Hyperentanglement for advanced quantum communication

Quantum entanglement is known to enable otherwise impossible feats in various communication protocols, such as quantum key distribution and super-dense coding. Here we describe efforts to further enhance the usual benefits, by incorporating quantum states that are simultaneously entangled in multiple degrees of freedom – “hyperentangled”. Via the process of spontaneous parametric down conversion, we have demonstrated photon pairs simultaneously entangled in polarization and spatial mode, and have used these to realize remote entangled state preparation, full polarization Bell-state analysis, and the highest reported capacity quantum dense coding.