Plug-&-play generation of non-Gaussian states of light at a telecom wavelength

Abstract

This work marks an important progress towards practical quantum optical technologies in the continuous variable regime, as it shows the feasibility of experiments where non-Gaussian state generation entirely relies on plug-&-play components from guided-wave optics technologies. This strategy is demonstrated experimentally with the heralded preparation of low amplitude Schr\"odinger cat states based on single-photon subtraction from a squeezed vacuum. All stages of the experiment are based on off-the-shelf fiber components. This leads to a stable, compact, and easily re-configurable realization, fully compatible with existing fibre networks and, more in general, with future out-of-the-laboratory applications.