The Galton board is a desktop probability machine traditionally used to visualize the principles of statistical physics with classical particles. Here, we demonstrate a photonic Galton board that enables on-chip observation of single-photon interference. The photonic Galton board, which can be considered as a simplified Boson sampler, consists of a directional coupler matrix terminated by an array of superconducting nanowire detectors to provide spatiotemporal resolution. This design also allows for photon-number-resolving capability, making it suitable for high-speed photon counting. Our results demonstrate the compatibility between single-photon detector array and photonic integrated circuits, paving the way for implementing on-chip large-scale quantum optics experiments and photonic quantum computing.
@article{arxiv.2408.08452,
title = {Integrated photonic Galton board and its application for photon counting},
author = {Hezheng Qin and Risheng Cheng and Yiyu Zhou and Hong X. Tang},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2408.08452},
year = {2024}
}