Continuous-variable States Research Articles

Efficient verification of entangled continuous-variable quantum states with local measurements

Continuous-variable quantum states are of particular importance in various quantum information processing tasks including quantum communication and quantum sensing. However, a bottleneck has emerged with the fast increasing in size of the quantum systems which severely hinders their efficient characterization. In this work, we establish a systematic framework for verifying entangled continuous-variable quantum states by employing local measurements only. Our protocol is able to achieve the unconditionally high verification efficiency which is quadratically better than quantum tomography as well as other nontomographic methods. Specifically, we demonstrate the power of our protocol by showing the efficient verification of entangled two-mode and multimode coherent states with local measurements.

Lower- versus higher-order nonclassicalities for a coherent superposed quantum state

A coherent state is defined conventionally in different ways such as a displaced vacuum state, an eigenket of an annihilation operator, or as an infinite dimensional Poissonian superposition of Fock states. In this work, we describe a superposition ( t a + r a † ) of field annihilation and creation operators acting on a continuous variable coherent state | α ⟩ and specify it by | ψ ⟩ . We analyze the lower- as well as higher-order nonclassical properties of | ψ ⟩ . The comparison is performed by using a set of nonclassicality witnesses (e.g., higher-order photon statistics, higher-order antibunching, higher-order sub-Poissonian statistics, higher-order squeezing, Agarwal–Tara parameter, Klyshko’s condition, and a relatively new concept, matrix of phase-space distribution). It is found that the higher-order criteria are much more efficient to detect the presence of nonclassicality as compared to lower-order conditions except squeezing, where the lower-order one is more competent than its higher-order counterpart.

Direct measurement of density-matrix elements using a phase-shifting technique

A direct measurement protocol allows reconstructing specific elements of the density matrix of a quantum state without using quantum state tomography. However, the direct measurement protocols to date are primarily based on weak or strong measurements with an ancillary pointer, which interacts with the investigated system to extract information about the specified elements. Here, we present a direct measurement scheme based on phase-shifting operations which do not need ancillary pointers. In this method, estimates of at most six expectation values of projective observables suffice to determine any specific element of an unknown quantum density matrix. A concrete quantum circuit to implement this direct measurement protocol for multiqubit states is provided, which is composed of just single-qubit gates and two multiqubit controlled-phase gates. This scheme is also extended for the direct measurement of the density matrix of continuous-variable quantum states. Our method can be used in quantum information applications where only partial information about the quantum state needs to be extracted, for example, problems such as entanglement witnessing, fidelity estimation of quantum systems, and quantum coherence estimation.

Gaussian continuous-variable isotropic state

Inspired by the definition of the non-Gaussian two-parametric continuous variable analogue of an isotropic state introduced by Mi\v{s}ta et al. [Phys. Rev. A, 65, 062315 (2002); arXiv:quant-ph/0112062], we propose to take the Gaussian part of this state as an independent state by itself, which yields a simple, but with respect to the correlation structure interesting example of a two-mode Gaussian analogue of an isotropic state. Unlike conventional isotropic states which are defined as a convex combination of a thermal and an entangled density operator, the Gaussian version studied here is defined by a convex combination of the corresponding covariance matrices and can be understood as entangled pure state with additional Gaussian noise controlled by a mixing probability. Using various entanglement criteria and measures, we study the non-classical correlations contained in this state. Unlike the previously studied non-Gaussian two-parametric isotropic state, the Gaussian state considered here features a finite threshold in the parameter space where entanglement sets in. In particular, it turns out that it exhibits an analogous phenomenology as the finite-dimensional two-qubit isotropic state.

Cluster States from Gaussian States: Essential Diagnostic Tools for Continuous-Variable One-Way Quantum Computing

Continuous-variable (CV) cluster states are a universal quantum computing platform that has experimentally out-scaled qubit platforms by orders of magnitude. Room-temperature implementation of CV cluster states has been achieved with quantum optics by using multimode squeezed Gaussian states. It has also been proven that fault tolerance thresholds for CV quantum computing can be reached at realistic squeezing levels. In this paper, we show that standard approaches to design and characterize CV cluster states can miss entanglement present in the system. Such hidden entanglement may be used to increase the power of a quantum computer but it can also, if undetected, hinder the successful implementation of a quantum algorithm. By a detailed analysis of the structure of Gaussian states, we derive an algorithm that reveals hidden entanglement in an arbitrary Gaussian state and optimizes its use for one-way quantum computing.

Observation of Quasiparticle Pair Production and Quantum Entanglement in Atomic Quantum Gases Quenched to an Attractive Interaction.

We report observations of quasiparticle pair production by a modulational instability in an atomic superfluid and present a measurement technique that enables direct characterization of quasiparticle quantum entanglement. By quenching the atomic interaction to attractive and then back to weakly repulsive, we produce correlated quasiparticles and monitor their evolution in a superfluid through evaluating the insitu density noise power spectrum, which essentially measures a "homodyne" interference between ground-state atoms and quasiparticles of opposite momenta. We observe large amplitude growth in the power spectrum and subsequent coherent oscillations in a wide spatial frequency band within our resolution limit, demonstrating coherent quasiparticle generation and evolution. The spectrum is observed to oscillate below a quantum limit set by the Peres-Horodecki separability criterion of continuous-variable states, thereby confirming quantum entanglement between interaction quench-induced quasiparticles.

Subsystem analysis of continuous-variable resource states

Continuous-variable (CV) cluster states are a universal resource for fault-tolerant quantum computation when supplemented with the Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill (GKP) bosonic code. We generalize the recently introduced subsystem decomposition of a bosonic code [Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 040501 (2020)], and we use it to analyze CV cluster-state quantum computing with GKP states. Specifically, we decompose squeezed vacuum states and approximate GKP states to reveal their encoded logical information, and we decompose several gates crucial to CV cluster-state quantum computing. Then, we use the subsystem decomposition to quantify damage to the logical information in approximate GKP states teleported through noisy CV cluster states. Each of these studies uses the subsystem decomposition to circumvent complications arising from the full CV nature of the mode in order to focus on the encoded qubit information.

Hidden qubit cluster states

Continuous-variable cluster states (CVCSs) can be supplemented with Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill (GKP) states to form a hybrid cluster state with the power to execute universal, fault-tolerant quantum computing in a measurement-based fashion. As the resource states that comprise a hybrid cluster state are of a very different nature, a natural question arises: Why do GKP states interface so well with CVCSs? To answer this question, we apply the recently introduced subsystem decomposition of a bosonic mode, which divides a mode into logical and gauge-mode subsystems, to three types of cluster state: CVCSs, GKP cluster states, and hybrid continuous-variable (CV)-GKP cluster states. We find that each of these contains a ``hidden'' qubit cluster state across their logical subsystems, which lies at the heart of their utility for measurement-based quantum computing. To complement the analytical approach, we introduce a simple graphical description of these CV-mode cluster states that depicts precisely how the hidden qubit cluster states are entangled with the gauge modes, and we outline how these results would extend to the case of finitely squeezed states. This work provides important insight that is both conceptually satisfying and helps to address important practical issues like when a simpler resource (such as a Gaussian state) can stand in for a more complex one (like a GKP state), leading to more efficient use of the resources available for CV quantum computing.

Coherent perfect absorption of quantum light

Coherent perfect absorption (CPA) was introduced as a classical optics phenomenon of a standing-wave absorption by a subwavelength film. In this paper, we develop a theory of CPA of quantized standing waves taking account of a subwavelength thickness of the absorber. This approach allows us to merge all known quantum effects of CPA under a single theory and introduce other regimes of CPA including CPA of NOON states with arbitrary number of entangled photons, orthogonally squeezed vacuum states, continuous variable entangled states, and Schr\"odinger cat states. Detailed analysis of the quantum regime of CPA sheds light on fundamental aspects of quantum light dissipation and its practical implementation in quantum optics and quantum information.

Precise control of squeezing angle to generate 11 dB entangled state.

The strength of the quantum correlations of a continuous-variable entangled state is determined by several relative phases in the preparation, transmission, and detection processes of entangled states. In this paper, we report the first experimental and theoretical demonstrations of the precision of relative phases associated with the strength of quadrature correlations. Based on the interrelations of the relative phases, three precisely phase-locking methodologies are established: ultralow RAM control loops for the lengths and relative phases stabilization of the DOPAs, difference DC locking for the relative phase between the two squeezed beams, and DC-AC joint locking for the relative phases in BHDs. The phase-locking loops ensure the total phase noise to be 9.7±0.32/11.1±0.36 mrad. Finally, all the relative phase deviations are controlled to be in the range of -35 to 35 mrad, which enhances the correlations of the amplitude and phase quadratures to -11.1 and -11.3 dB. The entanglement also exhibits a broadband squeezing bandwidth up to 100 MHz. This paves a valuable resource for experimental realization and applications in quantum information and precision measurement.

Generating and detecting entangled cat states in dissipatively coupled degenerate optical parametric oscillators

Non-Gaussian continuous variable states play a central role both in the foundations of quantum theory and for emergent quantum technologies. In particular, "cat states", i.e., two-component macroscopic quantum superpositions, embody quantum coherence in an accessible way and can be harnessed for fundamental tests and quantum information tasks alike. Degenerate optical parametric oscillators can naturally produce single-mode cat states and thus represent a promising platform for their realization and harnessing. We show that a dissipative coupling between degenerate optical parametric oscillators extends this to two-mode entangled cat states, i.e., two-mode entangled cat states are naturally produced under such dissipative coupling. While overcoming single-photon loss still represents a major challenge towards the realization of sufficiently pure single-mode cat states in degenerate optical parametric oscillators, we show that the generation of two-mode entangled cat states under such dissipative coupling can then be achieved without additional hurdles. We numerically explore the parameter regime for the successful generation of transient two-mode entangled cat states in two dissipatively coupled degenerate optical parametric oscillators. To certify the cat-state entanglement, we employ a tailored, variance-based entanglement criterion, which can robustly detect cat-state entanglement under realistic conditions.

Classical simulation of Gaussian quantum circuits with non-Gaussian input states

We consider Gaussian quantum circuits supplemented with non-Gaussian input states and derive sufficient conditions for efficient classical strong simulation of these circuits. In particular, we generalise the stellar representation of continuous-variable quantum states to the multimode setting and relate the stellar rank of the input non-Gaussian states, a recently introduced measure of non-Gaussianity, to the cost of evaluating classically the output probability densities of these circuits. Our results have consequences for the strong simulability of a large class of near-term continuous-variable quantum circuits.

Quantum phase estimation with squeezed quasi-Bell states

In this paper we present a study of the quantum phase estimation problem employing continuous-variable, entangled squeezed coherent (quasi-Bell) states as probe states. We show that their inherent squeezing and entanglement properties might bring advantages, increasing the precision of phase estimation compared to protocols which employ other continuous variable states e.g., two-mode, entangled coherent states or single-mode, squeezed states. We also analyze the phase estimation process considering: (i) a linear (unitary) perturbation, and (ii) dissipation, and conclude that the use of entangled squeezed coherent states as probe states may still be advantageous even under non-ideal conditions.

Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen uncertainty limits for bipartite multimode states

Certification and quantification of correlations for multipartite states of quantum systems appear to be a central task in quantum information theory. We give here a unitary quantum-mechanical perspective of both entanglement and Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) steering of continuous-variable multimode states. This originates in the Heisenberg uncertainty relations for the canonical quadrature operators of the modes. Correlations of two-party $(N\, \text{vs} \,1)$-mode states are examined by using the variances of a pair of suitable EPR-like observables. It turns out that the uncertainty sum of these nonlocal variables is bounded from below by local uncertainties and is strengthened differently for separable states and for each one-way unsteerable ones. The analysis of the minimal properly normalized sums of these variances yields necessary conditions of separability and EPR unsteerability of $(N\, \text{vs} \,1)$-mode states in both possible ways of steering. When the states and the performed measurements are Gaussian, then these conditions are precisely the previously-known criteria of separability and one-way unsteerability.

Efficient Verification of Continuous-Variable Quantum States and Devices without Assuming Identical and Independent Operations.

Continuous-variable quantum information, encoded into infinite-dimensional quantum systems, is a promising platform for the realization of many quantum information protocols, including quantum computation, quantum metrology, quantum cryptography, and quantum communication. To successfully demonstrate these protocols, an essential step is the certification of multimode continuous-variable quantum states and quantum devices. This problem is well studied under the assumption that multiple uses of the same device result in identical and independently distributed (i.i.d.) operations. However, in realistic scenarios, identical and independent state preparation and calls to the quantum devices cannot be generally guaranteed. Important instances include adversarial scenarios and instances of time-dependent and correlated noise. In this Letter, we propose the first set of reliable protocols for verifying multimode continuous-variable entangled states and devices in these non-i.i.d scenarios. Although not fully universal, these protocols are applicable to Gaussian quantum states, non-Gaussian hypergraph states, as well as amplification, attenuation, and purification of noisy coherent states.

Optimal probes for continuous-variable quantum illumination

Quantum illumination is the task of determining the presence of an object in a noisy environment. We determine the optimal continuous variable states for quantum illumination in the limit of zero object reflectivity. We prove that the optimal single mode state is a coherent state, while the optimal two mode state is the two-mode squeezed-vacuum state. We find that these probes are not optimal at non-zero reflectivity, but remain near optimal. This demonstrates the viability of the continuous variable platform for an experimentally accessible, near optimal quantum illumination implementation.

Certification of Non-Gaussian States with Operational Measurements

We derive a theoretical framework for the experimental certification of non-Gaussian features of quantum states using double homodyne detection. We rank experimental non-Gaussian states according to the recently defined stellar hierarchy and we propose practical Wigner negativity witnesses. We simulate various use-cases ranging from fidelity estimation to witnessing Wigner negativity. Moreover, we extend results on the robustness of the stellar hierarchy of non-Gaussian states. Our results illustrate the usefulness of double homodyne detection as a practical measurement scheme for retrieving information about continuous variable quantum states.

Efficient Trainability of Linear Optical Modules in Quantum Optical Neural Networks

The existence of “barren plateau landscapes” for generic discrete-variable quantum neural networks, which obstructs efficient gradient-based optimization of cost functions defined by global measurements, would be surprising in the case of generic linear optical modules in quantum optical neural networks due to the tunability of the intensity of continuous variable states and the relevant unitary group having exponentially smaller dimension. We demonstrate that coherent light in m modes can be generically compiled efficiently if the total intensity scales sublinearly with m, and extend this result to cost functions based on homodyne, heterodyne, or photon detection measurement statistics, and to noisy cost functions in the presence of attenuation. We further demonstrate efficient trainability of m mode linear optical quantum circuits for variational mean field energy estimation of positive quadratic Hamiltonians for input states that do not have energy exponentially vanishing with m.

Controllable continuous variable quantum state distributor.

To scale quantum information processing, quantum state distributors are an indispensable technology in quantum networks. We present a universal scheme of a continuous variable quantum state distributor that performs point-to-multipoint distributions via quantum teleportation with partially disembodied transport. The fidelity of the state at the output nodes can be conveniently manipulated as needed by engineering the correlation noise of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) beam. For a 1→2 distributor, controllable distributions were demonstrated by manipulating the squeezing factor of EPR entanglement. The fidelities of the two receivers gradually changed from (2/3, 2/3) to (0.95, 0.17) corresponding to the transition from symmetric to asymmetric quantum cloning.

Entanglement synthesis based on the interference of a single-mode squeezed vacuum and a delocalized photon

We propose a new approach to generate entangled states, both hybrid and consisting exclusively of continuous variable (CV) states. A single-mode squeezed vacuum is mixed with a delocalized single photon on an arbitrary beam splitter with subsequent registration of measurement outcomes in auxiliary mode. The entangled hybrid states consisting of CV and discrete variable (DV) states are generated whenever any event is measured in auxiliary mode. Negativity is used as a measure of entanglement. Under certain initial conditions, the conditional state becomes as entangled as possible. New types of CV states, either even or odd depending on the parity of the Fock states forming the superpositions, are introduced. If the conditional entangled hybrid state is mixed with a single-mode squeezed vacuum with the subsequent registration of measurement results in DV mode, then the new state becomes CV entangled, i.e., its orthogonal components are already CV states. The entanglement synthesis can be expanded to implement a high-complexity quantum network.