Imaging hyper-entanglement based on the Hardy-type nonlocality paradox

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a novel quantum imaging method that visualizes hyper-entanglement through a Hardy-type nonlocality paradox, providing evidence of nonlocal photonic events and potential for advanced quantum imaging technologies.

Contribution

It introduces a polarization-encoded ghost imaging system based on Hardy nonlocality to visualize hyper-entanglement and measure nonlocal behavior at the single-pixel level.

Findings

Successfully visualized hyper-entanglement using ghost imaging.

Achieved 75% confidence level in demonstrating nonlocal violation.

Showcased nonlocal behavior at the single-photon level.

Abstract

The concept of quantum entanglement and hyper-entanglement, lying at the heart of quantum information science and technologies, is physically counter-intuitive and mathematically elusive. We design a polarization-encoded ghost imaging system based on the frame of Hardy nonlocality paradox to visualize the evidence of quantum hyper-entanglement by capturing purely nonlocal photonic events. In two-photon polarization-spatial-mode hyper-entangled state, spatial entanglement con-veys the ghost images while polarization entanglement encodes the imaging channels. Then whether imaging the single ghost image of a skull-shape object or not can be a direct yet intuitive signature to support or defy quantum mechanics. We use the contrast-to-noise ratio of ghost images to macroscopically characterize the degree of the violation of locality. We also showcase the nonlocal behavior of violating the locality with a reasonable confidence level of 75%, microscopically at the single-pixel level. Our strategy not only sheds new light on the fundamental issue of quantum mechanics, but also holds promise for developing hyper-entanglement-based quantum imaging technology.