Mario Krenn (Vienna): On Computer-Inspired Experiments for Quantum Physics

Designing experimental setups for complex entangled states is a notoriously difficult feat. For that reason, we have developed the computer algorithm MELVIN which is able to find new experimental implementations for the creation and manipulation of quantum states. The discovered experiments extensively use unfamiliar and asymmetric techniques which are challenging to understand intuitively. Nevertheless, several of these computer-designed experiments have already been successfully implemented in our laboratories.
Interestingly, by analyzing MELVIN's proposals, we are able to discover novel techniques. One example is a novel concept of controlled entanglement generation (which we called Entanglement by Path Identity) that is based on ideas from 25 years ago; but has only now been discovered with the help of a computer algorithm. This example shows that computer designed quantum experiments can be inspirations for new techniques and ideas.