Nonorthogonal States Research Articles

Discriminating two non-orthogonal states against decoherence by feedback control

Guo et al. (Phys Rev A 91(2):022321, 2015) introduced the feed-forward control to realize a better effect of discrimination of two non-orthogonal states against noise. However, the better effect of discrimination is achieved in a probabilistic way. To solve the problem, we introduce the feedback control to discriminate two non-orthogonal states against noise. It is shown that it can improve the effect of discrimination for any pair of non-orthogonal states and any strength of amplitude damping noise largely in a deterministic way. In particular, our optimum probability of discrimination can be higher than that of discriminating two initial non-orthogonal pure states for not only equal a priori probabilities but also unequal a priori probabilities. We also examine the approach in the presence of different noise sources and find it works well for all typical types of noise sources ranging from a single type of noise to the combination of different types of noise.

Non-Hermitian Hamiltonians and no-go theorems in quantum information

Recently, apparent nonphysical implications of non-Hermitian quantum mechanics (NHQM) have been discussed in the literature. In particular, the apparent violation of the no-signaling theorem, discrimination of nonorthogonal states, and the increase of quantum entanglement by local operations were reported, and therefore NHQM was not considered as a fundamental theory. Here we show that these and other no-go principles (including the no-cloning and no-deleting theorems) of conventional quantum mechanics still hold in finite-dimensional non-Hermitian quantum systems, including parity-time symmetric and pseudo-Hermitian cases, if its formalism is properly applied. We have developed a modified formulation of NHQM based on the geometry of Hilbert spaces which is consistent with the conventional quantum mechanics for Hermitian systems. Using this formulation the validity of these principles can be shown in a simple and uniform approach.

Perfect discrimination of non-orthogonal separable pure states on bipartite system in general probabilistic theory

We address perfect discrimination of two separable states. When available states are restricted to separable states, we can theoretically consider a larger class of measurements than the class of measurements allowed in quantum theory. The framework composed of the class of separable states and the above extended class of measurements is a typical example of general probabilistic theories. In this framework, we give a necessary and sufficient condition to discriminate two separable pure states perfectly. In particular, we derive measurements explicitly to discriminate two separable pure states perfectly, and find that some non-orthogonal states are perfectly distinguishable. However, the above framework does not improve the capacity, namely, the maximum number of states that are simultaneously and perfectly distinguishable.

Experimental Measurement-Device-Independent Quantum Steering and Randomness Generation Beyond Qubits.

In a measurement-device-independent or quantum-refereed protocol, a referee can verify whether two parties share entanglement or Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) steering without the need to trust either of the parties or their devices. The need for trusting a party is substituted by a quantum channel between the referee and that party, through which the referee encodes the measurements to be performed on that party's subsystem in a set of nonorthogonal quantum states. In this Letter, an EPR-steering inequality is adapted as a quantum-refereed EPR-steering witness, and the trust-free experimental verification of higher dimensional quantum steering is reported via preparing a class of entangled photonic qutrits. Further, with two measurement settings, we extract 1.106±0.023 bits of private randomness per every photon pair from our observed data, which surpasses the one-bit limit for projective measurements performed on qubit systems. Our results advance research on quantum information processing tasks beyond qubits.

Symmetry and Topology in Non-Hermitian Physics

We develop a complete theory of symmetry and topology in non-Hermitian physics. We demonstrate that non-Hermiticity ramifies the celebrated Altland-Zirnbauer symmetry classification for insulators and superconductors. In particular, charge conjugation is defined in terms of transposition rather than complex conjugation due to the lack of Hermiticity, and hence chiral symmetry becomes distinct from sublattice symmetry. It is also shown that non-Hermiticity enables a Hermitian-conjugate counterpart of the Altland-Zirnbauer symmetry. Taking into account sublattice symmetry or pseudo-Hermiticity as an additional symmetry, the total number of symmetry classes is 38 instead of 10, which describe intrinsic non-Hermitian topological phases as well as non-Hermitian random matrices. Furthermore, due to the complex nature of energy spectra, non-Hermitian systems feature two different types of complex-energy gaps, point-like and line-like vacant regions. On the basis of these concepts and K-theory, we complete classification of non-Hermitian topological phases in arbitrary dimensions and symmetry classes. Remarkably, non-Hermitian topology depends on the type of complex-energy gaps and multiple topological structures appear for each symmetry class and each spatial dimension, which are also illustrated in detail with concrete examples. Moreover, the bulk-boundary correspondence in non-Hermitian systems is elucidated within our framework, and symmetries preventing the non-Hermitian skin effect are identified. Our classification not only categorizes recently observed lasing and transport topological phenomena, but also predicts a new type of symmetry-protected topological lasers with lasing helical edge states and dissipative topological superconductors with nonorthogonal Majorana edge states. Furthermore, our theory provides topological classification of Hermitian and non-Hermitian free bosons.

Multiple-copy state discrimination of noisy qubits

Multiple-copy state discrimination is a fundamental task in quantum information processing. If there are two, pure, non-orthogonal states then both local and collective schemes are known to reach the Helstrom bound, the maximum probability of successful discrimination allowed by quantum theory. For mixed states, it is known that only collective schemes can perform optimally, so it might be expected that these schemes are more resilient to preparation noise. We calculate the probability of success for two schemes, one local and one collective, in the regime of imperfect preparation fidelity. We find two surprising results. Firstly, both schemes converge upon the same many-copy limit, which is less than unity. Secondly, the local scheme performs better in all cases. This highlights the point that one should take into account noise when designing state discrimination schemes.

Union of rotational and vibrational modes in generator-coordinate-type calculations, with application to neutrinoless double- β decay

Good many-body methods for medium and heavy nuclei are important. Here we combine ideas from standard generator-coordinate methods (GCM) and the so-called Monte Carlo shell model, and set forth a novel approach: starting from a mean-field solution (Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov), we create a set of non-orthogonal basis states, by using low-lying vibrational quasiparticleTamm-Dancoff modes, and then project onto states of good angular momentum and particle number. The results we benchmark against full shell model calculations. Even with just a few such modes we find improvement over standard GCM calculations in excitation spectra. We also find significant improvement in $0\nu\beta\beta$ nuclear matrix elements.

Unambiguous discrimination of nonorthogonal entangled quantum states in cavity QED

In this work we propose a scheme in the context of superconducting cavities to unambiguously discriminate non-orthogonal quantum field states when one of them is one of the four Bell states. The present work, which generalizes an earlier proposal [1] dealing with non-entangled states, also makes use of a single high Q cavity, a sample of three-level atoms, Ramsey zones and selective detectors, thus consisting of an oversimplification from the experimental view.

Multiparty Quantum Computation for Summation and Multiplication with Mutually Unbiased Bases

We present an efficient protocol to securely compute the summation and multiplication of the multiparty secure numbers via quantum states in MUBs. In our protocols, we assume the third party Alice is semi-honest which means Alice might want to steal the secret messages of the participants but cannot be corrupted by the participants. The agents use decoy photons which are randomly in one of 2dm nonorthogonal multiparticle states to prevent the eavesdropper and potential dishonest agents from freely eavesdropping on the secure information. The scheme requires the agents of computation to transmit fewer particles for multiparty summation and multiplication, which makes the scheme more convenient to use than others. Moreover, it has the advantage of having high information capacity per photon for summation and multiplication in multiparty quantum computation.

Complete Polarization Control for a Nanofiber Waveguide Using Directional Coupling

Optical nanofiber waveguides are widely used for near-field delivery and measurement of light. Despite their versatility and efficiency, nanofibers have a critical drawback - their inability to maintain light's polarization state on propagation. Here, we design a directional coupler consisting of two crossed nanofibers to probe the polarization state at the waist region. Directionality of coupling occurs due to asymmetric dipolar emission or spin-locking when the evanescent field pattern breaks the mirror symmetry of the crossed-nanofiber system. We demonstrate that, by monitoring the outputs from the directional coupler, two non-orthogonal polarization states can be prepared at the nanofiber waist with a fidelity higher than 99%. Based on these states, we devise a simple and reliable method for complete control of the polarization along a nanofiber waveguide.

Theoretical analysis of a nearly optimal analog quantum search

We analyze the possibility of modifying the original Farhi–Gutmann Hamiltonian algorithm in order to speed up the procedure for producing a suitably distributed unknown normalized quantum mechanical state. Such a modification is feasible provided only a nearly optimal fidelity is sought. We propose to select the lower bounds of the nearly optimal fidelity values such that their deviations from unit fidelity are less than the minimum error probability characterizing the optimum ambiguous discrimination scheme between the two non-orthogonal quantum states yielding the chosen nearly optimal fidelity values. Departing from the working assumptions of perfect state overlap and uniform distribution of the target state on the unit sphere in N-dimensional complex Hilbert space, we determine that the modified algorithm can indeed outperform the original analog counterpart of a quantum search algorithm. This performance enhancement occurs in terms of speed for a convenient choice of both the ratio γ = E′/E between the energy eigenvalues E′ and E of the modified search Hamiltonian and the quantum mechanical overlap x between the source and the target states. Finally, we briefly discuss possible analytical improvements of our investigation together with its potential relevance in practical quantum engineering applications.

An Improved Ping-Pong Protocol Using Three-Qubit Nonmaximally Nonorthogonal Entangled States

Abstract We analyse the ping-pong (PP) protocol [K. Bostrom and T. Felbinger, Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 187902 (2002)] using different sets of partially entangled three-qubit states. Interestingly, our results show that the partially entangled nonorthogonal three-qubit states are more useful as resources in comparison to three-qubit maximally entangled Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger (GHZ) states. The properties of orthogonal set of partially entangled states as resources for PP protocol, however, are similar to that of maximally entangled GHZ states – both the states are not preferable due to the vulnerability towards eavesdropping. On the other hand, partially entangled nonorthogonal basis set holds importance for transferring two-bit information, one each from a sender, to a single receiver. The protocol is further analysed for various eavesdropping attacks, and the results are compared with the use of two shared Bell pairs for two-bit information transfer. Surprisingly, the use of partially entangled nonorthogonal set of states is found to offer better qubit efficiency and increased security, as against the use of two separate maximally entangled Bell states with orthogonal basis. In addition, we also propose a mixed-state sharing protocol to further enhance the security of the PP protocol.

Quantum identity authentication in the orthogonal-state-encoding QKD system

As is known, quantum key distribution could achieve information-theoretical security under several basic requirements, one of which is reliable identity authentications between the participants. Compared with classical identity authentication, quantum identity authentication (QIA) is considered to be more secure and more efficient to combine with quantum key distribution (QKD), and therefore, more and more scholars are involved in the study of QIA. During the last 3 decades, various types of QKD protocols have been proposed utilizing different kinds of quantum technologies. One of the most special QKD protocols is the orthogonal-state-encoding QKD protocol proposed by Goldenberg and Vaidman (Phys Rev Lett 75:1239–1243, 1995), which is usually called GV95 protocol. Almost all of the QKD protocols employ nonorthogonal states to prevent and detect eavesdropping, and the most famous exception is GV95. In this paper, we present a QIA protocol based on the GV95 technology, which can be performed in a revised circuit of the GV95 protocol. And we also analyze the security of both Alice’s and Bob’s identities.

Cryptanalysis of Zhang et al’s Quantum Private Comparison and the Improvement

Based on EPR pairs, Zhang et al. analyzed the security of Yang and Tseng et al’s two QPC protocols, and proposed some new improvement strategies (Zhang and Zhang, Quantum Inform. Process. 12(5):1981–1990 2013). This paper points that Zhang et al’s protocol is insecure under a special attack, i.e. Trojan-horse attacks. To avoid this attack, we present an improved QPC protocol based on single particle encryption. Through security analysis of presented protocol, the improved protocol can resist Trojan horse attack (THA). We give a suggestion that non-orthogonal quantum states can be used to transmit information for reducing the leakage in a QPC protocol.

Quantum Discord, Thermal Discord, and Entropy Generation in the Minimum Error Discrimination Strategy.

We study the classical and quantum correlations in the minimum error discrimination (ME) of two non-orthogonal pure quantum states. In particular, we consider quantum discord, thermal discord and entropy generation. We show that ME allows one to reach the accessible information between the two involved parties, Alice and Bob, in the discrimination process. We determine the amount of quantum discord that is consumed in the ME and show that the entropy generation is, in general, higher than the thermal discord. However, in certain cases the entropy generation is very close to thermal discord, which indicates that, in these cases, the process generates the least possible entropy. Moreover, we also study the ME process as a thermodynamic cycle and we show that it is in agreement with the second law of thermodynamics. Finally, we study the relation between the accessible information and the optimum success probability in ME.

Linear entropy of multiqutrit nonorthogonal states.

We derive a closed-form analytical expression for the linear entropy of a multipartite qutrit state, providing a quantitative measure for quantum entanglement within the class of n-mode nonorthogonal qutrit states with any n. Conditions for enhanced and maximum quantum entanglement of multipartite qutrit states are identified. The usefulness of the introduced multipartite qutrit states as quantum communication channel resources is analyzed. The Hamiltonians allowing for the generation of multipartite qutrit states can be attained by combining optomechanical cavities with sequences of tunable beam splitters.

High-capacity quantum private comparison protocol with two-photon hyperentangled Bell states in multiple-degree of freedom

In this paper, the first high-capacity quantum private comparison (QPC) protocol is proposed to solve the comparison problem of equality of two parties’ secret inputs without revealing them out. This scheme is assisted with the semi-honest third party to fulfill the task. And the genuine two-photon hyperentangled Bell states are utilized as the important information carriers. Different from the previous protocols, this hyperentangled Bell states are composed of only two photons but characterize six qubits in two longitudinal momentum and polarization degrees of freedom (DOFs). In addition, this protocol possesses a higher information capacity and saves massive quantum resources for that the two-photon system can carry 6 bits of information. Meanwhile, this scheme can be applied and useful for long-distance quantum communication to improve the feasibility of QPC protocol. Furthermore, 64 nonorthogonal single-photon states as decoy photons are utilized to detect the security of the quantum channel. This method not only increases the security of the quantum channel, but also decreases the decoherence effect of environment noise. Moreover, this QPC protocol is analyzed to be immune to various kinds of attack. Finally, this QPC protocol can obtain the good application to compare the secret inputs securely, efficiently and feasibly.

Perfect discrimination of nonorthogonal quantum states with posterior classical partial information

The indistinguishability of non-orthogonal pure states lies at the heart of quantum information processing. Although the indistinguishability reflects the impossibility of measuring complementary physical quantities by a single measurement, we demonstrate that the distinguishability can be perfectly retrieved simply with the help of posterior classical partial information. We demonstrate this by showing an ensemble of non-orthogonal pure states such that a state randomly sampled from the ensemble can be perfectly identified by a single measurement with help of the post-processing of the measurement outcomes and additional partial information about the sampled state, i.e., the label of subensemble from which the state is sampled. When an ensemble consists of two subensembles, we show that the perfect distinguishability of the ensemble with the help of the post-processing can be restated as a matrix-decomposition problem. Furthermore, we give the analytical solution for the problem when both subensembles consist of two states.

High-fidelity quantum cloning of two nonorthogonal quantum states via weak measurements

We propose a scheme to enhance the fidelity of symmetric quantum cloning machine using a weak measurement. By adjusting the intensity of weak measurement parameter $p$, we obtain the copies with different optimal fidelity. Choosing proper value of $p$, we can obtain the perfect copies for initial qubits. In this paper, we focus on $1-2$ quantum cloning for two nonorthogonal states. Sets containing more than two linear independent states are also discussed briefly. Due to weak measurements being probabilistic, we obtain high fidelity at risk of probability. If the weak measurement successes, we do the following operations to obtain copies with high fidelity, otherwise, the cloning process fails and we need do nothing. From this perspective, the scheme we propose is economical for saving quantum resource and time, which may be very useful in quantum information processing.

Alternative method for deriving nonlocal multipartite product states

We can only perform a finite rounds of measurements in protocols with local operations and classical communication (LOCC). In this paper, we propose a set of product states, which require infinite rounds of measurements in order to distinguish this given set of states perfectly by LOCC. Therefore, we can conclude that these sets of states are locally indistinguishable. More accurately, given any multipartite LOCC indistinguishable set where every local system cannot start with a nontrivial measurement, then after appending these states with arbitrarily choosing two nonorthogonal states, we obtain another LOCC indistinguishable set. It can be seen that some parties can perform some nontrivial measurements. Hence, these sets are quite different from those constructed before. This result broadens the knowledge of nonlocality without entanglement to a certain extent.