Coherent random walks in free space

    Authors

    T. Eichelkraut; C. Vetter; A. Perez-Leija; H. Moya-Cessa; D. N. Christodoulides;A. Szameit

    Comments

    Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Optica

    Keywords

    QUANTUM RANDOM-WALKS; DIFFRACTION DYNAMICS; ALGORITHMS; Optics

    Abstract

    Two-dimensional continuous time quantum random walks (CTQRW) are physical processes where quantum particles simultaneously evolve in different permissible directions within discrete graphs. In order to force the quantum walkers (QWs) to evolve in such a fashion, one generally requires periodic potentials. Here, we demonstrate that two-dimensional CTQRW can be generated in free space by properly tailoring the initial wave functions. We analytically show that within a certain spatial region the arising probability distribution quantitatively resembles the probability pattern exhibited by a QW traversing a periodic lattice potential. These theoretical predictions were experimentally verified using classical laser light, appropriately shaped by a spatial light modulator. Expanding the presented results to the case of multiple walkers may open new possibilities in quantum information technology using bulk optics. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America

    Journal Title

    Optica

    Volume

    1

    Issue/Number

    4

    Publication Date

    1-1-2014

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    268

    Last Page

    271

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000354863900012

    ISSN

    2334-2536

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