Demonstration of unconditional one-way quantum computations for continuous variables

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates unconditional one-way quantum computation for continuous variables using a four-mode entangled optical cluster state, implementing linear transformations in phase space with potential for universal quantum processing.

Contribution

It presents the first unconditional experimental realization of one-way quantum computation for continuous variables with a linear cluster state.

Findings

Successfully implemented linear transformations in optical phase space

Demonstrated unconditional and deterministic quantum operations

Showed potential for universal quantum computation over continuous variables

Abstract

Quantum computing promises to exploit the laws of quantum mechanics for processing information in ways fundamentally different from today's classical computers, leading to unprecedented efficiency. One-way quantum computation, sometimes referred to as the cluster model of quantum computation, is a very promising approach to fulfil the capabilities of quantum information processing. The cluster model is realizable through measurements on a highly entangled cluster state with no need for controlled unitary evolutions. Here we demonstrate unconditional one-way quantum computation experiments for continuous variables using a linear cluster state of four entangled optical modes. We implement an important set of quantum operations, linear transformations, in the optical phase space through one-way computation. Though not sufficient, these are necessary for universal quantum computation over continuous variables, and in our scheme, in principle, any such linear transformation can be unconditionally and deterministically applied to arbitrary single-mode quantum states.