Photonic Multiqubit States from a Single Atom

TL;DR

This paper presents a feasible protocol for generating complex multiqubit photonic states, such as GHZ and cluster states, using a single atom in an optical cavity with polarization-controlled laser pulses.

Contribution

It introduces a novel, experimentally feasible method for creating multiqubit photonic states from a single atom using polarization-selective atomic transitions.

Findings

Protocol enables generation of GHZ and cluster states

Method is compatible with current technology

Uses polarization control for state selectivity

Abstract

We propose a protocol for the creation of photonic Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger and linear cluster states emitted from a single atom---or ion---coupled to an optical cavity field. The method is based on laser pulses with different polarizations and exploits the atomic transition amplitudes to state-selectively achieve the desired transitions. The scheme lies within reach of current technology.