For the first time, scientists at Paderborn University in Germany have utilized high-performance computing (HPC) to perform large-scale analysis of quantum photonics, marking a significant step forward in the field. By employing customized open-source algorithms, they conducted quantum tomography on a photonic quantum detector at an unprecedented scale. This integration of classical computing and quantum technology opens new doors for advanced quantum applications and measurement techniques.

High-performance computing (HPC) leverages advanced classical computers to process massive datasets, execute complex calculations, and rapidly address challenging scientific problems. While classical computational methods typically fall short for quantum applications, the researchers’ new approach shows that HPC can support quantum tomography, a technique for determining the quantum state of a system. This breakthrough involved analyzing a photonic detector with a Hilbert space of 10^6, which represents a vast, multidimensional set of potential quantum states, allowing for precise calculations related to probability and superposition.

Quantum photonic detectors, known for their sensitivity to individual photons, are vital tools in quantum science. These detectors gather detailed information on photon properties, such as energy levels and polarization. Accurately determining these quantum states is critical for precision measurement in quantum research. However, such analysis requires processing massive amounts of data, which has long been a challenge.

By using HPC software, the Paderborn team successfully completed calculations that described the quantum photonic detector in minutes, a breakthrough for quantum tomography at this scale. "This achievement demonstrates the unprecedented extent to which this tool can be applied to quantum photonic systems," said Timon Schapeler, the study's first author and a research scientist at Paderborn University. They anticipate that HPC-driven quantum tomography will enhance future advancements in quantum measurement and communication technologies.

"As far as we know, this is the first instance where classical high-performance computing has enabled large-scale experimental quantum photonics," Schapeler added. The study has been published in the journal Quantum Science and Technology, potentially laying the groundwork for new efficiencies in data processing for quantum systems and inspiring broader applications of HPC in the quantum domain.

Image: Scientists at Paderborn University have for the first time used high-performance computing (on the right in the picture the Paderborn supercomputer Noctua) to analyse a quantum photonics experiment on a large scale. Credit: Paderborn University 

Source: Interesting Engineering