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.     

Maximum confidence quantum measurements

We consider the problem of discriminating between states of a specified set with maximum confidence. For a set of linearly independent states unambiguous discrimination is possible if we allow for the possibility of an inconclusive result. For linearly dependent sets an analogous measurement is one which allows us to be as confident as possible that when a given state is identified on the basis of the measurement result, it is indeed the correct state.     

Maximum confidence measurements and their optical implementation

Perfect discrimination between non-orthogonal states is forbidden by the laws of quantum mechanics. Several strategies to discriminate optimally between states of an arbitrary set exist, and many of these have been implemented in experiments using optical polarisation. In this paper we discuss maximum confidence measurements and their recent optical implementation.     

Reconstructing unknown quantum states using variational layerwise method

In order to gain comprehensive knowledge of an arbitrary unknown quantum state, one feasible way is to reconstruct it, which can be realized by finding a series of quantum operations that can refactor the unitary evolution producing the unknown state. We design an adaptive framework that can reconstruct unknown quantum states at high fidelities, which utilizes SWAP test, parameterized quantum circuits (PQCs) and layerwise learning strategy. We conduct benchmarking on the framework using numerical simulations and reproduce states of up to six qubits at more than 96% overlaps with original states on average using PQCs trained by our framework, revealing its high applicability to quantum systems of different scales theoretically. Moreover, we perform experiments on a five-qubit IBM Quantum hardware to reconstruct random unknown single qubit states, illustrating the practical performance of our framework. For a certain reconstructing fidelity, our method can effectively construct a PQC of suitable length, avoiding barren plateaus of shadow circuits and overuse of quantum resources by deep circuits, which is of much significance when the scale of the target state is large and there is no a priori information on it. This advantage indicates that it can learn credible information of unknown states with limited quantum resources, giving a boost to quantum algorithms based on parameterized circuits on near-term quantum processors.     

Optimum unambiguous discrimination between linearly independent symmetric states

The quantum formalism permits one to discriminate sometimes between any set of linearly independent pure states with certainty. We obtain the maximum probability with which a set of equally likely, symmetric, linearly independent states can be discriminated. The form of this bound is examined for symmetric coherent states of a harmonic oscillator or field mode.     

量子信息讲座 第五讲 量子克隆与量子复制

量子态不可克隆体现了量子力学的固有特性,它是量子信息科学的重要基础之一．文章简要介绍了量子不可克隆定理的物理内容以及量子复制机的基本原理,通过幺正坍缩过程我们构造了一种概率量子克隆机,并论证所有线性无关的量子态都可以被概率量子克隆机克隆     

Decomposition Properties of Quantum Discord

The quantum discord was introduced by Ollivier,Zurek,Henderson,and Vedral as an indicator of the degree of quantumness of mixed states.In this paper,we provide a decomposition condition for quantum discord.Moreover,we show that under the condition,the quantum correlations between the quantum systems can be captured completely by the entanglement measure.Finally,we present examples of our conclusions.     

Reconstruction of Superoperators from Incomplete Measurements

We present strategies how to reconstruct (estimate) properties of a quantum channel described by the map E based on incomplete measurements. In a particular case of a qubit channel a complete reconstruction of the map E can be performed via complete tomography of four output states E[ρ_j] that originate from a set of four linearly independent “test” states ρ_j (j = 1,2,3,4) at the input of the channel. We study the situation when less than four linearly independent states are transmitted via the channel and measured at the output. We present strategies how to reconstruct the channel when just one, two or three states are transmitted via the channel. In particular, we show that if just one state is transmitted via the channel then the best reconstruction can be achieved when this state is a total mixture described by the density operator ρ = I/2. To improve the reconstruction procedure one has to send via the channel more states. The best strategy is to complement the total mixture with pure states that are mutually orthogonal in the sense of the Bloch-sphere representation. We show that unitary transformations (channels) can be uniquely reconstructed (determined) based on the information of how three properly chosen input states are transformed under the action of the channel.We have originally dedicated this paper to Asher Peres on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Unfortunately, since the submission of the paper for publication Asher Peres passed away so we dedicate this paper to his memory.     

Probabilistic Cloning of Three Real States with Optimal Success Probabilities

We investigate the probabilistic quantum cloning (PQC) of three real states with average probability distribution. To get the analytic forms of the optimal success probabilities we assume that the three states have only two pairwise inner products. Based on the optimal success probabilities, we derive the explicit form of 1 →2 PQC for cloning three real states. The unitary operation needed in the PQC process is worked out too. The optimal success probabilities are also generalized to the M→N PQC case.     

Tavis-Cummings模型中的几何量子失协特性

采用几何量子失协的计算方法,通过改变两原子初始状态、腔内光子数和偶极-偶极相互作用强度,研究了Tavis-Cummings模型中的几何量子失协特性.结果表明:几何量子失协都是随时间周期性振荡的,选取适当的初态可以使两原子一直保持失协状态,增加腔内光子数和偶极相互作用对几何量子失协有积极的影响.     

Remark on the One-Way Quantum Deficit for General Two-Qubit States

We reinvestigate the one-way quantum deficit,which is a measure of quantum correlation emerging from a thermodynamical approach.We give a tight upper bound of the one-way quantum deficit for general mixed states,and give a sufficient condition for this bound.Finally,we discuss a universal way to evaluate the one-way quantum deficit for general two-qubit states.     

Distributed wireless quantum communication networks

The distributed wireless quantum communication network （DWQCN） ha~ a distributed network topology and trans- mits information by quantum states. In this paper, we present the concept of the DWQCN and propose a system scheme to transfer quantum states in the DWQCN. The system scheme for transmitting information between any two nodes in the DWQCN includes a routing protocol and a scheme for transferring quantum states. The routing protocol is on-demand and the routing metric is selected based on the number of entangled particle pairs. After setting up a route, quantum tele- portation and entanglement swapping are used for transferring quantum states. Entanglement swapping is achieved along with the process of routing set up and the acknowledgment packet transmission. The measurement results of each entan- glement swapping are piggybacked with route reply packets or acknowledgment packets. After entanglement swapping, a direct quantum link between source and destination is set up and quantum states are transferred by quantum teleportation. Adopting this scheme, the measurement results of entanglement swapping do not need to be transmitted specially, which decreases the wireless transmission cost and transmission delay.     

Quantifying quantum correlation via quantum coherence

Resource theory is applied to quantify the quantum correlation of a bipartite state and a computable measure is proposed. Since this measure is based on quantum coherence, we present another possible physical meaning for quantum correlation, i.e., the minimum quantum coherence achieved under local unitary transformations. This measure satisfies the basic requirements for quantifying quantum correlation and coincides with concurrence for pure states. Since no optimization is involved in the final definition, this measure is easy to compute irrespective of the Hilbert space dimension of the bipartite state.     

Quantum Message Distribution

The semiquantum techniques have been explored recently to bridge the classical communications and the quantum communications.In this paper,we present one scheme to distribute the messages from one quantum participate to one weak quantum participate who can only measure the quantum states.It is proved to be robust by combining the classical coding encryption,quantum coding and other quantum techniques.     

从离散Wigner函数的角度探讨量子相干性度量

量子相干性是量子信息处理的基本要素,在量子计算中扮演着重要的角色.为了便于讨论量子相干性在量子计算中的作用,本文从离散Wigner函数角度对量子相干性进行了探讨.首先对奇素数维量子系统的离散Wigner函数进行了分析,分离出表征相干性的部分,提出了一种可能的基于离散Wigner函数的量子相干性度量方法,并对其进行了量子相干性度量规范的分析;同时也比较了该度量与l_1范数相干性度量之间的关系.重要的是,这种度量方法能够明确给出量子相干性程度与衡量量子态量子计算加速能力的负性和之间不等式关系,由此可以解析地解释量子相干性仅是量子计算加速的必要条件.     

Compatibility of Subsystem States

We examine the possible states of subsystems of a system of bits or qubits. In the classical case (bits), this means the possible marginal distributions of a probability distribution on a finite number of binary variables; we give necessary and sufficient conditions for a set of probability distributions on all proper subsets of the variables to be the marginals of a single distribution on the full set. In the quantum case (qubits), we consider mixed states of subsets of a set of qubits; in the case of three qubits we find quantum Bell inequalities—necessary conditions for a set of two-qubit states to be the reduced states of a mixed state of three qubits. We conjecture that these conditions are also sufficient.     

Distinguishability and indistinguishability by local operations and classical communication

It is well known that orthogonal quantum states can be distinguished perfectly. However, if we assume that these orthogonal quantum states are shared by spatially separated parties, the distinguishability of these shared quantum states may be completely different. We show that a set of linearly independent quantum states [formula: see text] where U(m,n) are generalized Pauli matrices, cannot be discriminated deterministically or probabilistically by local operations and classical communication. On the other hand, any l maximally entangled states from this set are locally distinguishable if l(l-1)< or =2d. The explicit projecting measurements are obtained to locally discriminate these states. As an example, we show that four Werner states are locally indistinguishable.     

Simulating the effect of weak measurements by a phase damping channel and determining different measures of bipartite correlations in nuclear magnetic resonance

Quantum discord is a measure based on local projective measurements which captures quantum correlations that may not be fully captured by entanglement. A change in the measurement process, achieved by replacing rank-one projectors with a weak positive operator-valued measure (POVM), allows one to define weak variants of quantum discord. In this work, we experimentally simulate the effect of a weak POVM on a nuclear magnetic resonance quantum information processor. The two-qubit system under investigation is part of a three-qubit system, where one of the qubits is used as an ancillary to implement the phase damping channel. The strength of the weak POVM is controlled by varying the strength of the phase damping channel. We experimentally observed two weak variants of quantum discord namely, super quantum discord and weak quantum discord, in two-qubit Werner and Bell-diagonal states. The resultant dynamics of the states is investigated as a function of the measurement strength.     

Probabilistic Cloning of two Single-Atom States via Thermal Cavity

We propose a cavity QED scheme for implementing the 1 → 2 probabilistic quantum cloning (PQC) of two single-atom states. In our scheme, after the to-be-cloned atom and the assistant atom passing through the first cavity, a measurement is carried out on the assistant atom. Based on the measurement outcome we can judge whether the PQC should be continued. If the cloning fails, the other operations are omitted. This makes our scheme economical. If the PQC is continued (with the optimal probability) according to the measurement outcome, two more cavities and some unitary operations are used for achieving the PQC in a deterministic way. Our scheme is insensitive to the decays of the cavities and the atoms.