Frequency-Time Multiplexing for Near-Deterministic Generation of n-Photon Frequency-Bin States

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel frequency-time multiplexing method using optical quantum memories and fiber Bragg gratings to generate n-photon frequency-bin states with high efficiency, advancing photonic quantum information processing.

Contribution

It introduces a new active multiplexing approach combining temporal and frequency mode manipulation for near-deterministic n-photon state generation.

Findings

Achieves realistic n-photon generation rates with existing hardware.

Uses a single switchable delay loop for efficient multiplexing.

Potential to produce 8-photon states at 1 kHz rate.

Abstract

One of the primary challenges of photonic quantum information processing is the on-demand preparation of multiple single-photon-level quantum states from probabilistic photon pair sources. Motivated by recent developments in frequency-bin-encoded photonic quantum information processing, here we consider active time multiplexing to generate n-photon states, where n single photons with n distinct frequencies occupy the same spatiotemporal mode. We devise an approach that uses optical quantum memories to manipulate the temporal mode of heralded single photons and an array of fiber Bragg grating reflectors to jointly manipulate the frequency and temporal modes of the photons, overlapping n photons in n separate frequency bins into a single spatiotemporal mode. We calculate multiphoton state generation rates that, accounting for loss, are realistically achievable with commercially available hardware. Using only a single free-space switchable delay loop for an optical quantum memory, this scheme could feasibly produce 8-photon states at an average rate of 1 kHz.