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Qudit Propagation Through Multimode Optical Fiber and the Geometry of the Quantum State

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16 December 2025

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17 December 2025

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Abstract
We simulate the propagation of a W states through an optical fiber in the presence of mode coupling. We illustrate the propagating quantum state graphically on a group of higher order Poincaré spheres. At the fiber output we show how to recover the input quantum state using the simulated quantum state information displayed on the multiple spheres. The geometry of these states is an SU(N) quantum geometry. Applications include higher dimensional quantum communications, quantum cryptography, and quantum networks, and longer-term quantum optical computing.
Keywords: 
qudit propagation
;  
quantum state
;  
W state
Subject: 
Physical Sciences  -   Optics and Photonics

I Introduction

Quantum communications and in particular quantum key distribution, QKD, research is of significant worldwide interest. This is occurring due to increased interest in modular quantum computing [1] and in secure communications based on quantum physics, [2,3,4,5]. Quantum technology is mostly based on the processing of qubits [6], the quantum state which has a probability amplitude in being in one of 2 positions, states. Qudits are quantum states that can be detected in one of N states. There are advantages to processing quantum information with qudits rather than qubits, but the added implementation complexity is often not understood. Research on this topic is now an important subject for quantum information technology.
Within quantum communications, the transmission of quantum information using advanced states such as W states and GHZ states [7] is of importance and current interest. A key advantage is that one can send more quantum information per photon [8]. In this report we investigate theoretically and through modeling the possibility of transmitting W quantum states through multimode optical fiber. As an application, we consider transmitting a 4-mode spatial – polarization quantum state through fiber in the presence of mode coupling. This is similar to transmitting a polarization based qubit through single mode fiber, under the presence of mode coupling, but is somewhat more complex. In the single mode case, one recovers the input polarizations states using polarization controllers. Now with system linked stabilized, the qubit can be transmitted and measured. The polarization controllers need to be monitored and adjusted on the order of minutes. In the 4 mode, qudit case, a more complex quantum state results at the fiber output. Using the quantum field distribution, which we display on a group of Higher Order Quantum Spheres, one can coherently combine both the spatial modal and polarization fields to recover the input quantum state.
In section II, Modal propagation in Optical Fiber, we write the mode coupling propagation equations for a photon transmitting through a 4 mode (2 spatial modes times 2 polarization modes) channel within a fiber. Such modes occur within an LPmn mode of a multimode fiber [9]. In order to track and display the propagation, we propose using a group of Poincaré spheres [10]. We track the propagation along an input sphere and then coupling to other spheres (adjacent modes) as the propagation progresses.
In section III, Mode Coupling, Mode Coherence and Field Recombination at Fiber Output, we show mathematically how to use the calculated or experimentally determined quantum filed information to coherently combine the polarized – modal information to recover the input state. Once this is established, a specific W quantum state can be transmitted and measured at the output.,
In Section IV, we relate the Multiple – Higher Order Poincare Spheres to the geometry of the quantum state, which is an SU(N) geometry.
In Section V, Oulook, we discuss the current research status as it relates to the implementation of higher dimensional quantum communications.

II Modal Propagation in Optical Fiber

Propagation of light in optical fiber is well described by the scaler equation [9] when the index difference between core and clad is, on the order of a few percent. The axial solution is an exponential propagating wave, and the radial and azimuthal components are solutions to the scalar equation [9]
F µ ν ″ r + F ( r ) µ ν ′ ν r r + n 2   k 2   − ν 2   r 2     − β 2         F µ ν ( r )
The scalar wave equation can be solved using a Eigen solution method [11]. Here a set of basis functions are used to obtain wave functions which are a superpositions of these basis functions. Typically, Laguerre Gauss functions are used as the basis functions and the solutions are characterized as LP, linearly polarized modes. These solutions are functions of a radial function (µ ) and an azimuthal function (ν). For m not equal to 0, they are also characterized as orbital angular momentum modes. For circular cores, the LPµν modes are separable in their radial, azimuthal and axial components and can be written as:
ψ µ ν = A µ ν F µ ν r exp ± ν θ exp i   β z
Spatial – higher dimensional quantum communications [8,12] intends to use these spatial distributions as channels for communication with distance and choosing m = +- 1 and a polarization linear state as +- . So, a W quantum state can be written as
W = . 25 . 5   1,1 + 1 , − 1 + − 1,1 + − 1,1
In theory, one can use any LPm,n mode to transmit a W(4) state, but LP(m=+-1, n =1,2,3) are most easily isolated in a fiber (13).
Mode coupling within these LPmn modes is common and expected due to stresses and strains on the fiber due to the deployment process. As an example, the mode coupling components describing this coupling are described by Vassallo for example. [13].
Consider the propagation of the 4 modes within an the LPmn mode described above. The propagation equations are:
γ ψ i j γ z = β ψ + K i j   ψ i j
k i j = j   S
In eq 4b, S is a stress optic coefficient, which we use a beat length of 10 meters.
Light propagating and coupling between two polarizations in time can be displayed on a Poincaré sphere (10,14). Furthermore, light propagating and coupling between two OAM, orbital angular momentum modes, can be displayed on a Higher Order Poincaré sphere [15]. Born and Wolf (10) show how to use the amplitude and phase of the two components can be used to plot the light’s position on the sphere as the propagation continues
  S 1 = | E 1 | 2 − | E 2 | 2
S 2 = E 1   E 2 * + E 2   E 1     *
S 3 = j ( E 1   E 2 * − E 2   E 1 * )

III Mode Coupling, Mode Coherence and Field Recombination at Fiber Output

With 4 modes, there are 6 combinations of the fields of i and j. So, we can plot 6 spheres simultaneously as light propagates and then couples among the 4 modes. So, for the 4 modes, we can take 2 modes at a time and plot a sphere for each. So the spheres will be of: (E1,E2; E1,E3; and E1,E4); If we input light into |1,1>, we can plot the propagation trajectory on the sphere, which combines mode |1,1> with |1,-1>. This is the combination of OAM1 and polarization P1 combining with OAM1 with and polarization -1. The light propagates and couples with the parameters of equation 4 under the twist equations above with a cross coupling of meter and an internal birefringence (beat length) of 1 meter between the 2 OAM modes of different polarizations and a beat length of one-half meter between an OAM modes of two different polarizations.
As the light couples from the input OAM mode and a specific polarization, the radius of the sphere is 1, but then as it begins to couple to the other possibilities, the radius of the initial sphere shrinks and other spheres begin to appear and grow in radius. We plot below the 6 spheres below as the light propagates up to 100 meters. We use Python 3 d graphics to plot the spheres, figure 1. At the output the fiber, the light from each sphere can be coherently combined to a position on a defined sphere. With applications in mind, we discuss below how to combine these fields at the fiber output, enabling one to transfer a W state.
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Figure 1. Higher Order Poincare Spheres of the different Mode Combinations.
Figure 1. Higher Order Poincare Spheres of the different Mode Combinations.
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Consider the first 3 spheres above marked, E1, E2: E1, E3; and E1, E4. These spheres display the phase difference between the two fields Ei and Ej, as well as their amplitudes. Amplitudes. By rotating the spatial fields to align and or the polarizations to align, one can coherently combine the fields coherently by shifting one field with respect to the other by this phase difference. Experimentally, these phase differences can be directly measured.

IV Multiple – Higher Order Poincare Spheres and the geometery of the quantum state,

The W state of equation 3 can be used to transfer a qudit with more information per photon than that of a qubit. As mentioned, we can do this using an LPmn mode in an optical fiber. Due to mode coupling during propagation, the photon in an initial OAM state and polarization state can have a probability amplitude of being in the other OAM mode and or the other polarization as was shown in the figure 1. A sphere represents the relative amplitude and phase of 2 electric fields. In the typical Poincaré sphere, this is the relation of 2 polarization. In our case we have spheres combining 2 fields of a propagating OAM mode, which can have field combinations of a spatial field with a polarization and another spatial field with a different polarization.
The photon output therefore has a probability amplitude of being in each of the 4 positions with a specific value. Again, in our situati2 n the 4 positions are composed of 2 polarizations and 2 spatial modes. In single mode optical fiber, the quantum state can be graphically displayed on the Poincare sphere. In higher dimensional quantum communications, the quantum states need to be displayed on a higher dimensional sphere, something we can’t do in a 3 dimensional world. So, we propose to use a group of group of spheres to display the quantum information. The Poincare sphere is used to display fiber polarization - propagation information in single mode fiber and this is an SU(2) quantum geometry. Any 2 dimensional quantum state can be displayed on this sphere. Also, any quantum state in this situation can be mathematically described as a specific sum of the Pauli matrices, which represents the quantum geometry of these states. Likewise, the geometry of an N dimensional quantum state is an SU(N) geometry [16,17,18]. Also, any state in an SU(N) geometry can be mathematically represented as a specific sum of the generalized Gell Mann N2 -1 generators quantified with the generalized Gell Mann matrices. Interestingly using these generators, principal states can be determined enabling the possibility of spatial division multiplexing in the presence of mode coupling [16,18]. This is also the case with single mode fiber where one can polarization multiplex without cross talk using principal states based on polarization and determined using the Pauli spin matrices. These principal states are launched using a combination of polarization modes mathematically described with the Pauli spin matrices [19,20]. In the case of multimode fiber, mathematically the generalized Gell Mann matrices are used to generate the launch conditions. Again this is because any quantum state in an N dimensional geometry can be described mathematically using the generalized Gell Mann matrices and then cross talk free states are the principal states, solved with an eigen value matrix.
Most often however, in today’s commercial quantum communication QKD systems, multiplexing is not utilized and principal states are not required. However, the polarization mode coupling that occurs during transmission, polarization controllers are required to coherently combine the transmitted state to the intended polarization state outcome.

V Outlook

Quantum communications is in an early state of implementation. Applications are mostly in cryptography, quantum key distribution using single mode optical and point to point systems. Higher dimensional quantum communications is in the earlier research stage. Advantages include the possibility of quantum communicating with more information per photon. Also, higher dimensional quantum communications offer the possibility of using these dimensions to enable new possibilities in network routing [21]. This is expected to be a very fruitful area of research and eventual commercial implementation. In network routing, the routing is based on multiparticle entanglement. Multiple particle entanglement can be based on wavelength, polarization and spatial mode. Longer term, one could expect all three of these possibilities. Quantum memories will also paly a role as the memory will be used to store the photons for entanglement swapping. The number of wavelengths available in a quantum network, will most likely be less than those in a classical network, due to the more complex requirements of these memories. Thus, the need for additional entanglements parameters such as space and polarization. It is also possible to include time as an entanglement parameter, but using time in this way will slow done the network.

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