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Quantum simulations are becoming an essential tool for studying complex phenomena, e.g. quantum topology, quantum information transfer, and relativistic wave equations, beyond the limitations of analytical computations and experimental observations. To date, the primary resources used in proof-of-principle experiments are collections of qubits, coherent states or multiple single-particle Fock states. Here we show the first quantum simulation performed using genuine higher-order Fock states, with two or more indistinguishable particles occupying the same bosonic mode. This was implemented by interfering pairs of Fock states with up to five photons on an interferometer, and measuring the output states with photon-number-resolving detectors. Already this resource-efficient demonstration reveals new topological matter, simulates non-linear systems and elucidates a perfect quantum transfer mechanism which can be used to transport Majorana fermions., Comment: New text and results. 19 pages, 13 figures, supplementary material

The tantalizing promise of quantum computational speedup in solving certain problems has been strongly supported by recent experimental evidence from a high-fidelity 53-qubit superconducting processor1 and Gaussian boson sampling (GBS) with up to 76 detected photons. Analogous to the increasingly sophisticated Bell tests that continued to refute local hidden variable theories, quantum computational advantage tests are expected to provide increasingly compelling experimental evidence against the Extended Church-Turing thesis. In this direction, continued competition between upgraded quantum hardware and improved classical simulations is required. Here, we report a new GBS experiment that produces up to 113 detection events out of a 144-mode photonic circuit. We develop a new high-brightness and scalable quantum light source, exploring the idea of stimulated squeezed photons, which has simultaneously near-unity purity and efficiency. This GBS is programmable by tuning the phase of the input squeezed states. We demonstrate a new method to efficiently validate the samples by inferring from computationally friendly subsystems, which rules out hypotheses including distinguishable photons and thermal states. We show that our noisy GBS experiment passes the nonclassicality test using an inequality, and we reveal non-trivial genuine high-order correlation in the GBS samples, which are evidence of robustness against possible classical simulation schemes. The photonic quantum computer, Jiuzhang 2.0, yields a Hilbert space dimension up to $10^{43}$, and a sampling rate $10^{24}$ faster than using brute-force simulation on supercomputers., 23 pages, 6 figures. Comments are welcome

The development of large-scale optical quantum information processing circuits ground on the stability and reconfigurability enabled by integrated photonics. We demonstrate a reconfigurable 8x8 integrated linear optical network based on silicon nitride waveguides for quantum information processing. Our processor implements a novel optical architecture enabling any arbitrary linear transformation and constitutes the largest programmable circuit reported so far on this platform. We validate a variety of photonic quantum information processing primitives, in the form of Hong-Ou-Mandel interference, bosonic coalescence/anticoalescence and high-dimensional single-photon quantum gates. We achieve fidelities that clearly demonstrate the promising future for large-scale photonic quantum information processing using low-loss silicon nitride., Comment: Added supplementary materials, extended introduction, new figures, results unchanged

Recently, quantum advantage over classical computation has been claimed using photons [1] . To control photonic quantum computations such as Boson sampling, a non-universal approach on quantum computation, large-scale quantum processors are needed [2] , [3] . To realize scalable and robust photonic quantum processors integrated photonics is a key technology. In our approach we use the integrated waveguide platform based on silicon nitride [4] , due to its low intrinsic losses and technological maturity. The low losses result in a high fidelity of the quantum photonics processor which is mandatory for reliable quantum computation while maturity of the platform allows for scaling up of the dimensions of the processor. Here, we present a universal 12-mode quantum photonics processor which is the largest of its kind to date.

Photonic processors are pivotal for both quantum and classical information processing tasks using light. In particular, linear optical quantum information processing requires both large-scale and low-loss programmable photonic processors. In this paper, we report the demonstration of the largest universal quantum photonic processor to date: a low-loss 12-mode fully tunable linear interferometer with all-to-all mode coupling based on stoichiometric silicon nitride waveguides.

Verification of a quantum advantage in the presence of noise is a key open problem in the study of near-term quantum devices. In this work, we show how to assess the quality of photonic interference in a linear optical quantum device (boson sampler) by using a maximum likelihood method to measure the strength at which various noise sources are present in the experiment. This allows us to use a sparse set of samples to test whether a given boson-sampling experiment meets known upper bounds on the level of noise permissible to demonstrate a quantum advantage. Furthermore, this method allows us to monitor the evolution of noise in real time, creating a valuable diagnostic tool. Finally, we observe that sources of noise in the experiment compound, meaning that the observed value of the mutual photon indistinguishability, which is the main imperfection in our study, is an effective value taking into account all sources of error in the experiment.

We study the hardness of classically simulating boson sampling with superposition and Gaussian input states at nonzero photon indistinguishability. We find that, similar to regular boson sampling, distinguishability causes exponential attenuation of the many-photon interference terms in both these boson sampling variants. For superposition sampling, we find that it is not simulable with out method at zero indistinguishability, which is evidence for the computational hardness of this problem, and we find that it is simulable at any level of particle distinguishability, similar to regular boson sampling. If an efficient classical algorithm to approximate a given sum over permanents is found, this approach also leads to an efficient classical algorithm to simulate Gaussian boson sampling in the presence of distinguishability.

Boson Sampling is the problem of sampling from the same distribution as indistinguishable single photons at the output of a linear optical interferometer. It is an example of a non-universal quantum computation which is believed to be feasible in the near term and cannot be simulated on a classical machine. Like all purported demonstrations of "quantum supremacy", this motivates optimizing classical simulation schemes for a realistic model of the problem, in this case Boson Sampling when the implementations experience lost or distinguishable photons. Although current simulation schemes for sufficiently imperfect boson sampling are classically efficient, in principle the polynomial runtime can be infeasibly large. In this work, we develop a scheme for classical simulation of Boson Sampling under uniform distinguishability and loss, based on the idea of sampling from distributions where at most k photons are indistinguishable. We show that asymptotically this scheme can provide a polynomial improvement in the runtime compared to classically simulating idealised Boson Sampling. More significantly, we show that in the regime considered experimentally relevant, our approach gives an substantial improvement in runtime over other classical simulation approaches., Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, comments welcome

Universal linear optical networks made of on-chip tunable beam splitters and phase shifters form a very promising platform for quantum information processing (QIP). Thanks to their phase stability and reconfigurability, they are robust and enable a variety of quantum information and communication protocols such as quantum teleportation [1], quantum key distribution [2], photonic qubit gate protocols [3] and boson sampling [4]. Two known materials for on-chip platforms are silicon-on-insulator (SOI) and doped silica, where SOI allows for a high component density due to its high index contrast and silica has a low loss.

Gaussian boson sampling is a promising scheme for demonstrating a quantum computational advantage using photonic states that are accessible in a laboratory and, thus, offer scalable sources of quantum light. In this contribution, we study two-point photon-number correlation functions to gain insight into the interference of Gaussian states in optical networks. We investigate the characteristic features of statistical signatures which enable us to distinguish classical from quantum interference. In contrast to the typical implementation of boson sampling, we find additional contributions to the correlators under study which stem from the phase dependence of Gaussian states and which are not observable when Fock states interfere. Using the first three moments, we formulate the tools required to experimentally observe signatures of quantum interference of Gaussian states using two outputs only. By considering the current architectural limitations in realistic experiments, we further show that a statistically significant discrimination between quantum and classical interference is possible even in the presence of loss, noise, and a finite photon-number resolution. Therefore, we formulate and apply a theoretical framework to benchmark the quantum features of Gaussian boson sampling under realistic conditions.

We show that boson sampling is classically simulable in the presence of linear loss (constant per-photon transmission). We discuss the impact that this has on experimental efforts to demonstrate a quantum advantage.

Integrated universal linear optical networks are essential for the development of quantum information processing (QIP). We demonstrate a universal, reconfigurable, 8×8 photonic processor based on Si3N4 waveguides showing a variety of QIP primitives.

Integrated universal linear optical networks are essential for the development of quantum information processing (QIP). We demonstrate a universal, reconfigurable, 8×8 photonic processor based on Si3N4 waveguides showing a variety of QIP primitives.

We experimentally investigate the detection mechanism in a meandered molybdenum silicide (MoSi) superconducting nanowire single-photon detector by characterising the detection probability as a function of bias current in the wavelength range of 750 to 2050 nm. Contrary to some previous observations on niobium nitride (NbN) or tungsten silicide (WSi) detectors, we find that the energy-current relation is nonlinear in this range. Furthermore, thanks to the presence of a saturated detection efficiency over the whole range of wavelengths, we precisely quantify the shape of the curves. This allows a detailed study of their features, which are indicative of both Fano fluctuations and position-dependent effects.

We perform quantum state reconstruction of coherent and thermal states with a detector which has an enhanced multiphoton response. The detector is based on superconducting nanowires, where the bias current sets the dependence of the click probability on the photon number; this bias current is used as tuning parameter in the state reconstruction. The nonlinear response makes our nanowire-based detector superior to the linear detectors that are conventionally used for quantum state reconstruction., Comment: revision of intro compared to V1

We use quantum detector tomography to investigate the detection mechanism in WSi nanowire superconducting single photon detectors (SSPDs). To this purpose, we fabricated a 250nm wide and 250nm long WSi nanowire and measured its response to impinging photons with wavelengths ranging from $\lambda$ = 900 nm to $\lambda$ = 1650 nm. Tomographic measurements show that the detector response depends on the total excitation energy only. Moreover, for energies Et > 0.8eV the current energy relation is linear, similar to what was observed in NbN nanowires, whereas the current-energy relation deviates from linear behaviour for total energies below 0.8eV.

We probe the local detection efficiency in a nanowire superconducting single-photon detector along the cross-section of the wire with a far subwavelength resolution. We experimentally find a strong variation in the local detection efficiency of the device. We demonstrate that this effect explains previously observed variations in NbN detector efficiency as a function of device geometry.

We determine the full photon number response of a NbN superconducting nanowire single photon detector via quantum detector tomography, and the results show the separation of linear, effective absorption efficiency from the internal detection efficiencies. In addition, we demonstrate an error budget for the complete quantum characterization of the detector. We find that for short times, the dominant noise source is shot noise, while laser power fluctuations limit the accuracy for longer timescales. The combined standard uncertainty of the internal detection efficiency derived from our measurements is about 2%. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.

We use quantum detector tomography to identify photon assisted vortex entry as the photon detection mechanism in superconducting NbN nanowires. We exploit the polarization dependence to resolve the response of the nanowire with subwavelength resolution.

In this paper we intend to give a comprehensive description of the current understanding of the detection mechanism in superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors. We will review key experimental results related to the detection mechanism, e.g. the variations of the detection probability as a function of bias current, temperature or magnetic field. Commonly used detection models will be introduced and we will analyze their predictions in view of the experimental observations. Although none of the proposed detection models is able to describe all experimental data, it is becoming increasingly clear that vortices are essential for the formation of the initial normal-conducting domain that triggers a detection event.

International audience; We experimentally investigate the effect of a magnetic field on photon detection in superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs). At low fields, the effect of a magnetic field is through the direct modification of the quasiparticle density of states of the superconductor, and magnetic field and bias current are interchangeable, as is expected for homogeneous dirty-limit superconductors. At the field where a first vortex enters the detector, the effect of the magnetic field is reduced, up until the point where the critical current of the detector starts to be determined by flux flow. From this field on, increasing the magnetic field does not alter the detection of photons anymore, whereas it does still change the rate of dark counts. This result points at an intrinsic difference in dark and photon counts, and also shows that no enhancement of the intrinsic detection efficiency of a straight SSPD wire is achievable in a magnetic field. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.

We report an experimental test of the photodetection mechanism in a nanowire superconducting single photon detector. Detector tomography allows us to explore the 0.8-8 eV energy range via multiphoton excitations. High accuracy results enable a detailed comparison of the experimental data with theories for the mechanism of photon detection. We show that the temperature dependence of the efficiency of the superconducting single photon detector is determined not by the critical current but by the current associated with vortex unbinding. We find that both quasiparticle diffusion and vortices play a role in the detection event.

An important step for photonic quantum technologies is the demonstration of a quantum advantage through boson sampling. In order to prevent classical simulability of boson sampling, the photons need to be almost perfectly identical and almost without losses. These two requirements are connected through spectral filtering: improving one leads to a decrease of the other. A proven method of generating single photons is spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC). We explore the fundamental limits of several important SPDC sources and show that an optimal tradeoff between indistinguishability and losses can always be found. We conclude that a 50-photon scattershot boson-sampling experiment using SPDC sources is possible from a computational complexity point of view. To this end, we numerically optimize SPDC sources under the regime of weak pumping and with a single spatial mode.