Cooperative behavior of atoms irradiated by broadband squeezed light

Concurrent Spin Squeezing and Light Squeezing in an Atomic Ensemble

Squeezed spin states and squeezed light are both key resources for quantum metrology and quantum information science, but have been separately investigated in experiments so far. Simultaneous generation of these two types of quantum states in one experiment setup is intriguing but remains a challenging goal. Here, we propose a novel protocol based on judiciously engineered symmetric atom-light interaction, and report proof-of-principle experimental results of concurrent spin squeezing of 0.61±0.09  dB and light squeezing of 0.65_{-0.10}^{+0.11}  dB in a hot atomic ensemble. The squeezing process is deterministic, yielding fixed squeezing directions for both the light field and the collective atomic spin. Furthermore, the squeezed light modes lie in the multiple frequency sidebands of a single spatial mode. This new type of dual squeezed state is applicable for quantum enhanced metrology and quantum networks. Our method can be extended to other quantum platforms such as optomechanics, cold atoms, and trapped ions.

Dynamical signatures of discontinuous phase transitions: How phase coexistence determines exponential versus power-law scaling

There are conflicting reports in the literature regarding the finite-size scaling of the Liouvillian gap and dynamical fluctuations at discontinuous phase transitions, with various studies reporting either exponential or power-law behavior. We clarify this issue by employing large deviation theory. We distinguish two distinct classes of discontinuous phase transitions that have different dynamical properties. The first class is associated with phase coexistence, i.e., the presence of multiple stable attractors of the system dynamics (e.g., local minima of the free-energy functional) in a finite phase diagram region around the phase transition point. In that case, one observes asymptotic exponential scaling related to stochastic switching between attractors (though the onset of exponential scaling may sometimes occur for very large system sizes). In the second class, there is no phase coexistence away from the phase transition point, while at the phase transition point itself there are infinitely many attractors. In that case, one observes power-law scaling related to the diffusive nature of the system relaxation to the stationary state.

Autonomous Distribution of Programmable Multiqubit Entanglement in a Dual-Rail Quantum Network

We propose and analyze a scalable and fully autonomous scheme for preparing spatially distributed multiqubit entangled states in a dual-rail waveguide QED setup. In this approach, arrays of qubits located along two separated waveguides are illuminated by correlated photons from the output of a nondegenerate parametric amplifier. These photons drive the qubits into different classes of pure entangled steady states, for which the degree of multipartite entanglement can be conveniently adjusted by the chosen pattern of local qubit-photon detunings. Numerical simulations for moderate-sized networks show that the preparation time for these complex multiqubit states increases at most linearly with the system size and that one may benefit from an additional speedup in the limit of a large amplifier bandwidth. Therefore, this scheme offers an intriguing new route for distributing ready-to-use multipartite entangled states across large quantum networks, without requiring any precise pulse control and relying on a single Gaussian entanglement source only.

Squeezed Superradiance Enables Robust Entanglement-Enhanced Metrology Even with Highly Imperfect Readout

Quantum metrology protocols using entangled states of large spin ensembles attempt to achieve measurement sensitivities surpassing the standard quantum limit (SQL), but in many cases they are severely limited by even small amounts of technical noise associated with imperfect sensor readout. Amplification strategies based on time-reversed coherent spin-squeezing dynamics have been devised to mitigate this issue, but are unfortunately very sensitive to dissipation, requiring a large single-spin cooperativity to be effective. Here, we propose a new dissipative protocol that combines amplification and squeezed fluctuations. It enables the use of entangled spin states for sensing well beyond the SQL even in the presence of significant readout noise. Further, it has a strong resilience against undesired single-spin dissipation, requiring only a large collective cooperativity to be effective.

Generating Stable Spin Squeezing by Squeezed-Reservoir Engineering

As a genuine many-body entanglement, spin squeezing (SS) can be used to realize the highly precise measurement beyond the limit constrained by classical physics. Its generation has attracted much attention recently. It was reported that N two-level systems (TLSs) located near a one-dimensional waveguide can generate SS by using the mediation effect of the waveguide. However, a coherent driving on each TLS is used to stabilize the SS, which raises a high requirement for experiments. We here propose a scheme to generate stable SS resorting to neither the spin-spin coupling nor the coherent driving on the TLSs. Incorporating the mediation role of the common waveguide and the technique of squeezed-reservoir engineering, our scheme exhibits the advantages over previous ones in the scaling relation of the SS parameter with the number of the TLSs. The long-range correlation feature of the generated SS along the waveguide in our scheme may endow it with certain superiority in quantum sensing, e.g., improving the sensing efficiency of spatially unidentified weak magnetic fields.

Heisenberg-Limited Spin Squeezing via Bosonic Parametric Driving

Spin-spin interactions generated by a detuned cavity are a standard mechanism for generating highly entangled spin squeezed states. We show here how introducing a weak detuned parametric (two-photon) drive on the cavity provides a powerful means for controlling the form of the induced interactions. Without a drive, the induced interactions cannot generate Heisenberg-limited spin squeezing, but a weak optimized drive gives rise to an ideal two-axis twist interaction and Heisenberg-limited squeezing. Parametric driving is also advantageous in regimes limited by dissipation, and enables an alternate adiabatic scheme which can prepare optimally squeezed, Dicke-like states. Our scheme is compatible with a number of platforms, including solid-state systems where spin ensembles are coupled to superconducting quantum circuits or mechanical modes.

Entanglement and entropy squeezing in the system of two qubits interacting with a two-mode field in the context of power low potentials

We study the dynamics of two non-stationary qubits, allowing for dipole-dipole and Ising-like interplays between them, coupled to quantized fields in the framework of two-mode pair coherent states of power-low potentials. We focus on three particular cases of the coherent states through the exponent parameter taken infinite square, triangular and harmonic potential wells. We examine the possible effects of such features on the evolution of some quantities of current interest, such as population inversion, entanglement among subsystems and squeezing entropy. We show how these quantities can be affected by the qubit-qubit interaction and exponent parameter during the time evolution for both cases of stationary and non-stationary qubits. The obtained results suggest insights about the capability of quantum systems composed of nonstationary qubits to maintain resources in comparison with stationary qubits.

Quantum Quantifiers for an Atom System Interacting with a Quantum Field Based on Pseudoharmonic Oscillator States

We develop a useful model considering an atom-field system interaction in the framework of pseudoharmonic oscillators. We examine qualitatively the different physical quantities for a two-level atom (TLA) system interacting with a quantized coherent field in the context of photon-added coherent states of pseudoharmonic oscillators. Using these coherent states, we solve the model that exhibits the interaction between the TLA and field associated with these kinds of potentials. We analyze the temporal evolution of the entanglement, statistical properties, geometric phase and squeezing entropies. Finally, we show the relationship between the physical quantities and their dynamics in terms of the physical parameters.

Detuning-dependent Mollow triplet of a coherently-driven single quantum dot

We present both experimental and theoretical investigations of a laser-driven quantum dot (QD) in the dressed-state regime of resonance fluorescence. We explore the role of phonon scattering and pure dephasing on the detuning-dependence of the Mollow triplet and show that the triplet sidebands may spectrally broaden or narrow with increasing detuning. Based on a polaron master equation approach, which includes electron-phonon interaction nonperturbatively, we derive a fully analytical expression for the spectrum. With respect to detuning dependence, we identify a crossover between the regimes of spectral sideband narrowing or broadening. We also predict regimes of phonon-induced squeezing and anti-squeezing of the spectral resonances. A comparison of the theoretical predictions to detailed experimental studies on the laser detuning-dependence of Mollow triplet resonance emission from single In(Ga)As QDs reveals excellent agreement.

Generation of Dicke states with phonon-mediated multilevel stimulated Raman adiabatic passage

We generate half-excited symmetric Dicke states of two and four ions. We use multilevel stimulated Raman adiabatic passage whose intermediate states are phonon Fock states. This process corresponds to the spin squeezing operation and half-excited Dicke states are generated during multilevel stimulated Raman adiabatic passage. This method does not require local access for each ion or the preparation of phonon Fock states. Furthermore, it is robust since it is an adiabatic process. We evaluate the Dicke state using a witness operator and determine the upper and lower bounds of the fidelity without using full quantum tomography.

Geometric phase induced by a cyclically evolving squeezed vacuum reservoir

We propose a new way to generate an observable geometric phase by means of a completely incoherent phenomenon. We show how to imprint a geometric phase to a system by adiabatically manipulating the environment with which it interacts. As a specific scheme, we analyze a multilevel atom interacting with a broadband squeezed vacuum bosonic bath. As the squeezing parameters are smoothly changed in time along a closed loop, the ground state of the system acquires a geometric phase. We also propose a scheme to measure such a geometric phase by means of a suitable polarization detection.

Entanglement and entropy engineering of atomic two-qubit States

We propose a scheme employing quantum-reservoir engineering to controllably entangle the internal states of two atoms trapped in a high-finesse optical cavity. Using laser and cavity fields to drive two separate Raman transitions between stable atomic ground states, a system is realized corresponding to a pair of two-state atoms coupled collectively to a squeezed reservoir. Phase-sensitive reservoir correlations lead to entanglement between the atoms, and, via local unitary transformations and adjustment of the degree and purity of squeezing, one can prepare entangled mixed states with any allowed combination of linear entropy and entanglement of formation.

Entanglement and extreme spin squeezing

For any mean value of a Cartesian component of a spin vector we identify the smallest possible uncertainty in any of the orthogonal components. The corresponding states are optimal for spectroscopy and atomic clocks. We show that the results for different spin J can be used to identify entanglement and to quantify the depth of entanglement in systems with many particles. With the procedure developed in this Letter, collective spin measurements on an ensemble of particles can be used as an experimental proof of multiparticle entanglement.

Generation of spin squeezing via continuous quantum nondemolition measurement

Continuous quantum nondemolition monitoring of a collective atomic spin with an off-resonant laser beam has been performed. Squeezed atomic spin states have thereby been produced with spin noise reduction to 70% below the standard quantum limit expected for a coherent spin state.