Quantum projectors implemented with optical directional couplers fabricated by Na/K ion-exchange in soda-lime glass

Abstract

We present a preliminary theoretical and experimental study of quantum projectors implemented by integrated optical directional couplers fabricated by ion-exchange Na/K processes in soda-lime glass. Theoretical considerations about devices formed by concatenated 2x2 directional couplers are presented in order to show their capabilities for implementing N-dimensional quantum projective measurements, and concomitantly the production of 1-qudit states. Since the fundamental unit of these devices are 2x2 directional couplers, we present an experimental study for obtaining, by an optical characterization, empiric relationships between fabrication and optical parameters of such couplers. Likewise, a two-dimensional quantum projector is demonstrated in such a way that projective measurements are obtained for the states of X (diagonal) and Y (circular) bases.