Managing photons for quantum information processing
Alfred B. U’Ren, Eran A. Mukamel, Konrad Banaszek, Ian A. Walmsley · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences · 2003
We study distinguishing information in the context of photonic quantum interference tailored for practical implementations of quantum information processing schemes. In particular, we consider the character of single-photon states optimized for multiple-source interference experiments and for experiments relying on Bell-state measurement and arrive at specific design criteria for photons produced by parametric down-conversion. Such states can be realistically implemented with available technology. We describe a novel method for characterizing the mode structure of single photons, and demonstrate it in the context of coherent light.