Non-Gaussian states are essential resources for universal, fault-tolerant optical quantum computing, but their generation rate remains limited by low heralding probabilities and operation in nanosecond temporal modes. Here, we demonstrate multi-photon generalized photon subtraction in picosecond optical wave packets, establishing the state-generation capability required for high-rate operation by addressing the temporal-mode bottleneck that has constrained the achievable rate. Two interfering ultrashort squeezed vacua are heralded by photon-number-resolving detection with a high-speed transition-edge sensor and characterized by pulsed homodyne detection matched to 10-ps temporal modes at a 5-MHz pump repetition rate. We reconstruct Wigner functions without loss correction that exhibit up to four distinct negative regions for four-photon heralding, together with an effective cat-state amplitude of α_eff = 1.69. This amplitude approaches the range of practical relevance for fault-tolerant cat-code architectures and for adaptive breeding toward logical-qubit generation, while the picosecond temporal mode establishes a platform compatible with high-rate, scalable time-multiplexed photonic architectures.

Measurement-based continuous-variable optical quantum computing inherently offers high-speed, large-scale operations, yet its practical performance remains constrained by the processing latencies and throughput bottlenecks imposed by classical electronic feedforward circuits. To overcome these limitations, we propose a loss-tolerant, all-optical feedforward (AOFF) architecture for generalized quantum teleportation capable of executing arbitrary linear operations. Quantitative noise analysis under realistic device parameters demonstrates that the architecture successfully suppresses hardware-induced noise floor, confirming its compatibility with fault-tolerant quantum computing requirements. By eliminating optoelectronic conversions, this scheme enables continuous high-throughput operations that drastically reduce circuit runtime. Ultimately, this approach delivers a noise-resilient platform that reconciles operational versatility with the intrinsic speed and bandwidth of optical quantum information processing.

Light's intrinsic carrier frequency of hundreds of terahertz theoretically enables information processing at terahertz clock rates. In optical quantum computing, continuous-variable quantum teleportation is the fundamental building block for deterministic logic operations. This protocol transfers unknown quantum states between nodes using quantum entanglement and real-time feedforward of measurement outcomes. However, electrical feedforward bottlenecks currently restrict operational bandwidths to approximately 100 megahertz, preventing the exploitation of light's ultimate speed. Here we show 1-terahertz-bandwidth all-optical quantum teleportation, completely bypassing this electronic limitation. By transferring Bell measurement outcomes optically, we successfully teleported vacuum states across the terahertz band and real-time random coherent wavepackets with a 42-picosecond temporal width. Evaluating the intrinsic state transfer quality, we achieved teleportation fidelities of ℱ=0.784 for the broadband vacuum states and ℱ=0.770 for the dynamic coherent wavepackets. Both results strictly surpass the classical limit of ℱ=0.5, demonstrating genuine quantum teleportation at ultrafast speeds. Our results establish that optical quantum processing speeds are constrained solely by the nonlinear medium's 1-picosecond-scale response, rather than classical electrical interfaces. This methodology provides a cornerstone for terahertz-clock quantum computers capable of overcoming Moore's law, and paves the way for a high-capacity, telecom-compatible quantum internet.

Advanced quantum technologies rely on non-Gaussian states of light, essential for universal quantum computation, fault-tolerant error correction, and quantum sensing. Their practical realization, however, faces hurdles: Simulating large multimode generators is computationally demanding, and benchmarks such as the stellar rank do not capture how effectively photon detections yield useful non-Gaussianity. We address these challenges by introducing the non-Gaussian control parameters (s0; delta 0), a continuous and operational measure that goes beyond stellar rank. Leveraging these parameters, we develop a universal optimization method that reduces photon-number requirements and greatly enhances success probabilities while preserving state quality. Applied to the Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill state generation, for example, our method cuts the required photon detections by a factor of 3 and raises the preparation probability by nearly 108. Demonstrations across cat states, cubic phase states, Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill states, and even random states confirm broad gains in experimental feasibility. Our results provide a unifying principle for resource-efficient non-Gaussian state generation, charting a practical route toward scalable optical quantum technologies and fault-tolerant quantum computation.

We experimentally demonstrate the continuous-variable quantum approximate optimization algorithm (CV-QAOA) for multi-variable problems and multiple QAOA depths using a measurement-based CV quantum computing platform on a quad-rail lattice (QRL) cluster state. We propose a systematic method to map arbitrary quadratic cost functions onto the QRL architecture and examine the resulting construction in settings involving up to 100 modes. Using the programmable platform, we prepare the CV-QAOA ansatz and optimize the variational parameters via Bayesian optimization. We then investigate the performance on quadratic optimization problems and observe that increasing the depth from 1 to 2 improves performance, whereas further increases yield only limited gains. In contrast, numerical simulations under idealized conditions, assuming an infinite number of measurement shots and gradient-based optimization, indicate that the performance of CV-QAOA can improve with increasing depth, suggesting that the experimentally observed limitations primarily arise from noise accumulation and classical optimization challenges. This work provides an experimental demonstration of CV-QAOA on a programmable CV platform and establishes a foundation for future developments of variational quantum algorithms in CV systems.

Wave–particle duality is a hallmark of quantum mechanics. For bosonic systems, there exists a continuum of intermediate states bridging wave-like Schrödinger cat states and particle-like Fock states. Such states have recently been recognized as valuable resources for enhancing fault-tolerant quantum computation (FTQC) with propagating light. Here we experimentally demonstrate tunable generation of these intermediate states by employing generalized photon subtraction (GPS). By detecting up to three photons from squeezed-light sources with a photon-number-resolving detector, we continuously control the balance between wave- and particle-like features. This approach allows us to construct a spectral family of quantum states with high generation rates, optimized according to the required fault-tolerance threshold. Our results establish GPS as a versatile toolbox for tailoring non-Gaussian resources, opening a pathway to efficient Gottesman–Kitaev–Preskill (GKP) qubit generation and addressing a central bottleneck in optical quantum computing.

Quantum computing holds the potential to revolutionize fields such as cryptography, optimization, and quantum simulations. Among various quantum computing approaches, optical quantum computers are particularly promising due to their high-speed operations, scalability, and compatibility with communication technologies [1]. Recent advances in time-domain multiplexing have demonstrated the proof of principle of large-scale analog quantum computation in optical setups [2], [3]. However, previous systems have been limited by the number of inputs, clock frequency, and flexibility.

Utilizing feedforward to perform adaptive quantum operations on one entangled state according to the measurement result of the other state enables measurement-based quantum information processing (QIP). Until now, the bandwidth of feedforward in optical QIP has been limited to around 100 MHz by measurement with electronics. A potential alternative is the utilization of an optical parametric amplifier (OPA). This optical device eliminates the need for electronic measuring devices and enables all-optical broadband feedforward. In this paper, we demonstrate a variable squeezing gate with an operation bandwidth of 1.3 THz by all-optical measurement-device-free feedforward. We utilize a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide as a broadband OPA and perform continuous phase locking in our optical system. Experimental results demonstrate that our all-optical QIP operates at a THz clock frequency, representing a major step toward the realization of an ultra-fast quantum computer.

Optical technology is a highly promising platform for quantum computing due to its enormous potential for large-scale, ultrafast computation. However, realizing a programmable and scalable system remains a significant challenge. Here, we present a high-speed programmable Gaussian quantum computing platform with one hundred inputs based on a continuous-variable full-stack architecture. Our system features a 100 MHz clock frequency and integrates a cloud-based interface with an open-source Python software development kit, mqc3, significantly enhancing accessibility and operational flexibility. We provide a comprehensive characterization of our system and its capabilities through multi-input and multi-step teleportation, as well as the programmable routing of quantum states across 101 input modes. This platform represents a critical milestone in scalable analog quantum information processing, offering a robust testbed for the future integration of non-Gaussian resources and the development of large-scale optical neural networks.

We demonstrate an all-optical feedforward operation through the utilization of waveguide optical parametric amplifiers made of periodically-poled lithium niobate, which breaks the limitation due to electrical processing and enables THz-clock ultrafast optical quantum computation. © 2024 The Authors

Generating logical qubits, essential for error detection and correction in quantum computation, remains a critical challenge in continuous-variable (CV) optical quantum information processing. The Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill (GKP) code is a leading candidate for logical qubits, and its generation requires large-amplitude coherent state superpositions – Schrödinger cat states. However, experimentally producing these resource states has been hindered in the optical domain by technical challenges. The photon subtraction method, a standard approach for generating cat states using a squeezed vacuum and a photon number-resolving detector, has proven difficult to scale to multi-photon operations. While the amplitude of the generated cat states increases with the number of subtracted photons, limitations in the generation rate have restricted the maximum photon subtraction to n=3 for over a decade. In this work, we demonstrate high-rate photon subtraction of up to four photons from a squeezed vacuum with picosecond wavepackets generated by a broadband optical parametric amplifier. Using a Ti-Au superconducting-transition-edge sensor, we achieve high-speed, high-resolution photon number discrimination. The resulting states exhibit Wigner function negativity without loss correction, and their quantum coherence is verified through off-diagonal density matrix elements in CV representation. These results overcome long-standing limitations in multi-photon operations, providing a critical foundation for generating quantum resources essential for fault-tolerant quantum computing and advancing ultrafast optical quantum processors.

Optical quantum computing is a promising approach for achieving large-scale quantum computation. While Gaussian operations have been successfully scaled, the inherently weak nonlinearity in optics makes generating highly non-Gaussian states a critical challenge for universality and fault tolerance. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a scalable method to generate optical non-Gaussian states with a resonator-based quantum memory that supports continuous-time storage and retrieval, in contrast to conventional loop-based memories. We introduce a dual-mode operation of the memory, enabling both storage and entangling functionalities within a single device. By employing a time-domain-multiplexed approach, we successfully demonstrate both cat and Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill breeding protocols in a scalable fashion, marking a key step toward quantum error correction. Our experiment also marks the first full demonstration of an optical resonator memory performing writing, storage, and readout operations. We validate the memory by storing squeezed single-photon states with up to 93% total efficiency, and measure an energy relaxation time T_{1}=2.3μs and dephasing time T_{ϕ}=0.96μs. These results establish a scalable pathway to generating complex non-Gaussian states required for fault-tolerant optical quantum computing. Beyond computation, our techniques provide new tools for enhancing quantum communication, sensing, and metrology.

Light has a high carrier frequency of hundreds of THz and has the potential to realize ultrafast quantum information processing. Time-domain multiplexed continuous-variable optical quantum computation has recently attracted much attention [1]. In this method, it is important to encode optical quantum states in wavepackets with short temporal widths because the width of the quantum state determines the clock frequency of the computation. So far, in the continuous-wave (CW) light field, this wavepacket width has been limited by the bandwidth of homodyne measurements, which read out the quadratures of the quantum state. Recently, a technique using phase-sensitive amplifiers (PSAs) and broadband homodyne detectors with CW light has been developed [2]. Using that, the wavepacket width of quantum entangled states was successfully shortened to the picosecond scale [3]. However, the wavepacket width of the Schrödinger cat state, which is a phase-sensitive non-Gaussian state, was limited to the sub-nanosecond scale due to the timing jitter of the photon detector [4].

We demonstrated all-optical quantum teleportation over 2 THz bandwidth using waveguide optical parametric amplifiers, achieving a fidelity of F = 0 . 80— a result beyond the classical limit. This 10 000-fold bandwidth improvement is a major step toward THz-clock optical quantum computers.

Entanglement is a fundamental resource for various optical quantum information processing (QIP) applications. To achieve high-speed QIP systems, entanglement should be encoded in short wavepackets. Here we report the real-time observation of ultrafast optical Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen correlation at a picosecond timescale in a continuous-wave system. Optical phase-sensitive amplification using a 6-THz-bandwidth waveguide-based optical parametric amplifier enhances the effective efficiency of 70-GHz-bandwidth homodyne detectors, mainly used in 5G telecommunication, enabling its use in real-time quantum state measurement. Although power measurement using frequency scanning, such as an optical spectrum analyser, is not performed in real time, our observation is demonstrated through the real-time amplitude measurement and can be directly used in QIP applications. The observed Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen states show quantum correlation of 4.5 dB below the shot-noise level encoded in wavepackets with 40 ps period, equivalent to 25 GHz repetition—103 times faster than previous entanglement observation in continuous-wave systems. The quantum correlation of 4.5 dB is already sufficient for several QIP applications, and our system can be readily extended to large-scale entanglement. Moreover, our scheme has high compatibility with optical communication technology such as wavelength-division multiplexing, and femtosecond-timescale observation is also feasible. Our demonstration is a paradigm shift in accelerating accessible quantum correlation—the foundational resource of all quantum applications—from the nanosecond to picosecond timescales, enabling ultrafast optical QIP. Optical Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen correlation is observed on a picosecond timescale in a continuous-wave system. By introducing waveguide optical parametric amplifiers and balanced detectors, the quantum correlation 4.5 dB below the shot-noise level is observed.

We propose a pulse and continuous wave (CW) hybrid architecture of continuous-variable measurement-based optical quantum computation utilizing the strengths of both pulsed and CW light. In this architecture, input and ancillary non-Gaussian quantum states necessary for fault-tolerance and universality are generated with pulsed light, whereas quantum processors including continuous-variable cluster states and homodyne measurement systems are operated with CW light. This architecture is expected to enable both generation of quantum states with shorter optical wavepackets for ultrafast computation and low-loss manipulation and measurement of these states. In this study, as a proof-of-principle, an ultrafast homodyne measurement using a CW local oscillator was performed on single-photon states generated with pulsed light. The measured single-photon state's temporal width was around 70 ps and the value of the Wigner function at the origin was W(0,0) = -0.153±0.003, which is highly non-classical. This will be a core technology for high-speed optical quantum information processing.

We generate and perform real-time measurement of optical entangled states with 60-GHz bandwidth using waveguide optical parametric amplifiers and homodyne measurement with phase sensitive amplification, foreseeing quantum information processing with ultrafast clock frequency.

To harness the potential of a quantum computer, quantum information must be protected against error by encoding it into a logical state that is suitable for quantum error correction. The Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill (GKP) qubit is a promising candidate because the required multiqubit operations are readily available at optical frequency. To date, however, GKP qubits have been demonstrated only at mechanical and microwave frequencies. We realized a GKP state in propagating light at telecommunication wavelength and verified it through homodyne measurements without loss corrections. The generation is based on interference of cat states, followed by homodyne measurements. Our final states exhibit nonclassicality and non-Gaussianity, including the trident shape of faint instances of GKP states. Improvements toward brighter, multipeaked GKP qubits will be the basis for quantum computation with light.

Single-pixel superconducting nanostrip photon detectors (SNSPDs) have both low timing jitter of 50 ps and photon-number-resolving capability. We generate multi-photon Fock states with Wigner negativities using SNSPDs, establishing key technologies for sub-THz quantum information processing.