构造纠缠目击的一般方法

量子纠缠作为量子通信和量子计算过程中不可缺少的资源,在量子信息领域中有着广泛的应用.如何判定一个给定的量子态是否为纠缠态仍然是一个重要的课题.纠缠目击是一种特殊的自伴算子,它可以用来判断一个量子态是否为纠缠态.本文首先从纠缠目击的定义入手,给出构造纠缠目击的一般方法,证明了当一个可测量A在可分纯态上的最大期望CA严格小于它的最大特征值λ_(max)(A)时,对任何满足条件C_A≤Cλ_(max)(A)的参数C,算子W_C=CI-A都是一个纠缠目击;然后,作为应用得到了利用图态的稳定子构造纠缠目击的一系列方法.     

Entanglement properties of GHZ and W superposition state and its decayed states

We use the generalized Wootters formula, the positive partial transpose(PPT) criterion and the matched entanglement witness, to detect entanglement of three-qubit GHZ and W superposition state and its decayed states. It shows that the results of the generalized Wootters formula in the part near the W state are tight. In the other parts, the PPT criterion is superior to the generalized Wootters formula. Furthermore, we investigate the relationship between entanglement and coherence.     

Construction of an optimal witness for unknown two-qubit entanglement

Whether entanglement in a state can be detected, distilled, and quantified without full state reconstruction is a fundamental open problem. We demonstrate a new scheme encompassing these three tasks for arbitrary two-qubit entanglement, by constructing the optimal entanglement witness for polarization-entangled mixed-state photon pairs without full state reconstruction. With better efficiency than quantum state tomography, the entanglement is maximally distilled by newly developed tunable polarization filters and quantified by the expectation value of the witness, which equals the concurrence. This scheme is extendible to multiqubit Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger entanglement.     

Experimental methods for detecting entanglement

Here we present experimental realizations of two new entanglement detection methods: a three-measurement Bell inequality inequivalent to the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt inequality and a nonlinear Bell-type inequality based on the negativity measure. In addition, we provide an experimental and theoretical comparison between these new methods and several techniques already in use: the traditional Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt inequality, the entanglement witness, and complete state tomography.     

Experimental observation of four-photon entangled Dicke state with high fidelity

We present the experimental observation of the symmetric four-photon entangled Dicke state with two excitations |D_{4};{(2)}. A simple experimental setup allowed quantum state tomography yielding a fidelity as high as 0.844+/-0.008. We study the entanglement persistency of the state using novel witness operators and focus on the demonstration of a remarkable property: depending on the orientation of a measurement on one photon, the remaining three photons are projected into both inequivalent classes of genuine tripartite entanglement, the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger and W class. Furthermore, we discuss possible applications of |D_{4};{(2)} in quantum communication.     

基于纠缠见证的路径纠缠微波检测方法

提出了一种基于纠缠见证的路径纠缠微波信号检测方法.路径纠缠微波是微波频段上的连续变量纠缠,介绍了利用微波压缩态和微波分束器制备路径纠缠微波的方法.根据部分转置正定判据以及2?2纠缠态密度矩阵的部分转置具有负本征值的性质,分别对常见的两种2?2纠缠进行了纠缠见证算符的构造,用于对两路信号是否为纠缠态进行判定.将连续变量纠缠的路径纠缠微波分解为大量2?2纠缠子系统叠加的纠缠态,证明其能够利用所构造的2?2纠缠见证算符来检测路径纠缠微波.同时分析了微波分束器的作用,并利用微波分束器设计了一种用于检测路径纠缠微波信号的实验方案,并在理论上分析了纠缠检测所得到的结果.结果表明,该方法能够有效检测路径纠缠微波信号,降低了检测的复杂度和计算量.本文的研究为纠缠微波的检测提供了思路.     

Witness for Non-Quasi Maximally Entangled States

Maximally entangled states, defined as those states that have the maximal entanglement of formation under some entanglement measure, are the ideal resource for many quantum missions. In this paper, we call a convex roof of maximally entangled pure states a quasi maximally entangled state. First, we present the concept of a witness for non-quasi maximally entangled states, which is an observable that can distinguish some non-quasi maximally entangled states from quasi maximally entangled ones. Then we prove that every non-quasi maximally entangled state can be witnessed by a witness and obtain some necessary and sufficient conditions for an observable to be a witness for non-quasi maximally entangled states. Lastly, we give some classes of Hermitian operators, which can become witnesses. Especially, we compute non-quasi maximally entangled states that can be detected by a specific product operator.     

Testing the nonlocality of entangled states by a new Bell-like inequality

We test a new four-qubit entangled state by the former Bell-like inequalities and find that it violates these inequalities, but not maximally. According to this entangled state, we build a new Bell-like inequality, which is violated by this new state maximally. We also determine the nonlocality of some other four-qubit states by the new inequality. It is found that the new inequality acts as a strong entanglement witness for the new state. This can be used to test new entangled states experimentally.     

Full characterization of a three-photon Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger state using quantum state tomography

We have performed the first experimental tomographic reconstruction of a three-photon polarization state. Quantum state tomography is a powerful tool for fully describing the density matrix of a quantum system. We measured 64 three-photon polarization correlations and used a "maximum-likelihood" reconstruction method to reconstruct the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger state. The entanglement class has been characterized using an entanglement witness operator and the maximum predicted values for the Mermin inequality were extracted.     

Efficient Polarization Entanglement Distribution for W State Assisted by Frequency Degree of Freedom

We present an efficient faithful polarization entanglement distribution protocol for W state over an arbitrary noise channel,which use the frequency degree of freedom to carry the entanglement during the transmission.We describe the transmission of three-photon W state as an example,and then generalize this scheme to n-qubit W state situation.The remote parties can obtain maximally entangled W states on the polarization of photons,and the success probability is 100% in principle.As there was few entanglement purification for W state,our scheme is an efficient and practical method to share W state entanglement between distant parties,which will be useful in quantum communication.We also show that our scheme can be used to distribute arbitrary multi-particle entangled state.     

Detecting Entanglement of States by Entries of Their Density Matrices

For any bipartite systems, a universal entanglement witness of rank-4 for pure states is obtained and a class of finite rank entanglement witnesses is constructed. In addition, a method of detecting entanglement of a state only by entries of its density matrix with respect to some product basis is obtained.     

Parametrization of Projector-Based Witnesses for Bipartite Systems

Entanglement witnesses are nonpositive Hermitian operators which can detect the presence of entanglement. In this paper, we provide a general parametrization for orthonormal basis of ℂ ⁿ and use it to construct projector-based witness operators for entanglement detection in the vicinity of pure bipartite states. Our method to parameterize entanglement witnesses is operationally simple and could be used for doing symbolic and numerical calculations. As an example we use the method for detecting entanglement between an atom and the single mode of quantized field, described by the Jaynes-Cummings model. We also compare the detection of witnesses with the negativity of the state, and show that in the vicinity of pure stats such constructed witnesses able to detect entanglement of the state.     

Benchmarking a quantum teleportation protocol in superconducting circuits using tomography and an entanglement witness

Teleportation of a quantum state may be used for distributing entanglement between distant qubits in quantum communication and for quantum computation. Here we demonstrate the implementation of a teleportation protocol, up to the single-shot measurement step, with superconducting qubits coupled to a microwave resonator. Using full quantum state tomography and evaluating an entanglement witness, we show that the protocol generates a genuine tripartite entangled state of all three qubits. Calculating the projection of the measured density matrix onto the basis states of two qubits allows us to reconstruct the teleported state. Repeating this procedure for a complete set of input states we find an average output state fidelity of 86%.     

Multistage entanglement swapping

We report an experimental demonstration of entanglement swapping over two quantum stages. By successful realizations of two cascaded photonic entanglement swapping processes, entanglement is generated and distributed between two photons, that originate from independent sources and do not share any common past. In the experiment we use three pairs of polarization entangled photons and conduct two Bell-state measurements: one between the first and second pair, and one between the second and third pair. This results in projecting the remaining two outgoing photons from pair 1 and 3 into an entangled state, as characterized by an entanglement witness. The experiment represents an important step towards a full quantum repeater where multiple entanglement swapping is a key ingredient.     

Detection of entanglement with polarized photons: experimental realization of an entanglement witness

We report on the first experimental realization of an entanglement witness, a method to detect entanglement with few local measurements. The present demonstration has been performed with polarized photons in Werner states, a well-known family of mixed states that can be either separable or nonseparable. The Werner states are generated by a novel high brilliance source of bipartite entangled states by which the state mixedness can be easily adjusted.     

Detecting entanglement using a double-quantum-dot turnstile

We propose a scheme based on using the singlet ground state of an electron spin pair in a double-quantum-dot nanostructure as a suitable setup for detecting entanglement between electron spins via the measurement of an optimal entanglement witness. Using time-dependent gate voltages and magnetic fields the entangled spins are separated and coherently rotated in the quantum dots and subsequently detected at spin-polarized quantum point contacts. We analyze the coherent time evolution of the entangled pair and show that by counting coincidences in the four exits an entanglement test can be done. This setup is close to present-day experimental possibilities and can be used to produce pairs of entangled electrons "on demand."     

New high-efficiency source of a three-photon w state and its full characterization using quantum state tomography

We propose and demonstrate a new scheme of high-efficiency generation of the three-photon polarization-entangled W state, which is a typical three-qubit entangled state. The high efficiency has enabled the first full characterization of the state by quantum state tomography. We have analyzed the obtained state and observed its nature of tripartite entanglement and robustness of entanglement.     

Entanglement as a precondition for secure quantum key distribution

We demonstrate that a necessary precondition for an unconditionally secure quantum key distribution is that both sender and receiver can use the available measurement results to prove the presence of entanglement in a quantum state that is effectively distributed between them. One can thus systematically search for entanglement using the class of entanglement witness operators that can be constructed from the observed data. We apply such analysis to two well-known quantum key distribution protocols, namely, the 4-state protocol and the 6-state protocol. As a special case, we show that, for some asymmetric error patterns, the presence of entanglement can be proven even for error rates above 25% (4-state protocol) and 33% (6-state protocol).     

Realization and characterization of a two-photon four-qubit linear cluster state

We report on the experimental realization of a four-qubit linear cluster state via two photons entangled both in polarization and linear momentum. This state was investigated by performing tomographic measurements and by evaluating an entanglement witness. By use of this state we carried out a novel nonlocality proof, the so-called "stronger two observer all-versus-nothing" test of quantum nonlocality.