Quantum key distribution session with 16-dimensional photonic states.

The secure transfer of information is an important problem in modern telecommunications. Quantum key distribution (QKD) provides a solution to this problem by using individual quantum systems to generate correlated bits between remote parties, that can be used to extract a secret key. QKD with D-dimensional quantum channels provides security advantages that grow with increasing D. However, the vast majority of QKD implementations has been restricted to two dimensions. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of using higher dimensions for real-world quantum cryptography by performing, for the first time, a fully automated QKD session based on the BB84 protocol with 16-dimensional quantum states. Information is encoded in the single-photon transverse momentum and the required states are dynamically generated with programmable spatial light modulators. Our setup paves the way for future developments in the field of experimental high-dimensional QKD.

Quantifying the non-Gaussianity of the state of spatially correlated down-converted photons.

The state of spatially correlated down-converted photons is usually treated as a two-mode Gaussian entangled state. While intuitively this seems to be reasonable, it is known that new structures in the spatial distributions of these photons can be observed when the phase-matching conditions are properly taken into account. Here, we study how the variances of the near- and far-field conditional probabilities are affected by the phase-matching functions, and we analyze the role of the EPR-criterion regarding the non-Gaussianity and entanglement detection of the spatial two-photon state of spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC). Then we introduce a statistical measure, based on the negentropy of the joint distributions at the near- and far-field planes, which allows for the quantification of the non-Gaussianity of this state. This measure of non-Gaussianity requires only the measurement of the diagonal covariance sub-matrices, and will be relevant for new applications of the spatial correlation of SPDC in CV quantum information processing.

Experimental quantum tomography of photonic qudits via mutually unbiased basis.

We present the experimental quantum tomography of 7- and 8-dimensional quantum systems based on projective measurements in the mutually unbiased basis (MUB-QT). One of the advantages of MUB-QT is that it requires projections from a minimal number of bases to be performed. In our scheme, the higher dimensional quantum systems are encoded using the propagation modes of single photons, and we take advantage of the capabilities of amplitude- and phase-modulation of programmable spatial light modulators to implement the MUB-QT.

Generation of a two-photon singlet beam.

Controlling the pump beam transverse profile in multimode Hong-Ou-Mandel interference, we generate a "localized" two-photon singlet state, in which both photons propagate in the same beam. This type of multiphoton singlet beam may be useful in quantum communication to avoid decoherence. We show that although the photons are part of the same beam, they are never in the same plane-wave mode, which is characterized by spatial antibunching behavior in the plane normal to the propagation direction.

Experimental observation of spatial antibunching of photons.

We report an interference experiment that shows transverse spatial antibunching of photons. Using collinear parametric down-conversion in a Young-type fourth-order interference setup, we show interference patterns that violate classical Schwarz inequality and should not exist at all in a classical description.