Probabilistically perfect quantum cloning and unambiguous state discrimination

We consider the N → M probabilistically perfect quantum cloning machine that perfectly produces M faithful copies from N identical input states, where the input states are selected, with prior probabilities η₁and η₂ = 1 − η₁, from a given set of the two linearly independent states |ψ₁〉^⊗ N = (cosθ|0〉 + sinθ|1〉)^⊗ N and |ψ₂〉^⊗ N = (sinθ|0〉 + cosθ|1〉)^⊗ N (θ∈(0,π/2)). We derive the optimal distribution of the success probabilities. When M approaches infinite, the probabilistically perfect quantum cloning can be regarded as a kind of the unambiguous state discrimination, and theoretically provides the upper bound of the unambiguous state discrimination. By using the optimal distribution of the success probabilities of the optimal asymmetric 1 → M probabilistically perfect quantum cloning, we can derive the maximum average success probability of the unambiguous discrimination of two nonorthogonal quantum states |ψ₁〉and|ψ₂〉. As an example, we give the explicit transformation of the optimal symmetric 1 → M probabilistically perfect quantum cloning to copy the two input states |ψ₁〉 and |ψ₂〉.     

Entanglement criteria and full separability of multi-qubit quantum states

We introduce an entanglement criterion to exclude full separability of quantum states. We present numerical evidence that the criterion is necessary and sufficient for the class of GHZ diagonal three-qubit states and estimate the volume of bound entangled states within this class. Finally, we extend our approach to bound entangled states which are not GHZ diagonal.     

No-signaling principle can determine optimal quantum state discrimination

We provide a general framework of utilizing the no-signaling principle in derivation of the guessing probability in the minimum-error quantum state discrimination. We show that, remarkably, the guessing probability can be determined by the no-signaling principle. This is shown by proving that, in the semidefinite programing for the discrimination, the optimality condition corresponds to the constraint that quantum theory cannot be used for a superluminal communication. Finally, a general bound to the guessing probability is presented in a closed form.     

Quantum Stochastic Walk models for quantum state discrimination

Quantum Stochastic Walks (QSW) allow for a generalization of both quantum and classical random walks by describing the dynamic evolution of an open quantum system on a network, with nodes corresponding to quantum states of a fixed basis. We consider the problem of quantum state discrimination on such a system, and we solve it by optimizing the network topology weights. Finally, we test it on different quantum network topologies and compare it with optimal theoretical bounds.     

Optimal approach to rotational state reconstruction of linear molecules

We present a simulation for the reconstruction of the rotational quantum state of linear molecules to retrieve the density matrix. An optimal approach in the sense of minimal error limit is proposed, in which a variable set of angular frequency is properly chosen and the least square inversion is then applied. This approach of reconstruction from time-dependent molecular-axis angular distribution is proved adaptable for various object states, which has a good numerical stability independent of the selected rotational space.     

Optimal unambiguous discrimination of pure quantum states using SDP method

In the present paper, an exact analytic solution for the optimal unambiguous state discrimination(OPUSD) problem involving an arbitrary number of pure linearly independent quantum states with real and complex inner product is presented. Using semidefinite programming and Karush-Kuhn-Tucker convex optimization method, we derive an analytical formula which shows the relation between optimal solution of unambiguous state discrimination problem and an arbitrary number of pure linearly independent quantum states.     

线性光学实现量子普适确切态识别

给出一种量子普适确切态识别的线性光学实现方案.此方案只用到双光子的干涉和符合测量,在实验上是简单可行的.同时提出一种改进方案,通过一定量的辅助光子,使得上述方案成功概率得以提高.这一方案将可应用于量子密钥分配等安全信息交流中. 关键词： 确切态识别 线性光学     

Experimental realization of maximum confidence quantum state discrimination for the extraction of quantum information

We present the first experimental demonstration of the maximum confidence measurement strategy for quantum state discrimination. Applying this strategy to an arbitrary set of states assigns to each input state a measurement outcome which, when realized, gives the highest possible confidence that the state was indeed present. The theoretically optimal measurement for discriminating between three equiprobable symmetric qubit states is implemented in a polarization-based free-space interferometer. The maximum confidence in the measurement result is 2/3. This is the first explicit demonstration that an improvement in the confidence over the optimal minimum error measurement is possible for linearly dependent states.     

Consciousness and quantum interference—An experimental approach

After a discussion of the possible connections between quantum mechanics and consciousness, and an examination of the circumstances under which some properties of a macroscopic system may be described by a quantum mechanical wave function, we propose three types of experiments in which one may search for the possible existence of quantal interference in mental events.     

Critical investigation of Jauch's approach to the quantum theory of measurement

To make Jauch's approach more realistic, his assumptions are modified in two ways: (1) On the quantum system plus the measuring apparatus (S+MA) after the measuring interaction has ceased, one can actually measure only operators of the formA _k b _k Q _k ,whereA is any Hermitian operator for S, the resolution of the identity _kQ_k=1 defines MA as a classical system (following von Neumann), and theb _k are real numbers (S and MA are distant). (2) Measurement is defined in the most general way (including, besides first-kind, also second-kind and third-kind or indirect measurements). It is shown that Jauch's basic result that the microstates (statistical operators) of S+MA before and after the collapse correspond to the same macrostate (belong to the same equivalence class of microstates) remains valid under the above modifications, and that the significance of this result goes beyond measurement theory. On the other hand, it is argued that taking the orthodox (i.e. uncompromisingly quantum) view of quantum mechanics, it is not the collapse, but the Jauch-type macrostates that are spurious in a Jauch-type theory.     

Optimal design and experimental investigation of surfactant encapsulated microbubbles

The diagnostic capabilities of ultrasound imaging can be improved with contrast-specific nonlinear imaging modalities such as harmonic and subharmonic imaging. The nonlinear response of an encapsulated microbubble in an acoustic field is strongly influenced by the shell viscoelastic properties that are determined by the shell composition and thickness. In this paper, the subharmonic performance of a surfactant encapsulated microbubble was optimized by choosing the appropriate composition of shell material with the aid of theoretical model. To study the effects of viscoelastic properties of microbubble shell materials on the nonlinear scattered response of microbubbles, a theoretical model-modified Herring equation for the oscillation of encapsulated microbubbles in the ultrasound field was employed. Based on this model, a computer aided design system was developed to optimize and analyze the acoustic properties, particularly subharmonic responses, of microbubbles under different shell parameters. Furthermore, surfactant encapsulated microbubbles with different viscoelastic properties were prepared by changing the shell composition. Their shell viscoelastic behavior was measured indirectly as dilational modulus of monolayer film formed with surfactant molecular. Moreover, in vitro quantitative acoustic properties measurements of these microbubbles were carried out to evaluate their subharmonic performance. Both of the theoretical simulation and acoustic measurement showed that the surfactant encapsulated microbubbles with good subharmonic properties could be designed and prepared by adjusting the shell material composition with the guide of the computer aided design system.     

A semiclassical approach to the ground state and density oscillations of quantum dots

A semiclassical Thomas–Fermi method, including a Weizsäcker gradient term, is implemented to describe ground states of two-dimensional nanostructures of arbitrary shape. Time-dependent density oscillations are addressed in the same spirit using the corresponding semiclassical time-dependent equations. The validity of the approximations is tested, both for ground state and density oscillations, compared with the available microscopic Kohn–Sham solutions.     

Infinite quantum well: A coherent state approach

A new family of 2-component vector-valued coherent states for the quantum particle motion in an infinite square well potential is presented. They allow a consistent quantization of the classical phase space and observables for a particle in this potential. We then study the resulting position and (well-defined) momentum operators. We also consider their mean values in coherent states and their quantum dispersions.     

External control of qubit-photon interaction and multi-qubit reset in a dissipative quantum network

A quantum network is a promising quantum many-body system because of its tailored geometry and controllable interaction. Here,we propose an external control scheme for the qubit-photon interaction and multiqubit reset in a dissipative quantum network,which comprises superconducting circuit chains with microwave drives and filter-filter couplings. The traditional multiqubit reset of the quantum network requires physically disconnected qubits to prevent their entanglement. However, we use an original effect of dissipation, i.e., consuming the entanglement generated by qubits' interaction, to achieve an external control of the multiqubit reset in an always-connected superconducting circuit. The reset time is independent of the number of qubits in the quantum network. Our proposal can tolerate considerable fluctuations in the system parameters and can be applicable to higherdimensional quantum networks.     

Green's function approach to the quantum many-body theory of the solid state

TheGreen's function approach is used to develop a quantum many-body theory of the solid state which should work at low temperatures as well as in the neighbourhood of phase transition points. The theory is applicable also in those cases where the traditional expansion of the potential in powers of the atomic displacements is entirely inadequate (crystalline helium). The starting point of our approach is the concept of broken symmetry since the invariance of the equilibrium ensemble under the continuous group of infinitesimal translations is reduced in a crystalline solid to the invariance under finite translations through a lattice vector. A homogeneous integral equation is derived which has nontrivial solutions in the crystalline state. By this equation it is shown that the umklapp phonons are the symmetry restoring collective modes expected due to a general theorem ofGoldstone. The single particle excitations and the structure of the Dyson mass operator in the crystalline state are discussed. It is further shown that the homogeneous Bethe-Salpeter equation for the linear response to an external disturbance possesses symmetry breaking solutions which are connected to the lattice dynamics of the solid state. These collective excitations (phonons) are exhibited in RPA and tight-binding approximation for monoatomic cubic crystals with a Bravais lattice in order to demonstrate how the present theory reproduces well-known results.     

A scheme of quantum state discrimination over specified states via weak-value measurement

The commonly adopted projective measurements are invalid in the specified task of quantum state discrimination when the discriminated states are superposition of planar-position basis states whose complex-number probability amplitudes have the same magnitude but different phases. Therefore we propose a corresponding scheme via weak-value measurement and examine the feasibility of this scheme. Furthermore, the role of the weak-value measurement in quantum state discrimination is analyzed and compared with one in quantum state tomography in this Letter.     

Towards an experimental test of gravity-induced quantum state reduction

Modern developments in condensed matter and cold atom physics have made the realization of macroscopic quantum states in the laboratory everyday practice. The ready availability of these states suggests the possibility of experimentally investigating different proposals for the mechanism of quantum state reduction. One such proposal is the hypothesis of Penrose and Diósi, according to which quantum state reduction is a manifestation of the incompatibilty of general relativity and the unitary time evolution of quantum physics. Dimensional analysis suggests that Schrödinger cat type states should collapse on measurable time-scales when masses and lengths of the order of bacterial scales are involved. We analyse this hypothesis in the context of the modern experimental realizations of macroscopic quantum states. First we consider ‘micromechanical’ quantum states, analysing the capacity of an atomic force microscopy based single spin detector to measure the gravitational state reduction, but we conclude that it seems impossible to suppress environmental decoherence to the required degree. We subsequently discuss ‘split’ cold atom condensates to find out that these are at present lacking the required mass-scale by many orders of magnitude. We then extend Penrose's analysis to superpositions of mass current carrying states, and we apply this to the flux quantum bits realized in superconducting circuits. We find that the flux qubits approach the scale where gravitational state reduction should become measurable, but bridging the few remaining orders of magnitude appears to be very difficult with present day technology.     

Phonon-induced decoherence of the two-level quantum subsystem due to relaxation and dephasing processes

Phonon-related decoherence effects in a double-well two-level subsystem coupled to a solid are studied theoretically by the example of deformation phonons. Expressions for the reduced density matrix at T=0 are derived beyond the Markovian approximation by means of explicit solution of the non-stationary Schrödinger equation for the interacting electron-phonon system.     

Nanophotonic waveguidance in quantum networks - A simulation approach for quantum state transfer

A cavity-assisted Raman process can initialize the inter-conversion of stationary spin qubits and flying photon qubits in quantum channels. The qubit transmission essentially requires the implementation of special laser fields to excite atoms at the transmitting node of the quantum cavity. The flying qubit is ultimately absorbed at the receiving node of the channel to regenerate the original spin state of the nanodot. The present paper deals with the phenomena involved in such nanophotonic waveguidance by the process of rigorous simulation, and it is reported that the results obtained by implementing suitable transmission protocol reflect well the reliable transfer/entanglement of the quantum states of the nanodot qubit.     

A combined quantum mechanical and experimental approach towards chiral diketopiperazine hydroperoxides

In order to improve hydroperoxide formation from heterocyclic compounds relating to the formation rate and to allow a suitable choice of starting materials for autoxidation, theoretical studies on a set of different amino acid‐derived diketopiperazines and pyrazinoquinazolines were carried out. To estimate their reactivity towards hydroperoxide formation, bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) of tertiary α‐C? H bonds as well as reaction enthalpies to the corresponding hydroperoxides were calculated at the B3LYP/TZVP and RMP2/aug‐cc‐pVTZ level of theory. The Evans–Polanyi relation was then used to correlate substrate reactivity with calculated BDEs. Thermal and zero point vibrational energy (ZPE) corrections were determined in the classical harmonic oscillator‐rigid rotor‐particle in a box model. While for the investigated set of diketopiperazines BDEs of 318.8–327.0 kJ mol^?1 were found, BDEs for pyrazinoquinazolines spread between 248.4 and 368.4 kJ mol^?1 at the B3LYP/TZVP level of theory. A selected subset of heterocycles was converted to the corresponding hydroperoxides and the diketopiperazines were obtained in up to 39% yield after 5–7 days, whereas the pyrazinoquinazoline hydroperoxides were isolated in up to 67% yield after 24 h. Thus, replacing an amido moiety in an N‐aryl‐imino moiety when using pyrazinoquinazolines instead of diketopiperazines leads indeed to an improved captodative stabilization of the radical intermediate. Furthermore the theoretical calculations allowed a distinctive forecast of the preferred regioisomeric hydroperoxide. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.