Frequency-bin encoding furnishes a compelling pathway for quantum information processing systems compatible with established lightwave infrastructures based on fiber-optic transmission and wavelength-division multiplexing. Yet although significant progress has been realized in proof-of-principle tabletop demonstrations, ranging from arbitrary single-qubit gates to controllable multiphoton interference, challenges in scaling frequency-bin processors to larger systems remain. In this Perspective, we highlight recent advances at the intersection of frequency-bin encoding and integrated photonics that are fundamentally transforming the outlook for scalable frequency-based quantum information. Focusing specifically on results on sources, state manipulation, and hyperentanglement, we envision a possible future in which on-chip frequency-bin circuits fulfill critical roles in quantum information processing, particularly in communications and networking.
@article{arxiv.2412.17683,
title = {On-chip frequency-bin quantum photonics},
author = {Karthik V. Myilswamy and Lucas M. Cohen and Suparna Seshadri and Hsuan-Hao Lu and Joseph M. Lukens},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2412.17683},
year = {2025}
}