Photonic quantum information processing: From quantum memories to photon-photon gates

Quantum information processing with photons is attractive because photons interact only weakly with their environment, making it easier to observe fundamental quantum phenomena such as superpositions and entanglement. The key elements required for photonic quantum information processing are quantum memories and quantum gates between individual photons. There has recently been great progress in the development of quantum memories. The field of photonic quantum gates may now have reached a critical mass of technology and ideas as well. I describe recent results and ongoing research in both of these directions.