Discrimination of coherent states via atom–field interaction without rotation wave approximation

Abstract

Quantum state discrimination is an important part of quantum information processing. We investigate the discrimination of coherent states through a Jaynes–Cummings (JC) model interaction between the field and the ancilla without rotation wave approximation (RWA). We show that the minimum failure probability can be reduced as RWA is eliminated from the JC model and the non-RWA terms accompanied by the quantum effects of fields (e.g. the virtual-photon process in the JC model without RWA) can enhance the state discrimination. The JC model without RWA for unambiguous state discrimination is superior to ambiguous state discrimination, particularly when the number of sequential measurements increases. Unambiguous state discrimination implemented via the non-RWA JC model is beneficial to saving resource costs.