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Quantum logic gates are important for quantum computation and quantum information processing in numerous physical systems. Although time-bin qubits are suitable for quantum communication over optical fiber, many essential quantum logic gates for them have not yet been realized. Here, we demonstrated a controlled-phase (C-Phase) gate for time-bin qubits that uses a 2 × 2 optical switch based on an electro-optic modulator. A Hong–Ou–Mandel interference measurement showed that the switch could work as a time-dependent beam splitter with a variable splitting ratio. We confirmed that two independent time-bin qubits were entangled as a result of C-Phase gate operation with the switch.

Quantum steering enables one party to communicate with another remote party even if the sender is untrusted. Such characteristics of quantum systems not only provide direct applications to quantum information science, but are also conceptually important for distinguishing between quantum and classical resources. While concrete illustrations of steering have been shown in several experiments, quantum steering has not been certified for higher dimensional systems. Here, we introduce a simple method to experimentally certify two different kinds of quantum steering: Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen (EPR) steering and single-system (SS) steering (i.e., temporal steering), for dimensionality ( d ) up to d = 16 . The former reveals the steerability among bipartite systems, whereas the latter manifests itself in single quantum objects. We use multidimensional steering witnesses to verify EPR steering of polarization-entangled pairs and SS steering of single photons. The ratios between the measured witnesses and the maximum values achieved by classical mimicries are observed to increase with d for both EPR and SS steering. The designed scenario offers a new method to study further the genuine multipartite steering of large dimensionality and potential uses in quantum information processing.

Time-bin qubits, where information is encoded in a single photon at different times, have been widely used in optical fiber and waveguide based quantum communications. With the recent developments in distributed quantum computation, it is logical to ask whether time-bin encoded qubits may be useful in that context. We have recently realized a time-bin qubit controlled-phase (C-Phase) gate using a 2 X 2 optical switch based on a lithium niobate waveguide, with which we demonstrated the generation of an entangled state. However, the experiment was performed with only a pair of input states, and thus the functionality of the C-Phase gate was not fully verified. In this research, we used quantum process tomography to establish a process fidelity of 97.1%. Furthermore, we demonstrated the controlled-NOT gate operation with a process fidelity greater than 94%. This study confirms that typical two-qubit logic gates used in quantum computational circuits can be implemented with time-bin qubits, and thus it is a significant step forward for realization of distributed quantum computation based on time-bin qubits., Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, 1 table

We demonstrate a controlled-phase gate for time-bin qubits using a 2 × 2 electro-optic switch based on lithium niobate waveguides. We reconstructed the process matrix using quantum process tomography with 16 distinct inputs from which we determined a process fidelity of 82%.

We demonstrate a controlled-phase (C-Phase) gate for the time-bin qubits using a 2×2 optical switch as a time-dependent beam splitter. We confirmed that independent time-bin qubits were entangled through the C-Phase gate.

We demonstrate a flexible scheme for interfacing different-color photons in quantum communication systems using an optical single sideband (OSSB) modulator. Using the OSSB modulator, we successfully erased the frequency distinguishability of non-degenerated photon pairs to obtain Hong-Ou-Mandel interference with a visibility exceeding 90%.

Quantum correlations between spatially separated parts of a d-dimensional bipartite system (d ≥ 2) have no classical analog. Such correlations, also called entanglements, are not only conceptually important, but also have a profound impact on information science. In theory the violation of Bell inequalities based on local realistic theories for d-dimensional systems provides evidence of quantum nonlocality. Experimental verification is required to confirm whether a quantum system of extremely large dimension can possess this feature, however it has never been performed for large dimension. Here, we report that Bell inequalities are experimentally violated for bipartite quantum systems of dimensionality d = 16 with the usual ensembles of polarization-entangled photon pairs. We also estimate that our entanglement source violates Bell inequalities for extremely high dimensionality of d > 4000. The designed scenario offers a possible new method to investigate the entanglement of multipartite systems of large dimensionality and their application in quantum information processing.

Frequency translation of single photons while preserving their quantum characteristics is an important technology for flexible networking of photonic quantum communication systems. Here we demonstrate a flexible scheme to interface different-color photons using an optical single sideband (OSSB) modulator. By changing the radio-frequency signal that drives the modulators, we can easily shift and precisely tune the frequencies of single photons. Using the OSSB modulator, we successfully erased the frequency distinguishability of nondegenerated photon pairs to obtain the Hong–Ou–Mandel interference with a visibility exceeding 90%. We also demonstrated that the level of distinguishability can be precisely controlled by the OSSB modulator. We expect that the OSSB modulator will provide a simple and flexible photonic interface for realizing advanced quantum information systems.