In photonic quantum computing hardware like borealis can we apply a beamsplitter between any two modes (it can be done in software) or is it limited to nearest neighbour qumodes? For example if I have 5 qumodes, can I apply a beamsplitter between modes 0 and 3?
Hi @Al_Muktadir , it’s great to see you back here in the Forum!
It depends on the specific architecture of the computer. For example Borealis had connections between nearest neighbours, plus modes with distance 6, plus modes with distance 36. This means you could apply a beamsplitter between modes 0 and 1, or modes 0 and 6, or modes 0 and 36 and so on. However it didn’t have connections between modes with distance 4, so you couldn’t use a beamsplitter between modes 0 and 3.
This was not a hard limitation, it was more of a design choice in the architecture of that specific computer. Other computers with different design choices will have different connection possibilities.
I hope this helps!
Thanks for your reply!
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