University of Bristol’s Centre for Quantum Photonics (CQP) researchers performed hands-on demonstration of using Berry’s phase for precise controlling of quantum interference between different photons.
The H.H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol
The effect will contribute to deploy reliable circuits for next generation of photonic quantum simulators and systems of photons that can simulate other quantum systems.
Published in Physical Review Letters, the paper integrates the current wave of fundamental science exploration and quantum technologies emerging from CQP with one of Bristol’s most popular outcome, the geometric phase effect formulated by Professor Sir Michael Berry of the School of Physics around 30 years back.
In 1984, Berry discovered that quantum particle returning to its start point following cyclic journey undergoes phase shift. This effect supports robust methods for implementing the circuits of a universal quantum computer. Berry’s method of phase shifting seems to be convenient.
During 1987, Hong Ou and Mandel (HOM) uniquely demonstrated the interference of two photons. The HOM quantum interference effect is a central part of the anticipated photonic quantum simulators that fail to run on a standard computer.
The Bristol team combined these two phenomena in this experiment to demonstrate the effect of Berry’s phase in controlling HOM interference. Fault tolerant circuits in photonic quantum simulators can be achieved by linking the computationally valuable HOM effect with the strong gates of the Berry phase.