Quantum metrology with coherent superposition of two different coded channels

We investigate the advantage of coherent superposition of two different coded channels in quantum metrology. In a continuous variable system, we show that the Heisenberg limit 1/N can be beaten by the coherent superposition without the help of indefinite causal order. And in parameter estimation, we demonstrate that the strategy with the coherent superposition can perform better than the strategy with quantum SWITCH which can generate indefinite causal order. We analytically obtain the general form of estimation precision in terms of the quantum Fisher information and further prove that the nonlinear Hamiltonian can improve the estimation precision and make the measurement uncertainty scale as 1/Nm for m ≥ 2. Our results can help to construct a high-precision measurement equipment, which can be applied to the detection of coupling strength and the test of time dilation and the modification of the canonical commutation relation.     

基于量子Fisher信息的量子计量进展

量子计量是超冷原子气体研究中的一个热点领域.超冷原子体系独特的量子性质(量子纠缠)和量子效应有助于大幅度提高待测物理量的测量精度,这已经成为量子精密测量中的共识.量子Fisher信息对该领域的发展起了非常重要的作用.本文首先介绍量子Fisher信息的基本概念和量子计量的主要内容;然后简要回顾这些理论在提高测量精度方面的应用,特别是多粒子量子纠缠态的产生及其判定;再介绍线性和非线性原子干涉仪的相关进展;最后论述量子测量过程中的统计方法的研究进展.     

Sub-shot-noise quantum metrology with entangled identical particles

The usual notion of separability has to be reconsidered when applied to states describing identical particles. A definition of separability not related to any a priori Hilbert space tensor product structure is needed: this can be given in terms of commuting subalgebras of observables. Accordingly, the results concerning the use of the quantum Fisher information in quantum metrology are generalized and physically reinterpreted.     

Nonperturbative theory of weak pre- and post-selected measurements

This paper starts with a brief review of the topic of strong and weak pre- and post-selected (PPS) quantum measurements, as well as weak values, and afterwards presents original work. In particular, we develop a nonperturbative theory of weak PPS measurements of an arbitrary system with an arbitrary meter, for arbitrary initial states of the system and the meter. New and simple analytical formulas are obtained for the average and the distribution of the meter pointer variable. These formulas hold to all orders in the weak value. In the case of a mixed preselected state, in addition to the standard weak value, an associated weak value is required to describe weak PPS measurements. In the linear regime, the theory provides the generalized Aharonov–Albert–Vaidman formula. Moreover, we reveal two new regimes of weak PPS measurements: the strongly-nonlinear regime and the inverted region (the regime with a very large weak value), where the system-dependent contribution to the pointer deflection decreases with increasing the measurement strength. The optimal conditions for weak PPS measurements are obtained in the strongly-nonlinear regime, where the magnitude of the average pointer deflection is equal or close to the maximum. This maximum is independent of the measurement strength, being typically of the order of the pointer uncertainty. In the optimal regime, the small parameter of the theory is comparable to the overlap of the pre- and post-selected states. We show that the amplification coefficient in the weak PPS measurements is generally a product of two qualitatively different factors. The effects of the free system and meter Hamiltonians are discussed. We also estimate the size of the ensemble required for a measurement and identify optimal and efficient meters for weak measurements. Exact solutions are obtained for a certain class of the measured observables. These solutions are used for numerical calculations, the results of which agree with the theory. Moreover, the theory is extended to allow for a completely general post-selection measurement. We also discuss time-symmetry properties of PPS measurements of any strength and the relation between PPS and standard (not post-selected) measurements.     

Quantum metrology in correlated environments

We analytically obtain the precision bounds of frequency measurements in correlated Markovian and non-Markovian environments using a variational approach. The metrological equivalence of product states and maximally entangled states persisting in maximally correlated Markovian and non-Markovian environments is verified using a standard Ramsey spectroscopy setup. Furthermore, we find that optimal measurements can be used to achieve a much higher resolution than standard Ramsey spectroscopy in correlated environments.     

Quantum Fisher Information for Density Matrices with Arbitrary Ranks

We provide a new expression of the quantum Fisher information （QFI） for a general system. Utilizing this expression, the QFI for a non-full rank density matrix is only determined by its support. This expression can bring convenience for an infinite-dimensional density matrix with a finite support. Besides, a matrix representation of the QFI is also given.     

Investigations of information quantifiers for the Tavis–Cummings model

In this article, a system of two two-level atoms interacting with a single-mode quantized electromagnetic field in a lossless resonant cavity via a multi-photon transition is considered. The quantum Fisher information, negativity, classical Fisher information, and reduced von Neumann entropy for the two atoms are investigated. We found that the number of photon transitions plays an important role in the dynamics of different information quantifiers in the cases of two symmetric and two asymmetric atoms. Our results show that there is a close relationship between the different quantifiers. Also, the quantum and classical Fisher information can be useful for studying the properties of quantum states which are important in quantum optics and information.     

Quantum Fisher Information Gap for Systems with Nonlinear Hamiltonians

Quantum Fisher information(QFI) gap characterizes the stability of QFI to space directions. We study the QFI distributions and QFI gap for quantum states generated from nonlinear Hamiltonians for both spin and bosonic systems. We find that the same spin-squeezing parameter(or principle squeezing parameter) corresponds to two different values QFI gap, and the locations of all extreme points of the QFI are explicitly given.     

Quantum metrology with entangled coherent states

We present an improved phase estimation scheme employing entangled coherent states and demonstrate that these states give the smallest variance in the phase parameter in comparison to NOON, "bat," and "optimal" states under perfect and lossy conditions. As these advantages emerge for very modest particle numbers, the optical version of entangled coherent state metrology is achievable with current technology.     

Uncertainty relations for a q-deformed coherent spin state

A Coherent Spin State (CSS) is defined as an eigenstate of the spin component in the direction specified by angles (θ₀,?₀). This state satisfies minimum uncertainty relation, with uncertainties equally distributed on any two orthogonal components normal to the direction of the total spin vector 〈S〉. Starting from this concept, we apply the notion of CSS to quantum groups and discuss the properties of q-deformed CSS and the associated uncertainty relations. We show that these states behave as Intelligent Spin States (ISS) on two orthogonal components normal to the direction of the mean value of the spin operator.     

Quantum information processing and metrology with color centers in diamonds

The Nitrogen Vacancy （NV） center is becoming a promising qubit for quantum information processing. The defect has a long coherence time at room temperature and it allows spin state initialized and read out by laser and manipulated by microwave pulses. It has been utilized as a ultra sensi- tive probe for magnetic fields and remote spins as well. Here, we review the recent progresses in experimental demonstrations based on NV centers. We first introduce our work on implementation of the Deutsch- Jozsa algorithm with a single electronic spin in diamond. Then the quantum nature of the bath around the center spin is revealed and continuous wave dynamical decoupling has been demonstrated. By applying dynamical decoupling, a multi-pass quantum metrology protocol is realized to enhance phase estimation. In the final, we demonstrated NV center can be regarded as a ultra-sensitive sensor spin to implement nuclear magnetic resonance （NMR） imaging at nanoscale.     

Fisher information due to a phase noisy laser under non-Markovian environment

More recently, K. Berrada [Annals of Physics 340 (2014) 60-69] [1] studied the geometric phase of a two-level atom system driven by a phase noise laser under non-Markovian dynamics in terms of different parameters involved in the whole system, and collapse and revival phenomena were found for large class of states. In this paper, using this noise effect, we study the quantum fisher information (QFI) for a two-level atom system driven by a phase noise laser under non-Markovian dynamics. A new quantity, called QFI flow is used to characterize the damping effect and unveil a fundamental connection between non-Markovian behavior and dynamics of system–environment correlations under phase noise laser. It is shown that QFI flow has disappeared suddenly followed by a sudden birth depending on the kind of the environment damping. QFI flow provides an indicator to characterize the dissipative quantum system’s decoherence by analyzing the behavior of the dynamical non-Markovian coefficients.     

Different indicators for Markovian and non-Markovian dynamics

The Markovianity/non-Markovianity of two different systems are discussed by means of the quantum speed limit time and quantum Fisher information. The first system is described by a central mass particle interacts locally with its surrounding particles, while the second and third models consist of a single qubit interacts with a non-detuning Lorentzian cavity and with a thermal reservoir, respectively. For the first model, the large distance between the central particle and the surrounding particles is guaranty for a fixed quantum speed limit, while the driving time plays the central role on the fixed behavior of the quantum speed limit time. Due to the stable behavior of the quantum speed limit time and the quantum Fisher information, the exchange information between the systems and their surrounding is limited. The distance between the central mass particle and its surrounding particle plays the main role on predicating the Markovianity/non-Markovianity. For the second system the driving time is an important parameter that control on the Markovianity/non-Markovianity behavior. Finally the third model proves that non-Markovianity dynamic may increase the speed and the sensitivity of the open system.     

Quantum spin chains with fractional revival

A systematic study of fractional revival at two sites in XX$XX$ quantum spin chains is presented. Analytic models with this phenomenon are obtained by combining two basic ways of realizing fractional revival in a spin chain. The first proceeds through isospectral deformations of spin chains with perfect state transfer. The second makes use of couplings provided by the recurrence coefficients of polynomials with a bi-lattice orthogonality grid. The latter method leads to analytic models previously identified that can exhibit perfect state transfer in addition to fractional revival.     

Quantum Fisher information and spin squeezing in one-axis twisting model

We investigate the dependence of the average parameter estimation precision （APEP）, which is defined by the quantum Fisher information, on the polar angle of the initial coherent spin state ｜θ0,φ0〉 in a one-axis twisting model. Jin et al. [New J. Phys. 11 （2009） 073049] found that the spin squeezing sensitively depends on the polar angle θ0 of the initial coherent spin state. We show explicitly that the APEP is robust to the initial polar angle θ0 in the vicinity of π/2 and a near- Heisenberg limit 2IN in quantum single-parameter estimation may still be achieved for states created with the nonlinear evolution of the nonideal coherent spin states θ0- π/2. Based on this model, we also consider the effects of the collective dephasing on spin squeezing and the APEE     

A Dynamical Uncertainty Principle in von Neumann Algebras by Operator Monotone Functions

Suppose that A ₁,…,A _N are observables (selfadjoint matrices) and ρ is a state (density matrix). In this case the standard uncertainty principle, proved by Robertson, gives a bound for the quantum generalized variance, namely for det {Cov  _ρ (A _j ,A _k )}, using the commutators [A _j ,A _k ]; this bound is trivial when N is odd. Recently a different inequality of Robertson-type has been proved by the authors with the help of the theory of operator monotone functions. In this case the bound makes use of the commutators [ρ,A _j ] and is non-trivial for any N. In the present paper we generalize this new result to the von Neumann algebra case. Nevertheless the proof appears to simplify all the existing ones.     

现场激光能量计量技术的研究

由于激光能量计传感器的灵敏度与温度条件有关，在温差较大时，有的传感器灵敏度偏差可达到16%，因而在靶场、野外现场温度条件下，现有的激光能量计无法进行准确测试。为了解决这一问题，研制了一种新型的现场激光能量计。在现有激光能量计的基础上，通过选择相对透明、吸收层相对较厚(毫米量级)、热敏面不易损伤的激光吸收材料，对激光能量计内置温度传感器及数字处理电路进行了重新设计，满足了不同温度条件下现场能量测量的需求。     

A comparative study of local quantum Fisher information and local quantum uncertainty in Heisenberg XY model

Recently, it has been shown that the quantum Fisher information via local observables and via local measurements (i.e., local quantum Fisher information (LQFI)) is a central concept in quantum estimation and quantum metrology and captures the quantumness of correlations in multi-component quantum system (Kim et al. (2018) [28]). This new discord-like measure is very similar to the quantum correlations measure called local quantum uncertainty (LQU). In the present study, we have revealed that LQU is bounded by LQFI in the phase estimation protocol. Also, a comparative study between these two quantum correlations quantifiers is addressed for the quantum Heisenberg XY model. Two distinct situations are considered. The first one concerns the anisotropic XY model and the second situation concerns isotropic XY model submitted to an external magnetic field. Our results confirm that LQFI reveals more quantum correlations than LQU.     

The parity operator in quantum optical metrology

Photon number states are assigned a parity of +1 if their photon number is even and a parity of ?1 if odd. The parity operator, which is minus one to the power of the photon number operator, is a Hermitian operator and thus a quantum mechanical observable although it has no classical analogue, the concept being meaningless in the context of classical light waves. In this paper we review work on the application of the parity operator to the problem of quantum metrology for the detection of small phase shifts with quantum optical interferometry using highly entangled field states such as the so-called N00N states, and states obtained by injecting twin Fock states into a beam splitter. With such states and with the performance of parity measurements on one of the output beams of the interferometer, one can breach the standard quantum limit, or shot-noise limit, of sensitivity down to the Heisenberg limit, the greatest degree of phase sensitivity allowed by quantum mechanics for linear phase shifts. Heisenberg limit sensitivities are expected to eventually play an important role in attempts to detect gravitational waves in interferometric detection systems such as LIGO and VIRGO.