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Photon-number discrimination without a photon counter and its application to reconstructing non-Gaussian states

H. M. Chrzanowski, J. Bernu, B. M. Sparkes, B. Hage, A. P. Lund, T. C. Ralph, P. K. Lam, and T. Symul
Phys. Rev. A 84, 050302(R) – Published 28 November 2011

Abstract

The nonlinearity of a conditional photon-counting measurement can be used to “de-Gaussify” a Gaussian state of light. Here we present and experimentally demonstrate a technique for photon-number resolution using only homodyne detection. We then apply this technique to inform a conditional measurement, unambiguously reconstructing the statistics of the non-Gaussian one- and two-photon-subtracted squeezed vacuum states. Although our photon-number measurement relies on ensemble averages and cannot be used to prepare non-Gaussian states of light, its high efficiency, photon-number-resolving capabilities, and compatibility with the telecommunications band make it suitable for quantum-information tasks relying on the outcomes of mean values.

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  • Received 10 July 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.84.050302

©2011 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

H. M. Chrzanowski1,2, J. Bernu1,2, B. M. Sparkes1,2, B. Hage1,2, A. P. Lund1,3, T. C. Ralph1,4, P. K. Lam1,2, and T. Symul1,2

  • 1Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology
  • 2Quantum Optics group, Department of Quantum Science, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia
  • 3Centre for Quantum Dynamics, Griffith University, Nathan QLD 4111, Australia
  • 4Department of Physics, University of Queensland, St. Lucia QLD 4072, Australia

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Issue

Vol. 84, Iss. 5 — November 2011

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