Further Compactifying Linear Optical Unitaries

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a more compact implementation of the Clements scheme for linear optical unitaries using symmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometers, reducing device length and losses in quantum photonic circuits.

Contribution

It shows that the Clements scheme can be realized with symmetric Mach-Zehnders and fewer external phase-shifters, improving circuit compactness and efficiency.

Findings

Significant reduction in device length and propagation losses.

Fewer external phase-shifters needed without increasing circuit depth.

Enhanced scalability of photonic quantum circuits.

Abstract

Quantum integrated photonics requires large-scale linear optical circuitry, and for many applications it is desirable to have a universally programmable circuit, able to implement an arbitrary unitary transformation on a number of modes. This has been achieved using the Reck scheme, consisting of a network of Mach Zehnder interferometers containing a variable phase shifter in one path, as well as an external phase shifter after each Mach Zehnder. It subsequently became apparent that with symmetric Mach Zehnders containing a phase shift in both paths, the external phase shifts are redundant, resulting in a more compact circuit. The rectangular Clements scheme improves on the Reck scheme in terms of circuit depth, but it has been thought that an external phase-shifter was necessary after each Mach Zehnder. Here, we show that the Clements scheme can be realised using symmetric Mach Zehnders, requiring only a small number of external phase-shifters that do not contribute to the depth of the circuit. This will result in a significant saving in the length of these devices, allowing more complex circuits to fit onto a photonic chip, and reducing the propagation losses associated with these circuits. We also discuss how similar savings can be made to alternative schemes which have robustness to imbalanced beam-splitters.