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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Quantum Entanglement between Optical and Microwave Photonic Qubits

Entanglement is an extraordinary feature of quantum mechanics. Sources of entangled optical photons were essential to test the foundations of quantum physics through violations of Bell’s inequalities. More recently, entangled many-body states have been realized via strong nonlinear interactions in microwave circuits with superconducting qubits. Here, we demonstrate a chip-scale source of entangled optical and microwave photonic qubits. Our device platform integrates a piezo-optomechanical transducer with a superconducting resonator which is robust under optical illumination. We drive a photon-pair generation process and employ a dual-rail encoding intrinsic to our system to prepare entangled states of microwave and optical photons. We place a lower bound on the fidelity of the entangled state by measuring microwave and optical photons in two orthogonal bases. This entanglement source can directly interface telecom wavelength time-bin qubits and gigahertz frequency superconducting qubits, two well-established platforms for quantum communication and computation, respectively. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2024

Integrated photonic structures for photon-mediated entanglement of trapped ions

Trapped atomic ions are natural candidates for quantum information processing and have the potential to realize or improve quantum computing, sensing, and networking. These applications often require the collection of individual photons emitted from ions into guided optical modes, in some cases for the production of entanglement between separated ions. Proof-of-principle demonstrations of such photon collection from trapped ions have been performed using high-numerical-aperture lenses or cavities and single-mode fibers, but integrated photonic elements in ion-trap structures offer advantages in scalability and manufacturability over traditional optics. In this paper we analyze structures monolithically fabricated with an ion trap for collecting ion-emitted photons, coupling them into waveguides, and manipulating them via interference. We calculate geometric limitations on collection efficiency for this scheme, simulate a single-layer grating that shows performance comparable to demonstrated free-space optics, and discuss practical fabrication and fidelity considerations. Based on this analysis, we conclude that integrated photonics can support scalable systems of trapped ions that can distribute quantum information via photon-mediated entanglement.

Knollmann, Felix W.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Enhancing spectroscopy and microscopy with emerging methods in photon correlation and quantum illumination

Quantum optics has led to important advancements in our ability to prepare and detect correlations between individual photons. Its principles are increasingly translated into nanoscale characterization tools, furthering methods in spectroscopy, microscopy and metrology. Here, in this Review, we discuss the rapid progress in this field driven by advanced technologies of single-photon detectors and quantum-light sources, including time-resolved single-photon counting cameras, superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors and entangled photon sources of increasing brightness. We emphasize emerging applications in super-resolution microscopy, measurements below classical noise limits and photon-number-resolved spectroscopy—a powerful paradigm for the characterization of nanoscale electronic materials. We conclude by discussing key technological challenges and future opportunities in materials science and bionanophotonics alike.

Tsao, Chieh [University of California, Berkeley, C↗
DOE OSTI2024

Fiber loop quantum buffer for photonic qubits

Abstract We report a fiber loop quantum buffer based on a low-loss 2 × 2 switch and a unit delay made of a fiber delay line. We characterize the device by using a two-photon polarization entangled state in which one photon of the entangled photon pair is stored and retrieved at a repetition rate up to 78 kHz. The device, which enables integer multiples of a unit delay, can store the qubit state in a unit of fiber delay line up to 5.4 km and the number of loop round-trips up to 3. Furthermore, we configure the device with other active elements to realize integer multiplier and divider of a unit delay of a qubit. The quantum state tomography is performed on the retrieved photon and its entangled photon. We obtain a state fidelity > 94 % with a maximum storage time of 52 s with an insertion loss of 5.56 dB. To further characterize the storing and retrieving processes of the device, we perform entanglement-assisted quantum process tomography on the buffered qubit state. The process fidelity of the device is > 0.98. Our result implies that the device preserves the superposition and entanglement of a qubit state from a two-photon polarization-entangled state. This is a significant step towards facilitating applications in optical asynchronous transfer mode based quantum networks.

Fook Lee, Kim (ORCID:0000000290901640)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Quantum nonlocal modulation cancelation with distributed clocks

We demonstrate nonlocal modulation of entangled photons with truly distributed radio frequency (RF) clocks. Leveraging a custom radio-over-fiber (RFoF) system characterized via classical spectral interference, we validate its effectiveness for quantum networking by multiplexing the RFoF clock with one photon from a frequency-bin-entangled pair and distributing the coexisting quantum-classical signals over fiber. Phase modulation of the two photons reveals nonlocal correlations in excellent agreement with theory: in-phase modulation produces additional sidebands in the joint spectral intensity, while out-of-phase modulation is nonlocally canceled. Our simple, feedback-free design attains subpicosecond synchronization—namely, drift less than ~0.5 ps in a 5.5 km fiber over 30 min (fractionally only ~2×10 -8 of the total fiber delay)—and should facilitate frequency-encoded quantum networking protocols such as high-dimensional quantum key distribution and entanglement swapping, unlocking frequency-bin qubits for practical quantum communications in deployed metropolitan-scale networks.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2024

Entanglement Capacity Estimates and Throughput Measurements of Quantum Channels

The throughput is an important performance metric of entangled qubit distribution quantum networks, and may be characterized by the number of distributed entangled qubit pairs per second (ebps). It is measured over physical quantum network connections using specialized instruments, including photonic entanglement sources and single photon detectors. Extensive theory has been developed to estimate the entangled qubit capacity of quantum channels using abstractions of physical connections. These two quantities both characterize the throughput performance but in different ways, and typically have been hard to relate to each other in concrete terms, in part due to the lack of precise measurements with matching analytical models and derivations. We describe measurements on a physical testbed with fiber connections of lengths 0-75 kilometers. We obtain the normalized analytic capacity estimates using the transmissivity approximations derived using single photon coincidence measurements, and convert them to bounds on throughput (measured in ebps) using a multiplier derived from co-located detector measurements. The results indicate consistent throughput measurements upper-bounded by their analytical capacity estimates across all connections. We show that previous capacity estimates using light measurements are below ebps measurements for some connections, due to the inclusion of non-representative decrease of light levels outside C-band with distance.

Rao, Nageswara↗
DOE OSTI2026

Entanglement Throughput Measurements and Capacity Estimates for Aerial-Inground Fiber

The throughput of entangled qubit pairs per second (eqps) is a basic performance metric of quantum networks that provide the entanglement distribution capability. Over fiber connections, it is measured using specialized instruments, including photonic entanglement sources and single-photon detectors. Extensive theory has been developed to estimate the capacity of a generic quantum channel, which in turn is applied to estimate the maximum achievable eqps over a fiber connection. However, there is a gap in relating these two performance metrics, in part due to their disparate nature, namely, mathematical formulae of the channel capacity and specialized instrumentation for eqps measurements. We describe eqps measurements collected over testbed connections composed of aerial and inground fiber of lengths up to 45 km. We estimate the normalized capacity using the transmissivity parameter derived from single photon detector measurements. These estimates are then converted to capacity bounds on the connection's eqps using the source eqps rate derived from co-located detector measurements. The results indicate a consistency between eqps measurements and their capacity estimates, and provide insights into relating the parameters of analytic capacity estimates to physical measurements.

Rao, Nageswara [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000234085941)↗
DOE OSTI2024

On Quantum Rainbows: Density Operator in the Frequency-Bin Representation for Entangled Twin-Photons Generated With Sub-Threshold Microcombs

Kerr optical frequency combs are generated by pumping a high-Q integrated microresonator with a resonant laser. Below threshold, the pump laser field mediates the phenomenon of spontaneous four-wave mixing, where two pump photons are symmetrically up- and down-converted as twin photons that can be entangled across up to tens of eigenmodes in the spectral domain. While these room-temperature integrated photonic circuits are expected to play a central role in quantum technology, their high dimensionality and dissipative nature are a challenge for their theoretical description, therefore hindering the understanding of their properties and potential of performance. In this article, we develop a framework that permits to obtain an explicit solution for the density operator of quantum microcombs below threshold. Furthermore, this self-consistent theoretical description allows for their complete characterization, as well as for the analytical determination of various performance metrics such as fidelity, purity, and entropy.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Fast quantum ghost imaging with a single-photon-sensitive time-stamping camera

Quantum ghost imaging (QGI) leverages correlations between entangled photon pairs to reconstruct an image using light that has never physically interacted with an object. Despite extensive research interest, this technique has long been hindered by slow acquisition speeds, due to the use of raster-scanned detectors or the slow response of intensified cameras. Here, we utilize a single-photon-sensitive time-stamping camera to perform QGI at ultra-low-light levels with rapid data acquisition and processing times, achieving high-resolution and high-contrast images in under 1 min. Our work addresses the trade-off between image quality, optical power, data acquisition time, and data processing time in QGI, paving the way for practical applications in biomedical and quantum-secured imaging.

Mavian, Alex (ORCID:0000000279448830)↗
DOE OSTI2026

Zero-added-loss entanglement multiplexing using time-bin spectral shearing

High-quality quantum communications that enable important capabilities, such as distributed quantum computing and sensing, will require quantum repeaters for providing high-quality entanglement. To realize high-rate heralded entanglement for quantum repeaters, Chen et al . [Phys. Rev. Appl. 19 , 054029 (2023)] proposed a scheme for heralded-multiplexed generation of quasideterministic entangled photon pairs, called zero-added-loss multiplexing (ZALM). Here, we propose a design of the ZALM source using time-bin entanglement and spectral shearing. Additionally, we provide an analysis of experimentally relevant spectral-shearing parameters to optimize the spectral multiplexing. Moreover, we experimentally verify the compatibility of time-bin pulses and spectral shearing, as supported by observation of no appreciable phase shift when the same shearing is applied to both time bins. These results expand the benefits of applying a ZALM source to time-bin entanglement use cases. Moreover, more fully demonstrating time-bin and spectral shearing compatibility clears a path toward a broader use of spectral shearing that provides a deterministic frequency shift of high utility.

entanglement production↗
DOE OSTI2025

Quantum Instrumentation and Control Kit (QICK) for Quantum Networks

We report the first demonstration of using the Quantum Instrumentation and Control Kit (QICK) system on RFSoC FPGA technology to drive an entangled photon pair source and to detect the photon signals. With the QICK system, we achieve high levels of performance metrics including coincidence-to-accidental ratio exceeding 150, and entanglement visibility exceeding 95%, consistent with performance metrics achieved using conventional waveform generators. We also demonstrate simultaneous detector readout using the digitization functional of QICK, achieving internal system synchronization time resolution of 3.2 ps. The work reported in this paper represents an explicit demonstration of the feasibility for replacing commercial waveform generators and time taggers with RFSoC-FPGA technology in the operation of a quantum network, representing a cost reduction of more than an order of magnitude.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2025

Room-temperature high-purity single-photon emission from carbon-doped boron nitride thin films

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) has emerged as a promising platform for generating room temperature single photons exhibiting high brightness and spin-photon entanglement. However, improving emitter purity, stability, and scalability remains a challenge for quantum technologies. Here, we demonstrate highly pure and stable single-photon emitters (SPEs) in h-BN by directly growing carbon-doped, centimeter-scale h-BN thin films using the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method. These SPEs exhibit room temperature operation with polarized emission, achieving a g (2) (0) value of 0.015, which is among the lowest reported for room temperature SPEs and the lowest achieved for h-BN SPEs. It also exhibits high brightness (~0.5 million counts per second), remarkable stability during continuous operation (>15 min), and a Debye-Waller factor of 45%. First-principles calculations reveal unique carbon defects responsible for these properties, enabled by PLD’s low-temperature synthesis and in situ doping. Our results demonstrate an effective method for large-scale production of high-purity, stable SPEs in h-BN, enabling robust quantum optical sources for various quantum applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Bell-State Bootstrapping via Spot-Checking

We present a spot-checking method to monitor and mitigate errors in imperfect entangled photon sources from semi-trusted third parties. We demonstrate that our method effectively mitigates polarization drifts and yields high-fidelity polarization-entangled Bell-state generation.

Zhang, Yanbao [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000245530561)↗
DOE OSTI2025

3D quantum ghost imaging microscope

Quantum ghost imaging uses quantum-entangled photons to generate a two-dimensional image with only a bucket detector at the sample. Here we expand on this approach to generate a three-dimensional image without scanning. A quantum-entangled light source directly links information between a pair of 2D sensors, one of which captures a standard image from one perspective and a second sensor which captures a ghost image from a perpendicular perspective. By correlating the spatial information from the two detectors for each photon pair, we obtain three dimensions of spatial information (x, y, and z) for each scattered photon. We demonstrate that this system can study microscopic environments by imaging scattering from metallic nanoparticle clusters. This approach has the potential to greatly reduce the flux of light required to obtain a 3D image of a biological sample and thereby extend the number of images that can be obtained before photodamaging the sample.

Eshun, Audrey [Lawrence Livermore National Laborat↗
DOE OSTI2025

Testbed and Experiments for Quantum-Conventional Networking

The realization of quantum networks requires the development of devices and methods unprecedented in conventional networks, and yet they critically depend on the latter for implementing foundational blocks and essential operations. We describe a testbed to support the development and testing of their functionality and performance by providing quantum and conventional data planes and devices, together with a secure conventional control plane. It incorporates a variety of entangled photon sources, qubit technologies, detector technologies, photonic components, and supporting conventional switches and workstations. It implements a novel fiber telescoping scheme that provides suites of connections using fiber spools and inground-aerial fiber loops. We briefly summarize a variety of experiments conducted over this testbed including: (i) flex-grid quantum connection experiments, (ii) quantum state and channel tomography, (iii) utilization of quantum key distribution keys to secure conventional encryption and firewall devices, (iv) comparative study of analytical capacity estimates and entanglement throughput, (v) deployed squeezing coexisting with conventional communications, and (iv) measurement of polarization time variation.

Rao, Nageswara [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000234085941)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Deployed quantum link characterization via Bayesian ancilla-assisted process tomography

The development of large-scale quantum networks requires reliable quantum channels, the quality of which can be quantified by the framework of quantum process tomography. Here, in this work, we leverage ancilla-assisted process tomography (AAPT) and Bayesian inference to probe a 1.6 km deployed fiber-optic link. We send one of the two polarization-entangled photons at Alice in one building to Bob in another, exploiting the local qubit as an ancilla system to characterize the corresponding quantum channel. Monitoring over a 24 h period returns a steady process fidelity of 97.6(1)%, while controllable spectral filtering with passbands from 0.025 to 4.38 THz finds fidelities that first increase, and then level off with bandwidth, suggesting both stable operation with time and minimal polarization mode dispersion. To our knowledge, these results represent the first AAPT of a deployed quantum link, revealing a valuable tool for in situ analysis of entanglement-based quantum networks.

Rahman, Arefur [Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ (Un↗
DOE OSTI2026

Enabling robust, stable, and accurate nonlinear optical measurements from squeezed light generated in hot rubidium vapor

The feasibility of nonlinear optical (NLO) imaging and spectroscopy using low intensity quantum states of light including entangled photon and squeezed light sources, such as those driven by two-photon absorption (TPA), has been a topic of ongoing debate. An unambiguous identification of the appreciable quantum advantage in such quantum light applications could enable NLO imaging of biological samples without photodegradation and phototoxicity. Recently, we have constructed a two-mode squeezed light source based on four-wave mixing in 85Rb vapor, which is capable of 7.9 dB of intensity-difference squeezing (IDS), corresponding to 8.7 dB upon electronic noise correction. In this talk, we discuss the stability of our system, including implementation details on achieving and maintaining 8.7 dB of IDS for several hours, and ensuring the two spatially multimode beams are properly overlapped in a sample with minimal optical loss.

Allen, Harry [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000190253914)↗