Journal article · Preprint article
Quantum optical coherence can survive photon losses using a continuous-variable quantum erasure-correcting code
A fundamental requirement for enabling fault-tolerant quantum information processing is an efficient quantum error-correcting code that robustly protects the involved fragile quantum states from their environment. Just as classical error-correcting codes are indispensible in today's information technologies, it is believed that quantum error-correcting code will play a similarly crucial role in tomorrow's quantum information systems.
Here, we report on the experimental demonstration of a quantum erasure-correcting code that overcomes the devastating effect of photon losses. Our quantum code is based on linear optics, and it protects a four-mode entangled mesoscopic state of light against erasures. We investigate two approaches for circumventing in-line losses, and demonstrate that both approaches exhibit transmission fidelities beyond what is possible by classical means.
Because in-line attenuation is generally the strongest limitation to quantum communication, such an erasure-correcting code provides a new tool for establishing quantum optical coherence over longer distances.
Language: | English |
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Publisher: | Nature Publishing Group |
Year: | 2010 |
Pages: | 700-705 |
ISBN: | 0735409676 and 9780735409675 |
ISSN: | 17494893 and 17494885 |
Types: | Journal article and Preprint article |
DOI: | 10.1038/nphoton.2010.168 |
ORCIDs: | Huck, Alexander and Andersen, Ulrik Lund |