Multipartite entangled optical fields with continuous variables and their applications in quantum computation

In parallel with quantum information systems based on single photons, optical quantum information science with continuous variables based on the quadrature components of optical fields is also developing rapidly. For this, multipartite entangled states of light are the fundamental resources. In this paper we first introduce the concepts and preparation of multipartite entangled states, then discuss the basic models of quantum computation with continuous variables and the progress in experimental investigations.