Multidimensional quantum information based on single-photon temporal wavepackets

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method for encoding quantum information in the temporal profiles of single photons, enabling high-dimensional quantum communication and entanglement probing with low error rates.

Contribution

It presents a novel approach to multidimensional quantum encoding using temporal modulation, expanding the potential for quantum communication and entanglement analysis.

Findings

Error rate per symbol can be below 1% in practical setups.

Temporal modulation enables high-dimensional quantum communication.

Approaches can probe high-dimensional entanglement near the continuous limit.

Abstract

We propose a multidimensional quantum information encoding approach based on temporal modulation of single photons, where the Hilbert space can be spanned by an in-principle infinite set of orthonormal temporal profiles. We analyze two specific realizations of such modulation schemes, and show that error rate per symbol can be smaller than 1% for practical implementations. Temporal modulation may enable multidimensional quantum communication over the existing fiber optical infrastructure, as well as provide an avenue for probing high-dimensional entanglement approaching the continuous limit.