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We propose a method to perform the quantum state tomography (QST) of an $\mathit{n}$-partite qudit state embedded in single photons using the Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interference between the target state and probe state. This method requires only passive beam splitters for the HOM interference and removes all active optical devices in the target modes to control the measurement bases needed in conventional QST. Hence, it is applicable to various degree of freedom of the target state without altering the measurement setup. Moreover, a faithful estimation is realized even with classical probe light such as laser and thermal light. As a proof-of-principle, we performed the experimental demonstration using a polarization qubit. Regardless of the photon statistics of the probe light, the estimated results of state reconstruction are as accurate as those verified by conventional QST., 8 pages, 4 figures

We theoretically and experimentally investigate the optimal conditions for the Bell experiment using spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) sources. In theory, we show that relatively large average photon number (typically $\sim$0.5) is desirable to observe the maximum violation of the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (CHSH) inequality. In experiment, we perform the Bell experiment without postselection using polarization entangled photon pairs at 1550 nm telecommunication wavelength generated from SPDC sources. While the violation of the CHSH inequality is not directly observed due to the overall detection efficiencies of our system, the experimental values agree well with those obtained by the theory with experimental imperfections. Furthermore, in the range of the small average photon numbers ($\leq0.1$), we propose and demonstrate a method to estimate the ideal CHSH value intrinsically contained in the tested state from the lossy experimental data without assuming the input quantum state., Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures

We demonstrate a Hong-Ou-Mandel interference between two independent, intrinsically pure, heralded single photons from spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) at telecommunication wavelength. A visibility of $85.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}8.3%$ was achieved without using any bandpass filter. Thanks to the group-velocity-matched SPDC and superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs), the fourfold coincidence counts are one order higher than that in the previous experiments. The combination of bright single-photon sources and SNSPDs is a crucial step for future practical quantum infocommunication systems at telecommunication wavelength.

Quantum teleportation of a squeezed state is demonstrated experimentally. Due to some inevitable losses in experiments, a squeezed vacuum necessarily becomes a mixed state which is no longer a minimum uncertainty state. We establish an operational method of evaluation for quantum teleportation of such a state using fidelity, and discuss the classical limit for the state. The measured fidelity for the input state is 0.85$\pm$ 0.05 which is higher than the classical case of 0.73$\pm$0.04. We also verify that the teleportation process operates properly for the nonclassical state input and its squeezed variance is certainly transferred through the process. We observe the smaller variance of the teleported squeezed state than that for the vacuum state input., Comment: 7 pages, 1 new figure, comments added