title: Implementation of quantum search algorithm using classical Fourier optics.
abstract: We report on an experiment on Grover's quantum search algorithm showing that classical waves can search a N-item database as efficiently as quantum mechanics can. The transverse beam profile of a short laser pulse is processed iteratively as the pulse bounces back and forth between two mirrors. We directly observe the sought item being found in approximately square root[N] iterations, in the form of a growing intensity peak on this profile. Although the lack of quantum entanglement limits the size of our database, our results show that entanglement is neither necessary for the algorithm itself, nor for its efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute, University of Amsterdam, Valckenierstraat 65, 1018 XE Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: van Linden van den Heuvell
authors.forename: R J C
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Spreeuw