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The concept that light comes in discrete units of energy, the quantum of light named photon, is a cornerstone of Quantum Physics. Current technology allow experimentalists to generate, manipulate and detect photons in ways only imaginable for the earlier formulators of Quantum Physics. Nowadays, we can use photons to test fundamental aspects of Quantum Physics, as well as to develop applications, specially in the fields of quantum computation, communication, cryptography, metrology and sensing.This thesis aims to explore the frontiers of Quantum Optics in 4 fronts: (1) quantum photonics tools, (2) quantum computing and computational complexity, (3) quantum metrology, and (4) quantum correlations. The research presented here can be formulated in 4 respective questions:• How to prepare a state with a large number of single photons? Using our Multiple Channel Optical Switcher photonic chip.• How to scale Boson Sampling experiments, specially to a regime where it is closer to the quantum computational advantage and/or can challenge the Extended Church-Turing Thesis? Combining continuous-variables optical technology with temporal encoding.• How to demonstrate an optimal method to estimate the spacial characteristics of a distant source of thermal light? Using recent advances in quantum metrology and number-resolving photon detectors.• Are there quantum correlations beyond entanglement and discord? Probably yes.Of course, even to better understand what each of these questions and answers mean, it is necessary a minimum background which I tried to provide in the beginning of the thesis and in each chapter. The reader will find out the details of each of these questions and answers. I wish you a good reading! |
