Proposal for High-Dimensional Entanglement Swapping with Linear Optics and Ancillary Photons

Abstract: Quantum teleportation and entanglement swapping are fundamental building blocks for realizing global quantum networks. Both protocols have been extensively studied and experimentally demonstrated using two-dimensional qubit systems. Their implementation in high-dimensional (HD) systems offers significant advantages, such as enhanced noise resilience, greater robustness against eavesdropping, and increased information capacity. Generally, HD photonic entanglement swapping requires ancilla photons or strong nonlinear interactions. However, specific experimental implementations that are feasible with current technology remain elusive. Here, we present a linear optics-based setup for HD entanglement swapping for up to six dimensions using ancillary photons. This scheme is applicable to any photonic degrees of freedom. Furthermore, we present an experimental design for a four-dimensional implementation using hyper-entanglement, which includes the necessary preparation of the ancilla state and analysis of the resulting swapped state.