Protecting Quantum Modes in Optical Fibers

Butt MA, Roth P, Wong GK, Frosz MH, Sánchez-Soto LL, Anashkina EA, Andrianov AV, Banzer P, Russell PSJ, Leuchs G (2023)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Journal

Physical Review Applied American Physical Society

Book Volume: 19

Article Number: 054080

Journal Issue: 5

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevApplied.19.054080

Abstract

Polarization-preserving fibers maintain the two polarization states of an orthogonal basis. Quantum communication, however, requires sending at least two nonorthogonal states and these cannot both be preserved. We present an alternative scheme that allows for using polarization encoding in a fiber not only in the discrete, but also in the continuous-variable regime. For the example of a helically twisted photonic crystal fiber, we experimentally demonstrate that using appropriate nonorthogonal modes, the polarization-preserving fiber does not fully scramble these modes over the full Poincaré sphere, but that the output polarization will stay on a great circle; that is, within a one-dimensional protected subspace, which can be parametrized by a single variable. This allows for more efficient measurements of quantum excitations in nonorthogonal modes.

Authors with CRIS profile

Gerhard Leuchs

Involved external institutions

Max-Planck-Institut für die Physik des Lichts (MPL) / Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light

Germany (DE) Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IAP RAS) / Институт прикладной физики Российской академии наук

Russian Federation (RU)

How to cite

APA:

Butt, M.A., Roth, P., Wong, G.K., Frosz, M.H., Sánchez-Soto, L.L., Anashkina, E.A.,... Leuchs, G. (2023). Protecting Quantum Modes in Optical Fibers. Physical Review Applied, 19(5). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.19.054080

MLA:

Butt, M. A.T., et al. "Protecting Quantum Modes in Optical Fibers." Physical Review Applied 19.5 (2023).

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