Active multiplexing for scalable generation and manipulation of photonic quantum states

Abstract

Photons serve as essential carriers of quantum information in quantum computing, quantum networking, and quantum metrology. However, the lack of direct photon-photon interaction poses a fundamental barrier: the inherently probabilistic nature of nonlinear quantum operations. Active multiplexing has emerged as the critical strategy, transforming probabilistic nonlinear processes into deterministic building blocks for large-scale quantum systems. In this review, we explore the recent progress and potential architectures of photonic active multiplexing systems, ranging from the quasi-deterministic generation of single photons and complex entangled states to the realization of measurement-based quantum computing architectures. We also provide an overview of recent advancements in enabling hardware—including basic photon sources, detectors, switches, and their integration. By analyzing the state of the art and identifying key remaining challenges, we highlight how active multiplexing strategies serve as the cornerstone for the next generation of scalable photonic quantum information processing.

Graphical abstract