Quantum random walks in a programmable nanophotonic processor

Quantum random walks (QRWs) implemented in photonic media have seen significant recent attention for their applicability to problems in quantum simulation and quantum transport. However, performing statistically robust and high-fidelity studies of these problems has required either manual tuning of optical elements or the fabrication of multiple integrated photonic chips. Here, we present our recent theoretical and preliminary experimental results on the role of disorder and decoherence in QRWs implemented in a large-scale, programmable nanophotonic processor (PNP).