High-Speed Quantum Radio-Frequency-Over-Light Communication.

Quantum dense coding (QDC) means to transmit two classical bits by only transferring one quantum bit, which has enabled high-capacity information transmission and strengthened system security. Continuous-variable QDC offers a promising solution to increase communication rates while achieving seamless integration with classical communication systems. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a high-speed quantum radio-frequency-over-light (RFOL) communication scheme based on QDC with an entangled state, and achieve a practical rate of 20 Mbps through digital modulation and RFOL communication. This scheme bridges the gap between quantum technology and real-world communication systems, which bring QDC closer to practical applications and offer prospects for further enhancement of metropolitan communication networks.

Auto-pump-depleted stable single-longitudinal-mode 1.5 µm source with the assistance of SHG.

To realize a stable single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) 1550-nm light source for the generation of non-classical states, a ring auto-pump-depleted singly resonant optical parametric oscillator (SRO) with the assistance of second-harmonic-wave generation (SHG) is designed and built in this Letter. A magnesium oxide doped periodically polarized lithium niobate (MgO:PPLN) crystal and a lithium triborate (LBO) crystal are employed as the optical parametric downconversion (OPDC) and SHG crystals, respectively. Especially, the introduced SHG can firstly increase the loss difference between the lasing and non-lasing modes so that the dual-mode or multi-mode coupling in the achieved SRO can be effectively eliminated and the stable SLM operation is achieved. At the same time, the SHG will automatically adjust the output coupling efficiency of SRO, so as to achieve efficient conversion efficiency and auto-pump depletion of SRO. In addition, due to the SHG, it is easy to achieve the low-intensity noise multi-wavelength output for the stable SLM SRO. As a result, the output powers of the SLM 1550 nm and 775 nm are up to 4.05 W and 3.25 W, respectively, and the total optical conversion of the built SRO can achieve 45.58%. The presented method paves a way to develop a compact stable SLM multi-wavelength SRO, and the obtained SRO is further beneficial to develop compact continuous-variable non-classical light fields.

Loss-tolerant and quantum-enhanced interferometer by reversed squeezing processes.

Reversed nonlinear dynamics is predicted to be capable of enhancing the quantum sensing in unprecedented ways. Here, we report the experimental demonstration of a loss-tolerant (external loss) and quantum-enhanced interferometer. Two cascaded optical parametric amplifiers are used to judiciously construct an interferometry with two orthogonal squeezing operation. As a consequence, a weak displacement introduced by a test cavity can be amplified for measurement, and the measured signal-to-noise ratio is better than that of both conventional photon shot-noise limited and squeezed-light assisted interferometers. We further confirm its superior loss-tolerant performance by varying the external losses and comparing with both conventional photon shot-noise limited and squeezed-light assisted configurations, illustrating the potential application in gravitational wave detection.

Self-mode-matching compact low-noise all-solid-state continuous wave single-frequency laser with output power of 140 W.

The high power all-solid-state continuous wave single-frequency laser is a significant source for science and application due to good beam quality and low noise. However, the output power of the laser is usually restricted by the harmful thermal lens effect of the solid gain medium. To address this issue, we develop a self-mode-matching compact all-solid-state laser with a symmetrical ring resonator in which four end-pumped Nd:YVO4 laser crystals are used for both laser gain media and mode-matching elements. With this ingenious design, the thermal lens effect of every laser crystal can be controlled and the dynamic of the designed laser including the stability range and the beam waist sizes at crystals can be manipulated only by adjusting the pump power used on each laser gain medium. Under an appropriate combination of pump powers on four crystals, self-mode-matching in a resonator is realized. A stable CW single-frequency at 1064 nm with 140-W power, 102-kHz linewidth, and low intensity noise is obtained. The presented design paves an effective way to further scale-up the output power of a compact laser by employing more pieces of gain media.

High-performance cavity-enhanced quantum memory with warm atomic cell.

High-performance quantum memory for quantized states of light is a prerequisite building block of quantum information technology. Despite great progresses of optical quantum memories based on interactions of light and atoms, physical features of these memories still cannot satisfy requirements for applications in practical quantum information systems, since all of them suffer from trade-off between memory efficiency and excess noise. Here, we report a high-performance cavity-enhanced electromagnetically-induced-transparency memory with warm atomic cell in which a scheme of optimizing the spatial and temporal modes based on the time-reversal approach is applied. The memory efficiency up to 67 ± 1% is directly measured and a noise level close to quantum noise limit is simultaneously reached. It has been experimentally demonstrated that the average fidelities for a set of input coherent states with different phases and amplitudes within a Gaussian distribution have exceeded the classical benchmark fidelities. Thus the realized quantum memory platform has been capable of preserving quantized optical states, and is ready to be applied in quantum information systems, such as distributed quantum logic gates and quantum-enhanced atomic magnetometry.

A Review of the High-Power All-Solid-State Single-Frequency Continuous-Wave Laser.

High-power all-solid-state single-frequency continuous-wave (CW) lasers have been applied in basic research such as atomic physics, precision measurement, radar and laser guidance, as well as defense and military fields owing to their intrinsic advantages of high beam quality, low noise, narrow linewidth, and high coherence. With the rapid developments of sciences and technologies, the traditional single-frequency lasers cannot meet the development needs of emerging science and technology such as quantum technology, quantum measurement and quantum optics. After long-term efforts and technical research, a novel theory and technology was proposed and developed for improving the whole performance of high-power all-solid-state single-frequency CW lasers, which was implemented by actively introducing a nonlinear optical loss and controlling the stimulated emission rate (SER) in the laser resonator. As a result, the output power, power and frequency stabilities, tuning range and intensity noise of the single-frequency lasers were effectively enhanced.

Quantum random number generator with discarding-boundary-bin measurement and multi-interval sampling.

A quantum random number generator (QRNG) provides a reliable means for the generation of true random numbers. The inherent randomness of the vacuum fluctuations makes the quantum vacuum state a superior source of entropy. However, in practice, the raw sequences of QRNG are inevitably contaminated by classical technical noise, which compromises the security of the QRNG. Min-entropy conditioned on the classical noise is a useful method that can quantify the side-information independent randomness. To improve the extractable randomness from the raw sequences arising from the quantum vacuum-based QRNG, we propose and experimentally demonstrate two approaches, discarding-boundary-bin measurement and multi-interval sampling. The first one increases the conditional min-entropy at a low quantum-to-classical-noise ratio. The latter exploits parallel sampling using multiple analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and effectively overcomes the finite resolution limit and uniform sampling of a single ADC. The maximum average conditional min-entropy can reach 9.2 per sample when combining these two approaches together in contrast to 6.93 with a single 8-bit ADC.

Diving angle optimization of BRF in a single-frequency continuous-wave wideband tunable titanium:sapphire laser.

In this study, the optimal condition of a multi-plate birefringent filter (BRF) used in a single-frequency continuous-wave (CW) tunable laser is theoretically and experimentally investigated. The dependence of the optimal condition on the diving angle of the BRF optical axis is first deduced. Based on the proposed optimal condition, the diving angle of the BRF optical axis is optimized to 29.1°. Subsequently, a novel off-axis multi-plate BRF with a thickness ratio of 1:2:5:9 and the thinnest plate of 0.5 mm is designed and utilized in a tunable titanium:sapphire (Ti:S) laser. As a result, the operating wavelength of the Ti:S laser is successfully tuned from 691.48 to 995.55 nm by rotating the BRF 18°. The obtained tuning slope efficiency and maximum tuning range are 16.9 nm/° and 304.07 nm, respectively. The experimental results agree well with the theoretical analysis results, which provide a feasible approach for designing BRFs to satisfy the requirements of other single-frequency CW wideband tunable lasers.

Demonstration of Channel Multiplexing Quantum Communication Exploiting Entangled Sideband Modes.

Channel multiplexing quantum communication based on exploiting continuous-variable entanglement of optical modes offers great potential to enhance channel capacity and save quantum resource. Here, we present a frequency-comb-type control scheme for simultaneously extracting a lot of entangled sideband modes with arbitrary frequency detuning from a squeezed state of light. We experimentally demonstrate fourfold channel multiplexing quantum dense coding communication by exploiting the extracted four pairs of entangled sideband modes. Due to high entanglement and wide frequency separation between each entangled pairs, these quantum channels have large channel capacity and the cross talking effect can be avoided. The achieved channel capacities have surpassed that of all classical and quantum communication under the same bandwidth published so far. The presented scheme can be extended to more channels if more entangled sideband modes are extracted.

Quantum Interferometer Combining Squeezing and Parametric Amplification.

High precision interferometers are the building blocks of precision metrology and the ultimate interferometric sensitivity is limited by the quantum noise. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a compact quantum interferometer involving two optical parametric amplifiers and the squeezed states generated within the interferometer are directly used for the phase-sensing quantum state. By both squeezing shot noise and amplifying phase-sensing intensity the sensitivity improvement of 4.86±0.24 dB beyond the standard quantum limit is deterministically realized and a minimum detectable phase smaller than that of all present interferometers under the same phase-sensing intensity is achieved. This interferometric system has significantly potential applications in a variety of measurements for tiny variances of physical quantities.

Influence of the pump scheme on the output power and the intensity noise of a single-frequency continuous-wave laser.

The influence of the pump scheme on the intensity noise of the single-frequency continuous-wave (CW) laser is investigated in this paper, which is implemented in a single-frequency CW Nd:YVO4 1064 nm laser by comparing the traditional 808 nm pumping scheme (TPS) to the direct 888 nm pumping scheme (DPS). Under the conditions that the lasers with TPS and DPS have the same cavity structure and the cavity mirrors, as well as the same operation state including the thermal lens of the laser crystals and the mode-matching between the pump laser mode and the laser cavity mode at the laser crystals, the output power of the laser with DPS is up-to 32.0 W, which is far higher than that of 21.1 W for the laser with TPS. However, the intensity noise of the DPS laser including resonant relaxation oscillation (RRO) frequency of 809 kHz, RRO peak amplitude of 31.6 dB/Hz above the shot noise level (SNL) and the SNL cutoff frequency of 4.2 MHz, respectively, is also higher than that of 606 kHz, 20.4 dB/Hz and 2.4 MHz for the TPS laser. After further analyses, we find that the laser crystal with high doping concentration and long optical length is employed for DPS laser in order to improve the pump laser absorption efficiency, which can simultaneously increase the dipole coupling between the active atoms and the laser cavity, and then results in a high RRO frequency with a large amplitude peak as well as a high SNL cutoff frequency of the laser.

Deterministic Distribution of Multipartite Entanglement and Steering in a Quantum Network by Separable States.

As two valuable quantum resources, Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen entanglement and steering play important roles in quantum-enhanced communication protocols. Distributing such quantum resources among multiple remote users in a network is a crucial precondition underlying various quantum tasks. We experimentally demonstrate the deterministic distribution of two- and three-mode Gaussian entanglement and steering by transmitting separable states in a network consisting of a quantum server and multiple users. In our experiment, entangled states are not prepared solely by the quantum server, but are created among independent users during the distribution process. More specifically, the quantum server prepares separable squeezed states and applies classical displacements on them before spreading out, and users simply perform local beam-splitter operations and homodyne measurements after they receive separable states. We show that the distributed Gaussian entanglement and steerability are robust against channel loss. Furthermore, one-way Gaussian steering is achieved among users that is useful for further directional or highly asymmetric quantum information processing.

Continuously tunable single-frequency 455 nm blue laser for high-state excitation transition of cesium.

A continuously tunable high-power single-frequency 455 nm blue laser for high-state excitation transition 6S1/22↔7P3/22 of Cs atoms was presented in this Letter, which was implemented by an intracavity frequency-doubled Ti:sapphire laser with an LBO crystal. The highest output power of 1.0 W was attained under a pump power of 13.5 W with an optical conversion efficiency of 7.4%. The measured power stability in 3 h and beam quality were better than ±0.27% (peak-to-peak) and Mx2=1.58, My2=1.18, respectively. By continuously scanning the length of the resonator after locking the employed intracavity etalon to the oscillating longitudinal mode of the laser, the continuous tuning range of the 455 nm blue laser was up to 32 GHz and was mode hop free. Lastly, the whole saturation absorption spectrum of the higher state excitation transition 6S1/22(Fg=3)↔P3/22(Fe=2,3,4) and 6S1/22(Fg=4)↔7P3/22(Fe=3,4,5) of Cs133 was successfully observed in the experiment, which further verified the excellent performance of the 455 nm blue laser.

Dependence of the squeezing and anti-squeezing factors of bright squeezed light on the seed beam power and pump beam noise.

We demonstrate the dependence of the squeezing and anti-squeezing factors on the seed beam power at different pump beam noise levels. The results indicate that a seed field injected into the optical parametric amplifier (OPA) dramatically degenerates the squeezing factor due to noise coupling between the pump and seed fields, even if both the pump and seed fields reach the shot noise limit. The squeezing and anti-squeezing factors are immune to the pump beam noise due to no noise coupling when the system operates for the generation of squeezed vacuum states. The squeezing factor degrades gradually as the pump beam intensity noise and seed beam power is increased. The influence of the two orthogonal quadrature variations is mutually independent of each other.

Intensity noise suppression of a high-power single-frequency CW laser by controlling the stimulated emission rate.

The intensity noise of a high-power single-frequency continuous-wave (CW) laser is very harmful for applications in precise measurements and quantum communication. By simply lengthening the length of a laser resonator to decrease the stimulated emission rate of the laser, the coupling strength of all noise sources in the resonant laser field will be reduced, and thus the intensity noise of the output laser will be prominently suppressed. Based on theoretical analyses of the laser noise spectra, we experimentally implement a low-noise high-power single-frequency laser with a 1050 mm long resonator. With the assistance of an intracavity imaging system and nonlinear second-harmonic generation, the amplitude of the resonant relaxation oscillation peak and the shot-noise level (SNL) cutoff frequency are successfully reduced to 8.6 dB/Hz above SNL and 1.0 MHz, respectively, under the output power of 16 W. The work provides an effective way to develop a high-quality laser with high output power and low intensity noise.

Realization of a 101 W single-frequency continuous wave all-solid-state 1064 nm laser by means of mode self-reproduction.

We realized a 101 W single-frequency continuous wave (CW) all-solid-state 1064 nm laser by means of mode self-reproduction in this Letter. Two identical laser crystals were placed into a resonator to relax the thermal lens of the laser crystals, and an imaging system was employed to realize cavity mode self-reproduced at the places of the laser crystals. Single-frequency operation of the resonator was realized by employing a new kind of high extinction ratio optical diode based on the terbium scandium aluminum garnet crystal to realize a stable unidirectional operation of the laser, together with introducing a large enough nonlinear loss to the resonator to effectively suppress the multi-mode oscillation and mode hopping of the laser. As a result, a 101 W single-frequency 1064 nm laser in a single-ring resonator was achieved with 42.3% optical efficiency. The measured power stability for 8 h and the beam quality were better than ±0.73% and 1.2, respectively.

Detection and perfect fitting of 13.2 dB squeezed vacuum states by considering green-light-induced infrared absorption.

We report on a high-level squeezed vacuum state with maximum quantum noise reduction of 13.2 dB directly detected at the pump power of 180 mW. The pump power dependence of the squeezing factor is experimentally exhibited. When considering only loss and phase fluctuation, the fitting results have a large deviation from the measurement value near the threshold. By integrating green-light-induced infrared absorption (GLIIRA) loss, the squeezing factor can be perfectly fitted in the whole pump power range. The result indicates that GLIIRA loss should be thoroughly considered and quantified in the generation of high-level squeezed states.

Deterministic quantum teleportation through fiber channels.

Quantum teleportation, which is the transfer of an unknown quantum state from one station to another over a certain distance with the help of nonlocal entanglement shared by a sender and a receiver, has been widely used as a fundamental element in quantum communication and quantum computation. Optical fibers are crucial information channels, but teleportation of continuous variable optical modes through fibers has not been realized so far. Here, we experimentally demonstrate deterministic quantum teleportation of an optical coherent state through fiber channels. Two sub-modes of an Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen entangled state are distributed to a sender and a receiver through a 3.0-km fiber, which acts as a quantum resource. The deterministic teleportation of optical modes over a fiber channel of 6.0 km is realized. A fidelity of 0.62 ± 0.03 is achieved for the retrieved quantum state, which breaks through the classical limit of 1/2. Our work provides a feasible scheme to implement deterministic quantum teleportation in communication networks.

Quantum Secret Sharing Among Four Players Using Multipartite Bound Entanglement of an Optical Field.

Secret sharing is a conventional technique for realizing secure communications in information networks, where a dealer distributes to n players a secret, which can only be decoded through the cooperation of k (n/2

Investigation of residual amplitude modulation in squeezed state generation system.

We present an analysis on how the optical parametric oscillator (OPO) detuning and the relative phase drift deteriorate the stability of the squeezed states, including the output power and the squeezed degree, and investigate the influence of RAM on the cavity detuning and the relative phase drift under different cases. Subsequently, the RAM is experimentally measured. In term of the measurement results, we perform a comparative study about RAM's influence on the cavity and phase locking in two cases. As a result, with the error signal extracted from the transmission of the OPO, the output power stability of the squeezed light is greatly improved. With the phase modulation imposed on the signal beam, the long-term stability of the squeezed degree is significantly enhanced.