thereby improving the detection efficiency. We analyze the autocorrelations of shot noise and electronic noise and determine the optimal weight by solving a generalized Rayleigh quotient problem. The optimal weight enhances the squeezing and anti-squeezing levels observed experimentally. These results highlight the importance of optimized signal processing for efficient quantum measurements.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Experimental Quantum Tomography of Multimode Gaussian States

Multimode Gaussian states are a versatile resource for quantum information technologies and have been realized across a wide range of physical platforms. Recent progress in the large-scale generation of such states provides a key ingredient for scalable quantum technologies. Despite the importance of accurately characterizing these states, conventional tomography methods are often impractical because they require large sample sizes and can yield unphysical states. Here we present a reliable and efficient tomography method for multimode Gaussian states based on maximum-likelihood estimation. By directly operating on covariance matrices, the method avoids the exponential overhead associated with density-matrix reconstruction. We consider two commonly used detection schemes--single and joint homodyne detection--and systematically analyze the reconstruction performance. Our method outperforms conventional approaches by ensuring physical covariance matrices and achieving better agreement with the true states. To demonstrate the experimental applicability of the method, we experimentally generate various multipartite entangled states--six-mode graph states with different connectivity, a six-mode GHZ state, and a fully connected ten-mode graph state--and reconstruct their covariance matrices. Using the reconstructed covariance matrices, we quantify fidelities, detect entanglement, and reveal the multimode structure of squeezing and noise. Our technique offers a practical diagnostic tool for developing scalable quantum technologies.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Classical Petermann Factor as a Measure of Quantum Squeezing in Photonic Time Crystals

Photonic time crystals realize a continuum of momentum-resolved SU(1,1) parametric amplifiers. We show that a classical quantity, the Petermann factor of the effective Floquet Bogoliubov de Gennes (BdG) dynamical matrix, sets the scale of their quantum noise. In stable bands it fixes the Bogoliubov mixing and hence the mean bare-photon occupation of the Floquet vacuum, while in momentum gaps it sets the photon-number prefactor and enhances the squeezing dynamics, with the Floquet growth rate setting the time scale. This converts classical measurements of mode nonorthogonality into quantitative predictions for squeezing and photon generation, and offers a compact design parameter for engineering quantum resources in two-mode BdG platforms.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

Quantum Metrology under Coarse-Grained Measurement

While quantum metrology enables measurement precision beyond classical limits, its performance is often susceptible to experimental imperfections. Most prior studies have focused on imperfections in quantum states and operations. Here, we investigate the effect of coarse graining in quantum measurement through both theoretical analysis and experimental demonstration. Using an interferometer with a squeezed vacuum and a laser input, we analyze how coarse graining in homodyne detection affects the precision of phase estimation. We evaluate the Fisher information under various coarse-graining conditions and determine, in each case, an optimal estimation strategy that saturates the Cram\'{e}r-Rao bound. Remarkably, even extremely coarse-grained measurement -- with only two bins -- enables phase estimation beyond the standard quantum limit and even achieves a precision that follows the Heisenberg scaling. We experimentally demonstrate quantum-enhanced phase estimation under coarse-grained homodyne detection. To determine an optimal estimation strategy, we employ the method of moments and present calibration procedures that enable its application to general experimental settings. Using only two bins, we observe a quantum enhancement of 1.2 dB compared to the classical method using the ideal measurement, improving towards 3.8 dB as the bin number increases. These results highlight a practical pathway to achieving quantum enhancement under the presence of severe experimental imperfections.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Simultaneous generation and transfer of mechanical noise squeezing

Optomechanical interactions between mechanical oscillators and an electromagnetic field induce controllable modifications in mechanical fluctuation. When multiple mechanical oscillators are coupled to a single electromagnetic mode, these interactions can be extended to utilize the electromagnetic mode as a mediator for distributing noise squeezing among different mechanical oscillators. We investigate the transfer of mechanical noise squeezing between two mechanical modes, enabled by a single microwave cavity mode which is strongly coupled to both mechanical modes. Noise squeezing in one mechanical mode (control) is achieved through parametric modulation of its resonance frequency via the optical spring effect. Simultaneously, optomechanical beam-splitter interaction is applied between the mechanical modes to transfer noise squeezing from the control mode to the other mode (target). Strong correlations between the quadratures of the two mechanical modes confirm that the observed squeezing in the target mode originates from the squeezing in the control mode. Remarkably, the observed squeezing transfer manifests noise characteristics of both single-mode and two-mode squeezing. This unique feature suggests that the squeezing transfer holds significant potential for enhancing precision measurements.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Efficient detection of spectrally multimode squeezed light through optical parametric amplification

Multimode squeezed light is a key resource for high-dimensional photonic quantum technologies, enabling applications in quantum-enhanced sensing, quantum communication, and quantum computing. Efficient detection of such a multimode squeezed state is essential for unlocking its full potential. Optical parametric amplification (OPA) has recently gained attention as a powerful technique offering loss-tolerant, direct broadband detection, and multimode operation. While OPA has been used to characterize spatially multimode squeezing, its application to spectrally multimode squeezing has not yet been demonstrated. Here, we report on the first experimental demonstration of spectrally multimode squeezing detection using OPA. We achieve simultaneous detection of squeezing across more than 60 spectral modes of a broadband squeezed vacuum state. The observed squeezing is nearly uniform, ranging from -6.5 to -7 dB, which makes the source particularly suitable for constructing continuous-variable cluster states, and indicates the multimode capability of the OPA. The results extend the capabilities of OPA detection into the spectral domain, advancing spectral-mode-based high-dimensional photonic quantum technologies.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Completely characterizing multimode nonlinear-optical quantum processes

Complete characterization of a multimode optical process has paved the way for understanding complex optical phenomena, leading to the development of novel optical technologies. Until now, however, characterizations have mainly focused on a linear-optical process, despite the plethora of multimode nonlinear-optical processes crucial for photonic technologies. Here we report the experimental characterization of multimode nonlinear-optical quantum processes by obtaining the full information needed to describe them while satisfying the necessary physical condition. Specifically, to characterize a second-order nonlinear-optical process of parametric downconversion, we determine the amplification and noise matrices of multimode field quadratures. The full information allows us to factorize the multimode process, leading to the identification of eigenquadratures and their associated amplification and noise properties. Moreover, we demonstrate the broad applicability of our method by characterizing various nonlinear-optical quantum processes, including cluster state generation, mode-dependent loss with nonlinear interaction, and a quantum noise channel. Our method, by providing a versatile technique for characterizing a nonlinear-optical process, will be beneficial for developing scalable photonic technologies.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Generation of three-dimensional cluster entangled state

Measurement-based quantum computing is a promising paradigm of quantum computation, where universal computing is achieved through a sequence of local measurements. The backbone of this approach is the preparation of multipartite entanglement, known as cluster states. While a cluster state with two-dimensional (2D) connectivity is required for universality, a three-dimensional (3D) cluster state is necessary for additionally achieving fault tolerance. However, the challenge of making 3D connectivity has limited cluster state generation up to 2D. Here we demonstrate deterministic generation of a 3D cluster state based on the photonic continuous-variable platform. To realize 3D connectivity, we harness a crucial advantage of time-frequency modes of ultrafast quantum light: an arbitrary complex mode basis can be accessed directly, enabling connectivity as desired. We demonstrate the versatility of our method by generating cluster states with 1D, 2D, and 3D connectivities. For their complete characterization, we develop a quantum state tomography method for multimode Gaussian states. Moreover, we verify the cluster state generation by nullifier measurements as well as full inseparability tests. Our work paves the way toward fault-tolerant and universal measurement-based quantum computing.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Recovering quantum entanglement after its certification

Entanglement is a crucial quantum resource with broad applications in quantum information science. For harnessing entanglement in practice, it is a prerequisite to certify the entanglement of a given quantum state. However, the certification process itself destroys the entanglement, thereby precluding further exploitation of the entanglement. Resolving this conflict, here we present a protocol that certifies the entanglement of a quantum state without complete destruction, and then, probabilistically recovers the original entanglement to provide useful entanglement for further quantum applications. We experimentally demonstrate this protocol in a photonic quantum system, and highlight its usefulness for selecting high-quality entanglement from a realistic entanglement source. Moreover, our study reveals various tradeoff relations among the physical quantities involved in the protocol. Our results show how entanglement certification can be made compatible with subsequent quantum applications, and more importantly, be beneficial to sort entanglement for better performance in quantum technologies.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Continuous-Variable Nonclassicality Detection under Coarse-Grained Measurement

Coarse graining is a common imperfection of realistic quantum measurement, obstructing the direct observation of quantum features. Under highly coarse-grained measurement, we experimentally detect the continuous-variable nonclassicality of both Gaussian and non-Gaussian states. Remarkably, we find that this coarse-grained measurement outperforms the conventional fine-grained measurement for nonclassicality detection: it detects nonclassicality beyond the reach of the variance criterion, and furthermore, it exhibits stronger statistical significance than the high-order moments method. Our work shows the usefulness of coarse-grained measurement by providing a reliable and efficient way of nonclassicality detection for quantum technologies.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Frequency multiplexed entanglement for continuous-variable quantum key distribution

Quantum key distribution with continuous variables already uses advantageous high-speed single-mode homodyne detection with low electronic noise at room temperature. Together with continuous-variable information encoding to nonclassical states, the distance for secure key transmission through lossy channels can approach 300 km in current optical fibers. Such protocols tolerate higher channel noise and also limited data processing efficiency compared to coherent-state protocols. The secret key rate can be further increased by increasing the system clock rates, and, further, by a suitable frequency-mode-multiplexing of optical transmission channels. However, the multiplexed modes couple together in the source or any other part of the protocol. Therefore, multiplexed communication will experience crosstalk and the gain can be minuscule. Advantageously, homodyne detectors allow solving this crosstalk problem by proper data processing. It is a potential advantage over protocols with single-photon detectors, which do not enable similar data processing techniques. We demonstrate the positive outcome of this methodology on the experimentally characterized frequency-multiplexed entangled source of femtosecond optical pulses with natural crosstalk between eight entangled pairs of modes. As the main result, we predict almost 15-fold higher secret key rate. This experimental test and analysis of frequency-multiplexed entanglement source opens the way for the field implementation of high-capacity quantum key distribution with continuous variables.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Robust squeezed light against mode mismatch using a self imaging optical parametric oscillator

We present squeezed light that is robust against spatial mode mismatch (beam displacement, tilt, and beam-size difference), which is generated from a self-imaging optical parametric oscillator below the threshold. We investigate the quantum properties of the generated light when the oscillator is detuned from the ideal self-imaging condition for stable operation. We find that the generated light is more robust to mode mismatch than single-mode squeezed light having the same squeezing level, and it even outperforms the single-mode infinitely squeezed light as the strength of mode mismatch increases.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

Mode-Dependent Loss Model for Multimode Photon-Subtracted States

Multimode photon-subtraction provides an experimentally feasible option to construct large non-Gaussian quantum states in continuous-variable quantum optics. The non-Gaussian features of the state can lead towards the more exotic aspects of quantum theory, such as negativity of the Wigner function. However, the pay-off for states with such delicate quantum properties is their sensitivity to decoherence. In this paper, we present a general model that treats the most important source of decoherence in a purely optical setting: losses. We use the framework of open quantum systems and master equations to describe losses in n-photon-subtracted multimode states, where each photon can be subtracted in an arbitrary mode. As a main result, we find that mode-dependent losses and photon-subtraction generally do not commute. In particular, the losses do not only reduce the purity of the state, they also change the modal structure of its non-Gaussian features. We then conduct a detailed study of single-photon subtraction from a multimode Gaussian state, which is a setting that lies within the reach of present-day experiments.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

Non-Gaussian quantum states of a multimode light field

Even though Gaussian quantum states of multimode light are promising quantum resources due to their scalability, non-Gaussianity is indispensable for quantum technologies, in particular to reach quantum computational advantage. However, embodying non-Gaussianity in a multimode Gaussian state remains a challenge as controllable non-Gaussian operations are hard to implement in a multimode scenario. Here, we report the first generation of non-Gaussian quantum states of a multimode light field by subtracting a photon in a desired mode from multimode Gaussian states, and observe negativity of the Wigner function. For entangled Gaussian states, we observe that photon subtraction makes non-Gaussianity spread among various entangled modes. In addition to applications in quantum technologies, our results shed new light on non-Gaussian multimode entanglement with particular emphasis on quantum networks.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

Reversed interplay of quantum interference and which-way information in multi-photon entangled states

We report experimental studies of the multi-photon quantum interference of a two-mode three-photon entangled Fock state $|2, 1\rangle$ + $|1, 2\rangle$ impinging on a two-port balanced beam splitter. When the distinguishability between the two input paths is increased, we observe a reduction followed by a resurgence of the quantum interference signal. We ascribe this unusual behavior to the competition among contributions from distinct numbers of interfering photons. Our theoretical analysis shows that this phenomenon will occur for any entangled Fock-state input of the form $|N, M\rangle$ + $|M, N\rangle$ where M, N > 0. Our results are an indication that wave-particle duality may give rise to a wide range of, largely unexplored, phenomena in multi-particle interference.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

Tomography of a Mode-Tunable Coherent Single-Photon Subtractor

Single-photon subtraction plays important roles in optical quantum information processing as it provides a non-Gaussian characteristic in continuous-variable quantum information. While the conventional way of implementing single-photon subtraction based on a low-reflectance beam splitter works properly for a single-mode quantum state, it is unsuitable for a multimode quantum state because a single photon is subtracted from all multiple modes without maintaining their mode coherence. Here we experimentally implement and characterize a mode-tunable coherent single-photon subtractor based on sum frequency generation. It can subtract a single photon exclusively from one desired time-frequency mode of light or from a coherent superposition of multiple time-frequency modes. To fully characterize the implemented single-photon subtractions, we employ quantum process tomography based on coherent states. The mode-tunable coherent single-photon subtractor will be an essential element for realizing non-Gaussian quantum networks necessary to get a quantum advantage in information processing.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2016

Remote preparation of three-photon entangled states via single-photon measurement

Remote state preparation (RSP) provides an indirect way of manipulating quantum information based on the nonlocal effect of quantum measurement. Although RSP has been demonstrated in recent years to remotely prepare multi-photon states, quantum measurement on the same number of photons was required, i.e., to prepare N-photon states via RSP, quantum measurement on the other N-photons was required, hence significantly limiting practicality and applicability of RSP. Here we report the first experimental demonstration of remote preparation of three-photon entangled states by measuring only a single-photon entangled with the three photons. We further generalize our protocol to prepare multi-photon entangled states with arbitrary photon number and purity via single-photon measurement. As our RSP scheme relies on the nonlinearity induced by single-photon measurement, it enables quantum state engineering of multi-photon entangled states beyond the linear optical limit. Our results are expected to have significant impacts on quantum metrology and quantum information processing.

quant-ph↗