Continuous-variable qubit on an optical transverse mode

Abstract

Continuous-variable (CV) qubits can be created on an optical longitudinal mode in which quantum information is encoded by the superposition of even and odd Schroedinger's cat states with quadrature amplitude. Based on the analogous features of paraxial optics and quantum mechanics, we propose a system to generate and detect CV qubits on an optical transverse mode. As a proof-of-principle experiment, we generate six CV qubit states and observe their probability distributions in position and momentum space. This enabled us to prepare a non-Gaussian initial state for CV quantum computing. Other potential applications of the CV qubit include adiabatic control of a beam profile, phase shift keying on transverse modes, and quantum cryptography using CV qubit states.