Conclusive quantum steering with superconducting transition edge sensors

ORAL

Abstract

Quantum steering allows two parties to verify shared entanglement even if one measurement device is untrusted. A conclusive demonstration of steering through the violation of a steering inequality is of considerable fundamental interest and opens up applications in quantum communication. To date all experimental tests with single photon states have relied on post-selection, allowing untrusted devices to cheat by hiding unfavorable events in losses. Here we close this ``detection loophole'' by combining a highly efficient source of entangled photon pairs with superconducting transition edge sensors. We achieve an unprecedented $\sim $62{\%} conditional detection efficiency of entangled photons and violate a steering inequality with the minimal number of measurement settings by 48 standard deviations. Our results provide a clear path to practical applications of steering and to a photonic loophole-free Bell test.

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Authors

  • Marcelo P. de Almeida

    • School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, QLD, Australia

  • Devin H. Smith

    • School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, QLD, Australia

  • Geo Gillett

    • School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, QLD, Australia

  • Cyril Branciard

    • School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, QLD, Australia

  • Alessandro Fedrizzi

    • School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, QLD, Australia

  • Till J. Weinhold

    • School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, QLD, Australia

  • Adriana Lita

    • National Institute of Standards and Technology, 325 Broadway, Boulder CO 80305, USA

  • Brice Calkins

    • National Institute of Standards and Technology, 325 Broadway, Boulder CO 80305, USA

  • Thomas Gertis

    • National Institute of Standards and Technology, 325 Broadway, Boulder CO 80305, USA

  • Sae Woo Nam

    • National Institute of Standards and Technology, 325 Broadway, Boulder CO 80305, USA

  • Andrew G. White

    • School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, QLD, Australia