Generation of the Complete Bell Basis via Hong-Ou-Mandel Interference

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a method to generate all four Bell states simultaneously using Hong-Ou-Mandel interference of optical vector modes, advancing quantum information processing capabilities.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to produce complete Bell basis states via HOM interference with structured photons, enabling new quantum photonic applications.

Findings

Successful generation of all four Bell states with spatially tailored distributions

HOM interference applied to structured vector modes

Potential for high-dimensional quantum communication and sensing

Abstract

Optical vector modes (VMs), characterized by spatially varying polarization distributions, have become essential tools across microscopy, metrology, optical trapping, nanophotonics, and optical communications. The Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) effect, a fundamental two-photon interference phenomenon in quantum optics, offers significant potential to extend the applications of VMs beyond the classical regime. Here, we demonstrate the simultaneous generation of all four Bell states by exploiting the HOM interference of VMs. The resulting Bell states exhibit spatially tailored distributions that are determined by the input modes. These results represent a significant step in manipulating HOM interference within structured photons, offering promising avenues for high-dimensional quantum information processing and in particular high-dimensional quantum communication, quantum sensing, and advanced photonic technologies reliant on tailored quantum states of light.