43-GHz bandwidth real-time amplitude measurement of 5-dB squeezed light using modularized optical parametric amplifier with 5G technology

Abstract

Continuous-variable optical quantum information processing (CVOQIP), where quantum information is encoded in a traveling wave of light called a flying qubit, is a candidate for a practical quantum computer with high clock frequencies. Homodyne detectors for quadrature-phase amplitude measurements have been the major factor limiting the clock frequency. Here, we developed a real-time amplitude measurement method using a modular optical parametric amplifier (OPA) and a broadband balanced photodiode that is commercially used for coherent wavelength-division multiplexing telecommunication of the fifth-generation mobile communication systems (5G). The OPA amplifies one quadrature-phase component of the quantum-level signal to a loss-tolerant macroscopic level, and acts as a "magic wand," which suppresses the loss after the OPA from 92.4\% to only 0.4\%. When the method was applied to a broadband squeezed vacuum with a center wavelength of 1545.32 nm, we observed 5.2 $\pm$ 0.5 dB of squeezing from DC to 43 GHz without any loss correction. The marriage of CVOQIP and 5G technology arranged by the modular OPA will lead to a paradigm shift from the conventional method of using stationary qubits, where the information is encoded in a standing wave system, to a method using flying qubits for ultra-fast practical quantum computation. This means that quantum computer research will move from the stage of developing machines that execute only specific quantum algorithms to a stage of developing machines that can outperform classical computers in running any algorithm.