Quantum gates using linear optics and postselection

Abstract

Recently it was realized that linear optics and photodetectors with feedback can be used for theoretically efficient quantum information processing. The first of three steps toward efficient linear optics quantum computation is to design a simple postselected gate that implements a nonlinear phase shift on one mode. Here a computational strategy is given for finding postselected gates for bosonic qubits with helper photons. A more efficient conditional sign flip gate is obtained. What is the maximum efficiency for such gates? This question is posed and it is shown that the probability of success cannot be 1. 5555 2002 The American Physical Society.