Symmetric Gaussian States Research Articles

Gaussian entanglement witness and refined Werner-Wolf criterion for continuous variables

We use matched quantum entanglement witnesses to study the separable criteria of continuous variable states. The witness can be written as an identity operator minus a Gaussian operator. The optimization of the witness then is transformed to an eigenvalue problem of a Gaussian kernel integral equation. It follows a separable criterion not only for symmetric Gaussian quantum states, but also for non-Gaussian states prepared by photon adding to or/and subtracting from symmetric Gaussian states. Based on Fock space numeric calculation, we obtain an entanglement witness for more general two-mode states. A necessary criterion of separability follows for two-mode states and it is shown to be necessary and sufficient for a two mode squeezed thermal state and the related two-mode non-Gaussian states. We also connect the witness based criterion with Werner-Wolf criterion and refine the Werner-Wolf criterion.

Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen steering in symmetrical Gaussian states

We have explored quantum Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen steering in symmetric two-mode Gaussian states using Gaussian and non-Gaussian measurements. For Gaussian measurements, we show that steering between the output modes of a symmetric beamsplitter is possible regardless of purity when a threshold input-state quadrature variance compression is achieved. Using the non-Gaussian operators introduced in [1] we show that non-Gaussian measurements can outperform Gaussian measurements for symmetrical states. We also analyze the possibility of asymmetric measurements setups made possible by non-Gaussian measurements and provide examples where such asymmetry is optimal for revealing steering. [1] Ji, SW., Lee, J., Park, J. et al. Quantum steering of Gaussian states via non-Gaussian measurements. Sci Rep 6, 29729 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep29729

Optimal distributed quantum sensing using Gaussian states

We find and investigate the optimal scheme of quantum distributed Gaussian sensing for estimation of the average of independent phase shifts. We show that the ultimate sensitivity is achievable by using an entangled symmetric Gaussian state, which can be generated using a single-mode squeezed vacuum state, a beam-splitter network, and homodyne detection on each output mode in the absence of photon loss. Interestingly, the maximal entanglement of a symmetric Gaussian state is not optimal although the presence of entanglement is advantageous as compared to the case using a product symmetric Gaussian state. It is also demonstrated that when loss occurs, homodyne detection and other types of Gaussian measurements compete for better sensitivity, depending on the amount of loss and properties of a probe state. None of them provide the ultimate sensitivity, indicating that non-Gaussian measurements are required for optimality in lossy cases. Our general results obtained through a full-analytical investigation will offer important perspectives to the future theoretical and experimental study for quantum distributed Gaussian sensing.

Versatility of continuous-variable asymmetric tripartite entanglement allows Alice and Clare to keep secrets from Bob

The fully symmetric Gaussian tripartite entangled pure states will not exhibit two-mode Einstein Podolsky-Rosen (EPR)-steering. This means that any two participants cannot share quantum secrets using the security of one-sided device independent quantum key distribution (1SDI-QKD) without involving the third. They are restricted at most to standard quantum key distribution (S-QKD), which is less secure. Here we show that least some asymmetric tripartite systems can exhibit bipartite EPR-steering, so that two of the participants can use 1SDI-QKD without involving the other. This is possible because the promiscuity relations of continuous-variable tripartite entanglement are different from those of discrete-variable systems. We analyse these properties for two different systems, showing that the asymmetric system has an extra degree of flexibility not found in the symmetric one.

Transformations of symmetric multipartite Gaussian states by Gaussian local operations and classical communication

Multipartite quantum correlations, in spite of years of intensive research, still leave many questions unanswered. While bipartite entanglement is relatively well understood for Gaussian states, the complexity of mere qualitative characterization grows rapidly with increasing number of parties. Here, we present two schemes for transformations of multipartite permutation invariant Gaussian states by Gaussian local operations and classical communication. To this end, we use a scheme for possible experimental realization, making use of the fact, that in this picture, the whole N - partite state can be described using two separable modes. Numerically, we study entanglement transformations of tripartite states. Finally, we look at the effect our protocols have on fidelity of assisted quantum teleportation and find that while adding correlated noise does not affect the fidelity at all, there is strong evidence that partial non-demolition measurement leads to a drop in teleportation fidelity.

Tight bounds for the entanglement of formation of Gaussian states

We establish tight upper and lower bounds for the Entanglement of Formation of an arbitrary two-mode Gaussian state employing necessary properties of Gaussian channels. Both bounds are strictly given by the Entanglement of Formation of symmetric Gaussian states, which are simply constructed from the reduced states obtained by partial trace of the original one.

Entanglement criterion of computable cross norm and realignment for continuous-variable bipartite symmetric states

We provide the entanglement criterion of computable cross norm and realignment for any two-mode continuous-variable state with permutational symmetry. The entanglement criterion for a non-Gaussian state is obtained from its Gaussian kernel by employing the technique of functional analysis. The entanglement conditions turn out to be necessary and sufficient for the non-Gaussian states prepared by one-photon subtracting from or adding to symmetric Gaussian states. The entanglement criterion of non-Gaussian states evolved in thermal noise and amplitude damping environment also is obtained.

Realignment entanglement criterion of phase damped Gaussian states

We derive the realignment entanglement criterion for non-Gaussian states prepared by two mode symmetric Gaussian states undergoing phase damping. The entanglement detecting ability is compared with that of second moment criterion and Fock space criterion of positive partial transpose. New non-Gaussian entangled states are detected.

Information content of nonautonomous free fields in curved space-time

We show that it is possible to quantify the information content of a nonautonomous free field state in curved space-time. A covariance matrix is defined and it is shown that, for symmetric Gaussian field states, the matrix is connected to the entropy of the state. This connection is maintained throughout a quadratic nonautonomous (including possible phase transitions) evolution. Although particle-antiparticle correlations are dynamically generated, the evolution is isoentropic. If the current standard cosmological model for the inflationary period is correct, in absence of decoherence such correlations will be preserved, and could potentially lead to observable effects, allowing for a test of the model.

Distillation and purification of symmetric entangled Gaussian states

We propose an entanglement distillation and purification scheme for symmetric two-mode entangled Gaussian states that allows to asymptotically extract a pure entangled Gaussian state from any input entangled symmetric Gaussian state. The proposed scheme is a modified and extended version of the entanglement distillation protocol originally developed by Browne et al. [Phys. Rev. A 67, 062320 (2003)]. A key feature of the present protocol is that it utilizes a two-copy degaussification procedure that involves a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with single-mode non-Gaussian filters inserted in its two arms. The required non-Gaussian filtering operations can be implemented by coherently combining two sequences of single-photon addition and subtraction operations.

Distinguishability of Gaussian states in quantum cryptography using postselection

We consider the distinguishability of Gaussian states from the viewpoint of continuous-variable quantum cryptography using postselection. Specifically, we use the probability of error to distinguish between two pure coherent (squeezed) and two particular mixed symmetric coherent (squeezed) states where each mixed state is an incoherent mixture of two pure coherent (squeezed) states with equal and opposite displacements in the conjugate quadrature. We show that the two mixed symmetric Gaussian states (where the various components have the same real part) never give an eavesdropper more information than the two pure Gaussian states. Furthermore, when considering the distinguishability of squeezed states, we show that varying the amount of squeezing leads to a ``squeezing'' and ``antisqueezing'' of the net information rates.

Genuine multipartite entanglement of symmetric Gaussian states: Strong monogamy, unitary localization, scaling behavior, and molecular sharing structure

We investigate the structural aspects of genuine multipartite entanglement in Gaussian states of continuous variable systems. Generalizing the results of Adesso and Illuminati [Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 150501 (2007)], we analyze whether the entanglement shared by blocks of modes distributes according to a strong monogamy law. This property, once established, allows us to quantify the genuine $N$-partite entanglement not encoded into $2,\dots{},K,\dots{},(N\ensuremath{-}1)$-partite quantum correlations. Strong monogamy is numerically verified, and the explicit expression of the measure of residual genuine multipartite entanglement is analytically derived, by a recursive formula, for a subclass of Gaussian states. These are fully symmetric (permutation-invariant) states that are multipartitioned into blocks, each consisting of an arbitrarily assigned number of modes. We compute the genuine multipartite entanglement shared by the blocks of modes and investigate its scaling properties with the number and size of the blocks, the total number of modes, the global mixedness of the state, and the squeezed resources needed for state engineering. To achieve the exact computation of the block entanglement, we introduce and prove a general result of symplectic analysis: Correlations among $K$ blocks in $N$-mode multisymmetric and multipartite Gaussian states, which are locally invariant under permutation of modes within each block, can be transformed by a local (with respect to the partition) unitary operation into correlations shared by $K$ single modes, one per block, in effective nonsymmetric states where $N\ensuremath{-}K$ modes are completely uncorrelated. Due to this theorem, the above results, such as the derivation of the explicit expression for the residual multipartite entanglement, its nonnegativity, and its scaling properties, extend to the subclass of non-symmetric Gaussian states that are obtained by the unitary localization of the multipartite entanglement of symmetric states. These findings provide strong numerical evidence that the distributed Gaussian entanglement is strongly monogamous under and possibly beyond specific symmetry constraints, and that the residual continuous-variable tangle is a proper measure of genuine multipartite entanglement for permutation-invariant Gaussian states under any multipartition of the modes.

Mixed-state localizable entanglement for continuous variables

We investigate localization of entanglement of multipartite mixed Gaussian states into a pair of modes by local Gaussian measurements on the remaining modes and classical communication. We provide a detailed proof that for arbitrary symmetric Gaussian state maximum entanglement can be localized by homodyne detection of either amplitude or phase quadrature on each mode. We then consider arbitrary mixed three-mode Gaussian states and show that the optimal Gaussian measurement on one mode yielding maximum entanglement among the other two modes can be determined by calculating roots of a high-order polynomial. Finally, we discuss localization of entanglement with single-photon detection.

Bures distance as a measure of entanglement for symmetric two-mode Gaussian states

We evaluate a Gaussian entanglement measure for a symmetric two-mode Gaussian state of the quantum electromagnetic field in terms of its Bures distance to the set of all separable Gaussian states. The required minimization procedure was considerably simplified by using the remarkable properties of the Uhlmann fidelity as well as the standard form II of the covariance matrix of a symmetric state. Our result for the Gaussian degree of entanglement measured by the Bures distance depends only on the smallest symplectic eigenvalue of the covariance matrix of the partially transposed density operator. It is thus consistent to the exact expression of the entanglement of formation for symmetric two-mode Gaussian states. This non-trivial agreement is specific to the Bures metric.

Gaussian entanglement of symmetric two-mode Gaussian states

A Gaussian degree of entanglement for a symmetric two-mode Gaussian state can be defined as its distance to the set of all separable two-mode Gaussian states. The principal property that enables us to evaluate both Bures distance and relative entropy between symmetric two-mode Gaussian states is the diagonalization of their covariance matrices under the same beam-splitter transformation. The multiplicativity property of the Uhlmann fidelity and the additivity of the relative entropy allow one to finally deal with a single-mode optimization problem in both cases. We find that only the Bures-distance Gaussian entanglement is consistent with the exact entanglement of formation.

Inseparability of photon-added Gaussian states

The inseparability of photon-added Gaussian states which are generated from two-mode Gaussian states by adding photons is investigated. According to the established inseparability conditions [New J. Phys. 7, 211 (2005); Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 050503 (2006)], we find that even if a two-mode Gaussian state is separable, the photon-added Gaussian state becomes entangled when the purity of the Gaussian state is larger than a certain value. The lower bound of entanglement of symmetric photon-added Gaussian states is derived. The result shows that entanglement of the photon-added Gaussian states is involved with high-order moment correlations. We find that fidelity of teleporting coherent states cannot be raised by employing the photon-added Gaussian states as a quantum channel of teleportation.

Optical state engineering, quantum communication, and robustness of entanglement promiscuity in three-mode Gaussian states

We present a novel, detailed study on the usefulness of three-mode Gaussian states for realistic processing of continuous variable (CV) quantum information, with a particular emphasis on the possibilities opened up by their genuine tripartite entanglement. We describe practical schemes to engineer several classes of pure and mixed three-mode states that stand out for their informational and/or entanglement properties. In particular, we introduce a simple procedure—based on passive optical elements—to produce pure three-mode Gaussian states with arbitrary entanglement structure (upon availability of an initial two-mode squeezed state). We analyse in depth the properties of distributed entanglement and the origin of its sharing structure, showing that the promiscuity of entanglement sharing is a feature peculiar to symmetric Gaussian states that survives even in the presence of significant degrees of mixedness and decoherence. Next, we discuss the suitability of the considered tripartite entangled states to the implementation of quantum information and communication protocols with CVs. This will lead to a feasible experimental proposal to test the promiscuous sharing of CV tripartite entanglement, in terms of the optimal fidelity of teleportation networks with Gaussian resources. We finally focus on the application of three-mode states to symmetric and asymmetric telecloning, and single out the structural properties of the optimal Gaussian resources for the latter protocol in different settings. Our analysis aims to lay the basis for a practical quantum communication with CVs beyond the bipartite scenario.

Entanglement in Gaussian matrix-product states

Gaussian matrix product states are obtained as the outputs of projection operations from an ancillary space of M infinitely entangled bonds connecting neighboring sites, applied at each of N sites of an harmonic chain. Replacing the projections by associated Gaussian states, the 'building blocks', we show that the entanglement range in translationally-invariant Gaussian matrix product states depends on how entangled the building blocks are. In particular, infinite entanglement in the building blocks produces fully symmetric Gaussian states with maximum entanglement range. From their peculiar properties of entanglement sharing, a basic difference with spin chains is revealed: Gaussian matrix product states can possess unlimited, long-range entanglement even with minimum number of ancillary bonds (M=1). Finally we discuss how these states can be experimentally engineered from N copies of a three-mode building block and N two-mode finitely squeezed states.

Continuous variable tangle, monogamy inequality, and entanglement sharing in Gaussian states of continuous variable systems

For continuous-variable (CV) systems, we introduce a measure of entanglement, the CV tangle (contangle), with the purpose of quantifying the distributed (shared) entanglement in multimode, multipartite Gaussian states. This is achieved by a proper convex-roof extension of the squared logarithmic negativity. We prove that the contangle satisfies the Coffman–Kundu–Wootters monogamy inequality in all three-mode Gaussian states, and in all fully symmetric N-mode Gaussian states, for arbitrary N. For three-mode pure states, we prove that the residual entanglement is a genuine tripartite entanglement monotone under Gaussian local operations and classical communication. We show that pure, symmetric three-mode Gaussian states allow a promiscuous entanglement sharing, having both maximum tripartite residual entanglement and maximum couplewise entanglement between any pair of modes. These states are thus simultaneous CV analogues of both the GHZ and the W states of three qubits: in CV systems monogamy does not prevent promiscuity, and the inequivalence between different classes of maximally entangled states, holding for systems of three or more qubits, is removed.

Gaussian relative entropy of entanglement

For two gaussian states with given correlation matrices, in order that relative entropy between them is practically calculable, I in this paper describe the ways of transforming the correlation matrix to matrix in the exponential density operator. Gaussian relative entropy of entanglement is proposed as the minimal relative entropy of the gaussian state with respect to separable gaussian state set. I prove that gaussian relative entropy of entanglement achieves when the separable gaussian state is at the border of separable gaussian state set and inseparable gaussian state set. For two mode gaussian states, the calculation of gaussian relative entropy of entanglement is greatly simplified from searching for a matrix with 10 undetermined parameters to 3 variables. The two mode gaussian states are classified as four types, numerical evidence strongly suggests that gaussian relative entropy of entanglement for each type is realized by the separable state within the same type.For symmetric gaussian state it is strictly proved that it is achieved by symmetric gaussian state.