In this talk, I will highlight several aspects of the research that my team is doing in this field, focusing on the fundamental science that is enabled by quantum photonic processors, i.e. large-scale, tunable interferometers which are necessary to give these proof-of-principle systems a degree of programmability. We have recently demonstrated [3] the world’s largest quantum photonic processor, i.e. fully tunable multimode optical interferometer, using silicon nitride photonic waveguides, and I will briefly introduce these devices. Large-scale photonic systems are an interesting novel testbed with which to explore the fundamental concepts and problems of quantum mechanics. Specifically, I will focus on two results obtained in this experimental platform: first, a result in quantum thermodynamics [4], where we experimentally show how to reconcile the apparent contradiction between quantum mechanics, which is time-reversible and information-preserving, and thermodynamics, which is neither, and secondly, a semi-device independent entanglement witness [5] suitable specifically for linear-optical systems. [1] Zhong et al, Science 370, 6523 (2020). [2] Zhong et al, arXiv:2106.15534. [3] Taballione et al, arXiv:2012.05673. [4] Somhorst et al, arXiv:2201.00049. [5] v.d Meer et al, arXiv:2112.00067. |
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