In discovering a method to stably distinguish three-photon W states, scientists from Japan are advancing quantum information operations.

Researchers from Kyoto University and Hiroshima University have achieved a milestone in quantum science by experimentally demonstrating a one-shot entangled measurement for W states: a prominent type of multi-photon quantum entanglement that had previously eluded such identification.

On 13 September 2025, the team was announced to have successfully constructed a device for three-photon W states, employing robust optical quantum circuits that operate stably over extended periods without the need for active adjustments.

Single photons prepared in specific polarization states are sent through this device, enabling the researchers to distinguish among different variants of three-photon W states. Each state corresponds to unique, non-classical correlations among the constituent photons. The researchers have also quantified the device’s fidelity, representing the likelihood of correctly identifying an input pure W-state: a key performance metric for practical quantum information tasks.

This technical advance paves the way for a range of quantum innovations. A functional entangled measurement for W states holds promise for “quantum teleportation”: the transfer of quantum information. Also, the breakthrough can give rise to new communication protocols that rely on transferring multi-photon entangled states. Additionally, these methods may lay foundations for novel forms of measurement-based quantum computing, where computation relies on performing measurements on entangled resource states rather than quantum gates alone.

Looking forward, the researchers plan to scale their method to entangled states involving more photons, and to diversify its applicability to general multi-photon configurations. They also intend to develop integrated, chip-based photonic quantum circuits for performing entangled measurements, potentially accelerating the pace of quantum technology development.

The breakthrough underlines the necessity of deepening foundational understanding in quantum science to inspire future innovations, marking a significant step toward practical quantum teleportation and advanced quantum computation.

The method’s compatibility with photonic quantum processors accelerates scalability, enabling more reliable entangled measurements necessary for fault-tolerant quantum error correction and multiplexed quantum communication systems. As quantum platforms adopt integrated photonics, the W state measurement technique will enhance both the fidelity and efficiency of quantum operations, eliminating a key bottleneck faced by conventional quantum computing architectures.

*Explainer: Quantum entanglement distinguishes quantum mechanics from classical physics, defying the notion that every particle can be described independently. This phenomenon, integral to quantum technologies, requires precise identification and generation of complex entangled states, which standard quantum tomography struggles to address due to exponential scaling in required measurements as photon numbers grow. Historically, a one-shot entangled measurement for Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) states was proposed and realized more than 25 years ago. However, replicating this for W states — another fundamental entangled state crucial for quantum communication and computing — had remained unsolved until now. Motivated by this gap, the research team developed a theory-driven method leveraging the W state’s unique cyclic shift symmetry. Their approach uses a photonic quantum circuit capable of performing a quantum Fourier transformation tailored for W states with any photon count.