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Feature Articles: Optical Device Technologies for Next-generation Computing Using Light

Vol. 20, No. 8, pp. 47–51, Aug. 2022. https://doi.org/10.53829/ntr202208fa6

Broadband Continuous-wave Optical Quadrature Squeezer for Ultra-fast Optical Quantum Computers

Takahiro Kashiwazaki, Asuka Inoue, and Takeshi Umeki

Abstract

An optical quadrature squeezer is expected to be a key device for high-speed optical quantum computing. We developed a high-gain and broadband optical quadrature squeezer by using a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide. The squeezer is assembled as a pump-combiner-integrated module with four optical-fiber input/output ports. By improving the fabrication processes of the PPLN waveguide, we achieved a low-loss module that exhibits about 1-dB optical loss. By using this module, we successfully obtained continuous-wave 6-dB-squeezed light at over-6-THz sideband frequency even in a fiber-closed optical system with commercially available optical components. This fiber-compatible broadband quadrature squeezer will accelerate the development of optical quantum computers.

Keywords: periodically poled lithium niobate, optical quadrature squeezer, optical quantum computer

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1. Introduction

Research and development of universal quantum computers has accelerated worldwide, and various computing methods have been proposed using superconducting circuits, trapped ions, photons, etc. [1, 2]. We are developing an optical quantum computer that uses the amplitude and phase of propagating light as an information carrier, similar to the current optical communication technology [3]. This is because an optical quantum computer has the potential of ultra-fast clock-rate computing thanks to the high frequency of light. We are aiming to develop an overwhelmingly large-scale and high-speed universal quantum computer using time-domain multiplexing and measurement-induced quantum manipulation [4]. The most important element of this optical quantum computer is a squeezed light source. In this article, we introduce the research and development of a squeezed light source, i.e., a squeezer, which is a key device for high-speed, large-scale, universal quantum computing.

2. Squeezed state of light and its application to quantum computers

Squeezed states are non-classical states in which the quantum noise in a non-commutative quantity (momentum and position, energy and time, etc.) is compressed. Due to the uncertainty relation, the noise for the other quantities is amplified. The quadrature-amplitude-phase squeezed vacuum state of light (or simply squeezed light) has compressed quantum noise of the sinusoidal or cosine component with a wave image, as shown in Fig. 1(a). With a particle image, the squeezed light is an even-number photon state. By interfering two squeezed states with a half beamsplitter, we can deterministically generate a quantum entangled state (with 100% probability) [5]. Using multiple squeezed light sources and delay line interferometers, we are able to generate a time-domain multiplexed large-scale quantum entangled state (Fig. 1(b)) [4]. This state is called an optical cluster state and used as a resource for measurement-based quantum computation. By measuring one qubit of the optical cluster state, we can execute some quantum gates to other qubits with a methodology such as quantum teleportation [6].


Fig. 1. (a) Image of quantum noise in squeezed light. While coherent light has quantum noise equal to the sinusoidal and cosine components, squeezed light has compressed one side of the noise. The quantum noise of the other side becomes larger due to the requirement of the uncertainty principle. (b) A method for generating multiplexed large-scale quantum entangled states in the time domain using squeezed light.

To develop a high-speed, large-scale, universal quantum computer, continuous-wave broadband high-level squeezed light is required. This is because the continuous wave and broadband nature of squeezed light maximizes time resources and enables high-speed and large-scale computational performance that cannot be achieved with other methods [7]. High-level squeezed light has quantum superposition states with even-photon-number components, which is important for quantum error correction [8].

3. PPLN-based quadrature squeezer module

Squeezed light can be generated from a nonlinear optical phenomenon. In 1985, the first generation of squeezed light was demonstrated using the third-order nonlinear optical effect of natrium vapor [9]. Since then, squeezed light has been generated in a variety of ways [10], and second- and third-order nonlinear optical effects in solids have become mainstream. Waveguide-type optical parametric amplifiers based on second-order nonlinear optical crystals are expected to exhibit broadband characteristics in principle [7]. However, nonlinear optical devices are generally difficult to fabricate, and it has been difficult to generate high-level squeezed light. To generate a high level of squeezed light, the optical waveguide must have low loss, exhibit high nonlinear optical properties, thus be resistant to strong excitation light. Low loss is required because squeezed light is easily degraded by contamination of the vacuum field associated with optical loss. We have been developing direct-bonded periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguides, as shown in Fig. 2(a) [11]. Lithium niobate is a ferroelectric material with a wide transmission bandwidth and high second-order nonlinear optical coefficient. Thanks to its periodical poling, it is possible to enhance the nonlinear interaction of light passing through the waveguide. By bonding the waveguide directly to the substrate without using any adhesive, we fabricated devices that can operate even under pump light with watt-level intensity. Our fabrication techniques have recently enabled low-loss, high-gain optical parametric amplifiers with high pump-light tolerance.

Our group is also developing modular optical parametric amplifiers that can be easily coupled with fiber optics [12–14]. This is to enable the construction of maintenance-free optical systems in anticipation of practical applications. Quantum optics experiments had been conducted on an optical table with many mirrors and lenses arranged with high precision to verify the proof-of-principles. These optical systems require constant precise adjustment, and this has been a problem that needs to be solved for practical applications. As shown in Fig. 2(b), our module has a structure in which the pump light and squeezed light are separated inside the module, and each is efficiently coupled to an optical fiber [12–14]. This fiber-pigtailed module will greatly advance the development of practical-use optical quantum computers because we can combine various highly reliable and high-performance optical components, which are cultivated in the field of optical communications.


Fig. 2. (a) Schematic view of a PPLN waveguide. The waveguide core is directly bonded to the substrate. (b) Fiber-coupled optical parametric amplifier. Wavelength-division mirrors and lenses are installed inside so that the pump light and squeezed light are separated and injected to each output optical fiber [14].

4. Squeezing-level measurement

The squeezing levels have conventionally been measured by balanced homodyne detection [15]. With this method, the squeezed light interferes with a local oscillator, the frequency of which is the same as the center frequency of the squeezed light, by using a half beamsplitter. The difference between the output intensities of the two paths is then extracted as an electrical signal by using a balanced photodetector. Accordingly, the bandwidth of the squeezed light measured using balanced homodyne detection is limited by the bandwidth of the electrical circuit up to a few gigahertz. Therefore, we developed a method for measuring quantum-noise intensity up to THz-class broadband components by further optical parametric amplification of the squeezed light [16]. This means that the quantum information is converted directly into classical light, whereas previous methods (balanced homodyne detection) convert it onto the classical state of an electrical signal. Figure 3 shows the results of noise-intensity-level measurements. The experimental results indicate that the noise of the squeezed light is suppressed by more than 6 dB compared with the shot-noise level, even for THz-order sideband components [14]. This value is more than the 4.5 dB required to generate two-dimensional optical-cluster states, which enables multi-qubit quantum computation. This is the world’s highest value for squeezing using a waveguide-type optical parametric amplifier with an all-optical-fiber-closed system.


Fig. 3. Quantum-noise-intensity measurement results for squeezed light. The noise level was more than 6 dB lower than the shot noise level. The squeezing level was maintained over the broadband component above 6 THz [14].

5. Conclusion

We reported on the generation of continuous-wave, broadband squeezed light for the development of a high-speed, large-scale, universal quantum computer. The squeezing of 6 THz and more than 6 dB was achieved using an optical parametric amplifier consisting of a PPLN waveguide, which was developed by NTT. The device can be implemented as a fiber-coupled module to enhance compatibility with optical communication components and is being fabricated in anticipation of the future development of quantum computers. We aim to achieve a higher level by improving the device-fabrication technique and optimizing the design and are attempting more than 10-dB squeezing for fault-tolerant quantum computation.

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Takahiro Kashiwazaki
Researcher, Heterogeneous Materials and Devices Research Group, NTT Device Technology Laboratories.
He received a B.E. and M.E. in materials science from Keio University, Kanagawa, in 2013 and 2015. In 2015, he joined NTT Device Technology Laboratories, where he has been engaged in research on nonlinear optical devices for optical communication and quantum computation. He is a member of the Institute of Electronics, Information, and Communication Engineers (IEICE) and the Japan Society of Applied Physics (JSAP).
Asuka Inoue
Researcher, Heterogeneous Materials and Devices Research Group, NTT Device Technology Laboratories.
She received a B.E., M.E., and Ph.D. in electrical and electronic engineering from Kobe University, Hyogo, in 2015, 2016, and 2019. In 2019, she joined NTT Device Technology Laboratories, where she has been engaged in research on waveguide devices for optical quantum computation. She is a member of JSAP.
Takeshi Umeki
Distinguished Researcher, Heterogeneous Materials and Devices Research Group, NTT Device Technology Laboratories.
He received a B.S. in physics from Gakushuin University, Tokyo, in 2002 and M.S. in physics and Ph.D. in nonlinear optics from the University of Tokyo, in 2004 and 2014. He joined NTT Photonics Laboratories in 2004 and has been involved in research on nonlinear optical devices based on periodically poled lithium-niobate waveguides. He was a visiting researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Boulder, CO, USA in 2020. He is a member of JSAP, IEICE, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Photonics Society.

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