Scalable generation and detection of on-demand W states in nanophotonic circuits (2307.06116v1)

Abstract: Quantum physics phenomena, entanglement and coherence, are crucial for quantum information protocols, but understanding these in systems with more than two parts is challenging due to increasing complexity. The W state, a multipartite entangled state, is notable for its robustness and benefits in quantum communication. Here, we generate an 8-mode on-demand single photon W states, using nanowire quantum dots and a silicon nitride photonic chip. We demonstrate a reliable, scalable technique for reconstructing W-state in photonic circuits using Fourier and real-space imaging, supported by the Gerchberg-Saxton phase retrieval algorithm. Additionally, we utilize an entanglement witness to distinguish between mixed and entangled states, thereby affirming the entangled nature of our generated state. The study provides a new imaging approach of assessing multipartite entanglement in W-states, paving the way for further progress in image processing and Fourier-space analysis techniques for complex quantum systems.