Efficient simulation scheme for a class of quantum optics experiments with non-negative Wigner representation

Abstract

We provide a scheme for efficient simulation of a broad class of quantum optics experiments. Our efficient simulation extends the continuous variable Gottesman–Knill theorem to a large class of non-Gaussian mixed states, thereby demonstrating that these non-Gaussian states are not an enabling resource for exponential quantum speed-up. Our results also provide an operationally motivated interpretation of negativity as non-classicality. We apply our scheme to the case of noisy single-photon-added-thermal-states to show that this class admits states with positive Wigner function but negative P-function that are not useful resource states for quantum computation.