Non-Gaussian cloning of quantum coherent states is optimal

Efficient Backcasting Search for Optical Quantum State Synthesis

Non-Gaussian states are essential for many optical quantum technologies. The so-called optical quantum state synthesizer (OQSS), consisting of Gaussian input states, linear optics, and photon-number resolving detectors, is a promising method for non-Gaussian state preparation. However, an inevitable and crucial problem is the complexity of the numerical simulation of the state preparation on a classical computer. This problem makes it very challenging to generate important non-Gaussian states required for advanced quantum information processing. Thus, an efficient method to design OQSS circuits is highly desirable. To circumvent the problem, we offer a scheme employing a backcasting approach, where the circuit of OQSS is divided into some sublayers, and we simulate the OQSS backwards from final to first layers. Moreover, our results show that the detected photon number by each detector is at most 2, which can significantly reduce the requirements for the photon-number resolving detector. By virtue of the potential for the preparation of a wide variety of non-Gaussian states, the proposed OQSS can be a key ingredient in general optical quantum information processing.

Hierarchy of Nonlinear Entanglement Dynamics for Continuous Variables

The entanglement produced by a bilinear Hamiltonian in continuous variables has been thoroughly studied and widely used. In contrast, the physics of entanglement resulting from nonlinear interaction described by partially degenerate high-order Hamiltonians remains unclear. Here, we derive a hierarchy of sufficient and necessary conditions for the positive-partial-transposition separability of bipartite nonlinear quantum states. The proposed criteria detect the nonpositive-partial-transposition inseparability of higher-order moments of states, which provides a systematic framework for the characterization of this kind of entanglement. Through numerical simulation of cubic and quartic Hamiltonians, we demonstrate the existence and competition of a hierarchy of entanglement witnesses, revealing the mechanism underlying such entanglement. Our results may provide a new direction in continuous variable quantum information processing.

Conditional Measurements with Silicon Photomultipliers

Nonclassical states of light can be efficiently generated by performing conditional measurements. An experimental setup including Silicon Photomultipliers can currently be implemented for this purpose. However, these devices are affected by correlated noise, the optical cross talk in the first place. Here we explore the effects of cross talk on the conditional states by suitably expanding our existing model for conditional measurements with photon-number-resolving detectors. We assess the nonclassicality of the conditional states by evaluating the Fano factor and provide experimental evidence to support our results.

Coherent population trapping based atomic reservoir for almost perfect higher-order squeezing

Due to either coherent or dissipative interactions with the coherent population trapping (CPT)-based atoms, the evolutions of the Bogoliubov modes towards the vacuum states have been shown to lead to second-order squeezing of the involved optical fields. Here we push the CPT-based dissipative interactions towards higher-order squeezing, which is not simply determined by second-order squeezing but instead by different criteria involving higher-order moments. It is shown that the CPT-based atomic reservoir supports the dissipative evolution of the Bogoliubov modes almost completely to the vacuum states and then yields almost perfect fourth-order squeezing (90%∼100%). The present mechanism is robust against spontaneous emission since the atoms stay largely in the ground states. As a by-product, a comparison is given with two-level atoms, in which the excitation of a large fraction reduces the degree of higher-order squeezing.

Preparation of a nonlinear coherent state of the mechanical resonator in an optomechanical microcavity

We propose a scheme for generation of a nonlinear coherent state (NCS) of a mechanical resonator (MR) in an optomechanical micro-cavity, in which a two-level quantum dot (QD) and the microcavity are respectively driven by a strong laser and a weak laser. This microcavity can be engineered within a photonic band-gap (PBG) material. By properly tuning the frequency of the weak driving field, two-photon blockade phenomenon occurs. The QD-cavity subsystem can evolve into a dark state due to the damping of the microcavity and the elimination of the decay rate of the QD at selected frequencies in the PBG material. In this situation, the phonon mode of the MR can be prepared into a NCS, which is a non-classical state and possesses the sub-Poisson statistics. We also demonstrate the Wigner function of the NCS, which negativity implies its non-classicality.

Optimal design and quantum benchmarks for coherent state amplifiers

We establish the ultimate quantum limits to the amplification of an unknown coherent state, both in the deterministic and probabilistic case, investigating the realistic scenario where the expected photon number is finite. In addition, we provide the benchmark that experimental realizations have to surpass in order to beat all classical amplification strategies and to demonstrate genuine quantum amplification. Our result guarantees that a successful demonstration is in principle possible for every finite value of the expected photon number.

Measuring Gaussian quantum information and correlations using the Rényi entropy of order 2

We demonstrate that the Rényi-2 entropy provides a natural measure of information for any multimode Gaussian state of quantum harmonic systems, operationally linked to the phase-space Shannon sampling entropy of the Wigner distribution of the state. We prove that, in the Gaussian scenario, such an entropy satisfies the strong subadditivity inequality, a key requirement for quantum information theory. This allows us to define and analyze measures of Gaussian entanglement and more general quantum correlations based on such an entropy, which are shown to satisfy relevant properties such as monogamy.

Role of initial entanglement and non-Gaussianity in the decoherence of photon-number entangled states evolving in a noisy channel

We address the degradation of continuous variable (CV) entanglement in a noisy channel focusing on the set of photon-number entangled states. We exploit several separability criteria and compare the resulting separation times with the value of non-Gaussianity at any time, thus showing that in the low-temperature regime: (i) non-Gaussianity is a bound for the relative entropy of entanglement and (ii) Simon's criterion provides a reliable estimate of the separation time also for non-Gaussian states. We provide several evidences supporting the conjecture that Gaussian entanglement is the most robust against noise, i.e., it survives longer than a non-Gaussian one, and that this may be a general feature for CV systems in Markovian channels.

Quantum entanglement beyond Gaussian criteria

Most of the attention given to continuous variable systems for quantum information processing has traditionally been focused on Gaussian states. However, non-Gaussianity is an essential requirement for universal quantum computation and entanglement distillation, and can improve the efficiency of other quantum information tasks. Here we report the experimental observation of genuine non-Gaussian entanglement using spatially entangled photon pairs. The quantum correlations are invisible to all second-order tests, which identify only Gaussian entanglement, and are revealed only under application of a higher-order entanglement criterion. Thus, the photons exhibit a variety of entanglement that cannot be reproduced by Gaussian states.

Fidelity criterion for quantum-domain transmission and storage of coherent states beyond the unit-gain constraint

We generalize the experimental success criterion for quantum teleportation (memory) in continuous-variable quantum systems to be suitable for a non-unit-gain condition by considering attenuation (amplification) of the coherent-state amplitude. The new criterion can be used for a nonideal quantum memory and long distance quantum communication as well as quantum devices with amplification process. It is also shown that the framework to measure the average fidelity is capable of detecting all Gaussian channels in the quantum domain.

Extremality of Gaussian quantum states

We investigate Gaussian quantum states in view of their exceptional role within the space of all continuous variables states. A general method for deriving extremality results is provided and applied to entanglement measures, secret key distillation and the classical capacity of bosonic quantum channels. We prove that for every given covariance matrix the distillable secret key rate and the entanglement, if measured appropriately, are minimized by Gaussian states. This result leads to a clearer picture of the validity of frequently made Gaussian approximations. Moreover, it implies that Gaussian encodings are optimal for the transmission of classical information through bosonic channels, if the capacity is additive.

Demonstration of quantum telecloning of optical coherent states

We demonstrate unconditional telecloning for the first time. In particular, we symmetrically and unconditionally teleclone coherent states of light from one sender to two receivers, achieving a fidelity for each clone of F = 0.58 +/- 0.01, which surpasses the classical limit. This is a manipulation of a new type of multipartite entanglement whose nature is neither purely bipartite nor purely tripartite.