Intensity correlations in the Wigner representation.

We derive a compact expression for the second-order correlation function [Formula: see text] of a quantum state in terms of its Wigner function, thereby establishing a direct link between [Formula: see text] and the state's shape in phase space. We conduct an experiment that simultaneously measures [Formula: see text] through direct photocounting and reconstructs the Wigner function via homodyne tomography. The results confirm our theoretical predictions.

Connecting heterogeneous quantum networks by hybrid entanglement swapping.

Recent advances in quantum technologies are rapidly stimulating the building of quantum networks. With the parallel development of multiple physical platforms and different types of encodings, a challenge for present and future networks is to uphold a heterogeneous structure for full functionality and therefore support modular systems that are not necessarily compatible with one another. Central to this endeavor is the capability to distribute and interconnect optical entangled states relying on different discrete and continuous quantum variables.

Waveguide-coupled single collective excitation of atomic arrays.

Considerable efforts have been recently devoted to combining ultracold atoms and nanophotonic devices to obtain not only better scalability and figures of merit than in free-space implementations, but also new paradigms for atom-photon interactions. Dielectric waveguides offer a promising platform for such integration because they enable tight transverse confinement of the propagating light, strong photon-atom coupling in single-pass configurations and potentially long-range atom-atom interactions mediated by the guided photons. However, the preparation of non-classical quantum states in such atom-waveguide interfaces has not yet been realized.

Highly-efficient quantum memory for polarization qubits in a spatially-multiplexed cold atomic ensemble.

Quantum memory for flying optical qubits is a key enabler for a wide range of applications in quantum information. A critical figure of merit is the overall storage and retrieval efficiency. So far, despite the recent achievements of efficient memories for light pulses, the storage of qubits has suffered from limited efficiency.

Temporal and spatial multiplexed infrared single-photon counter based on high-speed avalanche photodiode.

We report on a high-speed temporal and spatial multiplexed single-photon counter with photon-number-resolving capability up to four photons. The infrared detector combines a fiber loop to split, delay and recombine optical pulses and a 200 MHz dual-channel single-photon detector based on InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode. To fully characterize the photon-number-resolving capability, we perform quantum detector tomography and then reconstruct its positive-operator-valued measure and the associated Wigner functions.

High-efficiency WSi superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors for quantum state engineering in the near infrared.

We report on high-efficiency superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors based on amorphous tungsten silicide and optimized at 1064 nm. At an operating temperature of 1.8 K, we demonstrated a 93% system detection efficiency at this wavelength with a dark noise of a few counts per second.

Large Bragg Reflection from One-Dimensional Chains of Trapped Atoms Near a Nanoscale Waveguide.

We report experimental observations of a large Bragg reflection from arrays of cold atoms trapped near a one-dimensional nanoscale waveguide. By using an optical lattice in the evanescent field surrounding a nanofiber with a period nearly commensurate with the resonant wavelength, we observe a reflectance of up to 75% for the guided mode. Each atom behaves as a partially reflecting mirror and an ordered chain of about 2000 atoms is sufficient to realize an efficient Bragg mirror.

Storage and retrieval of vector beams of light in a multiple-degree-of-freedom quantum memory.

The full structuration of light in the transverse plane, including intensity, phase and polarization, holds the promise of unprecedented capabilities for applications in classical optics as well as in quantum optics and information sciences. Harnessing special topologies can lead to enhanced focusing, data multiplexing or advanced sensing and metrology. Here we experimentally demonstrate the storage of such spatio-polarization-patterned beams into an optical memory.

Quantum state engineering of light with continuous-wave optical parametric oscillators.

Engineering non-classical states of the electromagnetic field is a central quest for quantum optics(1,2). Beyond their fundamental significance, such states are indeed the resources for implementing various protocols, ranging from enhanced metrology to quantum communication and computing. A variety of devices can be used to generate non-classical states, such as single emitters, light-matter interfaces or non-linear systems(3).

Experimentally accessing the optimal temporal mode of traveling quantum light states.

The characterization or subsequent use of a propagating optical quantum state requires the knowledge of its precise temporal mode. Defining this mode structure very often relies on a detailed a priori knowledge of the used resources, when available, and can additionally call for an involved theoretical modeling. In contrast, here we report on a practical method enabling us to infer the optimal temporal mode directly from experimental data acquired via homodyne detection, without any assumptions on the state.

Witnessing trustworthy single-photon entanglement with local homodyne measurements.

Single-photon entangled states, i.e., states describing two optical paths sharing a single photon, constitute the simplest form of entanglement.

High-fidelity single-photon source based on a Type II optical parametric oscillator.

Using a continuous-wave Type II optical parametric oscillator below threshold, we have demonstrated a novel source of heralded single photons with high fidelity. The generated state is characterized by homodyne detection and exhibits a 79% fidelity with a single-photon Fock state (91% after correction of detection loss). The low admixture of vacuum and the well-defined spatiotemporal mode are critical requirements for their subsequent use in quantum information processing.

Characterizing quantum properties of a measurement apparatus: insights from the retrodictive approach.

Using the retrodictive approach of quantum physics, we show that the state retrodicted from the response of a measurement apparatus is a convenient tool to fully characterize its quantum properties. We translate in terms of this state some interesting aspects of the quantum behavior of a detector, such as the nonclassicality or the non-gaussian character of its measurements. We also introduce estimators--the projectivity, the ideality, the fidelity, or the detectivity of measurements performed by the apparatus--which directly follow from the retrodictive approach.

Vacuum squeezed light for atomic memories at the D2 cesium line.

We report the experimental generation of squeezed light at 852 nm, locked on the Cesium D(2) line. 50% of noise reduction down to 50 kHz has been obtained with a doubly resonant optical parametric oscillator operating below threshold, using a periodically-poled KTP crystal. This light is directly utilizable with Cesium atomic ensembles for quantum networking applications.

Femtosecond Ti:sapphire cryogenic amplifier with high gain and MHz repetition rate.

We demonstrate high gain amplification of 160-femtosecond pulses in a compact double-pass cryogenic Ti:sapphire amplifier. The setup involves a negative GVD mirrors recompression stage, and operates with a repetition rate between 0.2 and 4 MHz with a continuous pump laser.

Functional quantum nodes for entanglement distribution over scalable quantum networks.

We demonstrated entanglement distribution between two remote quantum nodes located 3 meters apart. This distribution involves the asynchronous preparation of two pairs of atomic memories and the coherent mapping of stored atomic states into light fields in an effective state of near-maximum polarization entanglement. Entanglement is verified by way of the measured violation of a Bell inequality, and it can be used for communication protocols such as quantum cryptography.

Efficient retrieval of a single excitation stored in an atomic ensemble.

We report significant improvements in the retrieval efficiency of a single excitation stored in an atomic ensemble and in the subsequent generation of strongly correlated pairs of photons. A 50% probability of transforming the stored excitation into one photon in a well-defined spatio-temporal mode at the output of the ensemble is demonstrated. These improvements are illustrated by the generation of high-quality heralded single photons with a suppression of the two-photon component below 1% of the value for a coherent state.

Generating optical Schrödinger kittens for quantum information processing.

We present a detailed experimental analysis of a free-propagating light pulse prepared in a "Schrödinger kitten" state, which is defined as a quantum superposition of "classical" coherent states with small amplitudes. This kitten state is generated by subtracting one photon from a squeezed vacuum beam, and it clearly presents a negative Wigner function. The predicted influence of the experimental parameters is in excellent agreement with the experimental results.

Experimental investigation of amplitude and phase quantum correlations in a type II optical parametric oscillator above threshold: from nondegenerate to degenerate operation.

We describe a stable type II optical parametric oscillator operated above threshold that provides 9.7 +/- 0.5 dB (89%) of quantum noise reduction on the intensity difference of the signal and idler modes.

Experimental evidence of spontaneous symmetry breaking in intracavity type II second-harmonic generation with triple resonance.

We describe a spontaneous symmetry-breaking phenomenon between the intensities of the ordinary and extraordinary components of the fundamental field in intracavity type II harmonic generation. It is based on a triply resonant cavity containing a type II chi(2) crystal pumped at fundamental frequency omega0. The pump beam generates a second-harmonic mode at frequency 2omega0 that acts as a pump for frequency-degenerate type II parametric downconversion.

Application of an all-solid-state, frequency-doubled Nd:YAP laser to the generation of twin beams at 1080 nm.

A laser-diode-pumped intracavity frequency-doubled Nd:YAP/KTP laser is presented. Over 110 mw of TEM00 single-frequency output power at 540-nm wavelength was obtained. The output green laser was employed to pump a semimonolithic nondegenerate optical parametric oscillator to produce intensity quantum correlated twin beams at 1080 nm, and the maximum quantum noise squeezing of 74% (5.