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Harnessing hybrid frequency-entangled qudits through quantum interference

Sheng-Hung Wang1,2, Po-Han Chen1,2, Cheng-Yu Yang3, Yen-Hung Chen2,3,4,*, and Pin-Ju Tsai1,2,3,†

  • *Contact author: yhchen@dop.ncu.edu.tw
  • †Contact author: tpinju@ncu.edu.tw

Phys. Rev. Research 7, 043152 – Published 12 November, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/99qy-y833

Abstract

High-dimensional (HD) quantum entanglement expands the Hilbert space, offering a robust framework for quantum information processing with enhanced capacity and error resilience. In this work, we present an HD frequency-domain entangled state, the hybrid frequency-entangled qudit (HFEQ), generated via Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interference, exhibiting both discrete-variable (DV) and continuous-variable (CV) characteristics in the frequency domain. By tuning HOM interference, we generate and control HFEQs with dimensions D=5,7,9, and 11, confirming their DV nature. Franson interferometry verifies global frequency correlations with a visibility of 97.6±0.6% and CV entanglement within individual frequency modes with a visibility exceeding 95%. Furthermore, based on the developed theoretical model, the generated HFEQs exhibit a Schmidt number that exceeds the upper bound D of conventional frequency-entangled qudits, certifying additional entanglement inherent to the hybrid structure. Our findings provide deeper insight into the physical nature of frequency-entangled qudits generated by quantum interference and introduce a resource for HD time-frequency quantum information processing.

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