Berlin 2014 – scientific programme

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A: Fachverband Atomphysik

A 58: Characterization and control of complex quantum systems SYQS 3 (with Q, MO, MS, MP, AGjDPG)

A 58.4: Invited Talk

Friday, March 21, 2014, 17:15–17:45, Audimax

Multi-photon dynamics in complex integrated structures — •Fabio Sciarrino — Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Italy

Integrated photonic circuits have a strong potential to perform quantum information processing. Indeed, the ability to manipulate quantum states of light by integrated devices may open new perspectives both for fundamental tests of quantum mechanics and for novel technological applications. The evolution of bosons undergoing arbitrary linear unitary transformations quickly becomes hard to predict using classical computers as we increase the number of particles and modes. Photons propagating in a multiport interferometer naturally solve this so-called boson sampling problem, thereby motivating the development of technologies that enable precise control of multiphoton interference in large interferometers. Here, we use novel three-dimensional manufacturing techniques to achieve simultaneous control of all the parameters describing an arbitrary interferometer. We implement a small instance of the boson sampling problem by studying three-photon interference in a nine-mode integrated interferometer, confirming the quantum-mechanical predictions. Scaled-up versions of this set-up are a promising way to demonstrate the computational advantage of quantum systems over classical computers. The possibility of implementing arbitrary linear-optical interferometers may also find applications in high-precision measurements and quantum communication.