The protocol of quantum reading refers to the quantum enhanced retrieval of information from an optical memory, whose generic cell stores a bit of information in two possible lossy channels. In the following we analyze the case of a particular class of optical receiver, based on photon counting measurement, since they can be particularly simple in view of real applications. We show that a quantum advantage is achievable when a transmitter based on two-mode squeezed vacuum (TMSV) states is combined with a photon counting receiver, and we experimentally confirm it. In this paper, after introducing some theoretical background, we focus on the experimental realisation, describing the data collection and the data analysis in detail.
Quantum information theory determines the maximum rates at which information can be transmitted through physical systems described by quantum mechanics. Here we consider the communication protocol known as quantum reading. Quantum reading is a protocol for retrieving the information stored in a digital memory by using a quantum probe, e.g., shining quantum states of light to read an optical memory. In a variety of situations using a quantum probe enhances the performances of the reading protocol in terms of fidelity, data density and energy dissipation. Here we review and characterize the quan…
In this brief note, I clarify the crucial differences between three different protocols of quantum channel discrimination, after some confusion has appeared in recent literature.
Quantum reading aims at retrieving classical information stored in an optical memory with low energy and high accuracy by exploiting the inherently quantum properties of light. We provide an optimal Gaussian strategy for quantum reading with phase-shift keying encoding that makes use of squeezed coherent light and homodyne detectors to largely outperform the Standard Quantum Limit, even in the presence of loss. This strategy, being feasible with current quantum optical technology, represents a viable prototype for a highly efficient and reliable quantum-enhanced optical reader.
Besides achieving secure communication between two spatially-separated parties, another important issue in modern cryptography is related to secure communication in time, i.e., the possibility to confidentially store information on a memory for later retrieval. Here we explore this possibility in the setting of quantum reading, which exploits quantum entanglement to efficiently read data from a memory whereas classical strategies (e.g., based on coherent states or their mixtures) cannot retrieve any information. From this point of view, the technique of quantum reading can provide a new form o…
We provide the optimal strategy for unambiguous quantum reading of optical memories, namely when perfect retrieving of information is achieved probabilistically, for the case where noise and loss are negligible. We describe the experimental quantum optical implementations, and provide experimental results for the single photon case.
Non-classical states of light field have been exploited to provide marvellous results in quantum information science. Effectiveness of nonclassical states depends on whether physical parameter as signal is continuous or digital. Here we present an investigation on the potential of quasi Bell state of entangled coherent states in quantum reading of the classical digital memory which was pioneered by Pirandola. This is a typical example of discrete quantum discrimination. We show that the quasi Bell state gives the error free performance in the quantum reading that cannot be obtained by any clas…
We address the problem of quantum reading of optical memories, namely the retrieving of classical information stored in the optical properties of a media with minimum energy. We present optimal strategies for ambiguous and unambiguous quantum reading of unitary optical memories, namely when one's task is to minimize the probability of errors in the retrieved information and when perfect retrieving of information is achieved probabilistically, respectively. A comparison of the optimal strategy with coherent probes and homodyne detection shows that the former saves orders of magnitude of energy …
Quantum reading refers to the task of reading out classical information stored in a read-only memory device. In any such protocol, the transmitter and receiver are in the same physical location, and the goal of such a protocol is to use these devices (modeled by independent quantum channels), coupled with a quantum strategy, to read out as much information as possible from a memory device, such as a CD or DVD. As a consequence of the physical setup of quantum reading, the most natural and general definition for quantum reading capacity should allow for an adaptive operation after each call to …
It is shown in the present note that the degree of the complexity of the time-reading process of the Salecker--Wigner clock depends on the size of the clock. This dependence leads to a relation between the size and the accuracy of the clock, and suggests a precise optimal value for the size in agreement with the order of magnitude value established by Salecker and Wigner.
Collisions, even though they do not limit the lifetime of quantum information stored in ground state hyperfine coherences, may severely limit the fidelity for quantum memory when they happen during the write and read process. This imposes restrictions on the implementation of quantum processes in thermal vapor cells and their performance as a quantum memory. We study the effect of these collisions in our experiment.
The final goal of quantum hypothesis testing is to achieve quantum advantage over all possible classical strategies. In the protocol of quantum reading this advantage is achieved for information retrieval from an optical memory, whose generic cell stores a bit of information in two possible lossy channels. For this protocol, we show, theoretically and experimentally, that quantum advantage is obtained by practical photon-counting measurements combined with a simple maximum-likelihood decision. In particular, we show that this receiver combined with an entangled two-mode squeezed vacuum source …
Quantum communication theory sets the maximum rates at which information can be encoded and decoded reliably given the physical properties of the information carriers. Here we consider the problem of readout of a digital optical memory, where information is stored by means of the optical properties of the memory cells that are in turn probed by shining a laser beam on them. Interesting features arise in the regime in which the probing light has to be treated quantum mechanically. The maximum rate of reliable readout defines the quantum reading capacity, which is proven to overcome the classica…
Quantum non Markovianity and quantum Darwinism are two phenomena linked by a common theme: the flux of quantum information between a quantum system and the quantum environment it interacts with. In this work, making use of a quantum collision model, a formalism initiated by Sudarshan and his school, we will analyse the efficiency with which the information about a single qubit gained by a quantum harmonic oscillator, acting as a meter, is transferred to a bosonic environment. We will show how, in some regimes, such quantum information flux is inefficient, leading to the simultaneous emergence …
The mechanism of extraction of information stored in a quantum memory is studied here in detail. We consider memories containing a single excitation of a collective atomic state, which is mapped into a single photon during the reading process. A theory is developed for the wavepacket of the extracted photon, leading to a simple analytical expression depending on the key parameters of the problem, like detuning and intensity of the read field and the number of atoms in the atomic ensemble. This theory is then compared to a large set of experimental situations and a satisfactory quantitative agr…
The readout of a classical memory can be modelled as a problem of quantum channel discrimination, where a decoder retrieves information by distinguishing the different quantum channels encoded in each cell of the memory [S. Pirandola, Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 090504 (2011)]. In the case of optical memories, such as CDs and DVDs, this discrimination involves lossy bosonic channels and can be remarkably boosted by the use of nonclassical light (quantum reading). Here we generalize these concepts by extending the model of memory from single-cell to multi-cell encoding. In general, information is sto…
We analyze the reading and initialization of a topological qubit encoded by Majorana fermions in one-dimensional semiconducting nanowires, weakly coupled to a single level quantum dot (QD). It is shown that when the Majorana fermions are fused by tuning gate voltage, the topological qubit can be read out directly through the occupation of the QD in an energy window. The initialization of the qubit can also be realized via adjusting the gate voltage on the QD, with the total fermion parity conserved. As a result, both reading and initialization processes can be achieved in an all-electrical way…
Nonclassical states of light play a central role in many quantum information protocols. Their quantum features have been exploited to improve the readout of information from digital memories, modelled as arrays of microscopic beam splitters [S. Pirandola, Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 090504 (2011)]. In this model of quantum reading, a nonclassical source of light with Einstein-Podolski-Rosen correlations has been proven to retrieve more information than any classical source. In particular, the quantum-classical comparison has been performed under a global energy constraint, i.e., by fixing the mean t…
Randomness is an unavoidable notion in discussing quantum physics, and this may trigger the curiosity to know more of its cultural history. This text is an invitation to explore the position on the matter of Thomas Aquinas, one of the most prominent philosophers and theologians of the European Middle Ages.
A general framework describing the statistical discrimination of an ensemble of quantum channels is given by the name of quantum reading. Several tools can be applied in quantum reading to reduce the error probability in distinguishing the ensemble of channels. Classical and quantum codes can be envisioned for this goal. The aim of this paper is to present a simple but fruitful protocol for this task using classical error-correcting codes. Three families of codes are considered: Reed-Solomon codes, BCH codes, and Reed-Muller codes. In conjunction to the use of codes, we also analyze the role o…
In quantum reading, a quantum state of light (transmitter) is applied to read classical information. In the presence of noise or for sufficiently weak signals, quantum reading can outperform classical reading by enhanced state distinguishability. Here we show that the enhanced quantum efficiency depends on the presence in the transmitter of a particular type of quantum correlations, the discord of response. Different encodings and transmitters give rise to different levels of efficiency. Considering noisy quantum probes we show that squeezed thermal transmitters with non-symmetrically distribu…
Efficiently computable bounds on the energy-constrained quantum reading capacity
RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute（理化学研究所先驱研究机构）；RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing（理化学研究所量子计算中心）；RMIT University（皇家墨尔本理工大学）；Cornell University（康奈尔大学）
We consider a basic model of digital memory where each cell is composed of a reflecting medium with two possible reflectivities. By fixing the mean number of photons irradiated over each memory cell, we show that a non-classical source of light can retrieve more information than any classical source. This improvement is shown in the regime of few photons and high reflectivities, where the gain of information can be surprising. As a result, the use of quantum light can have non-trivial applications in the technology of digital memories, such as optical disks and barcodes.
We consider a basic model of digital memory where each cell is composed of a reflecting medium with two possible reflectivities. By fixing the mean number of photons irradiated over each memory cell, we show that a non-classical source of light can retrieve more information than any classical source. This improvement is shown in the regime of few photons and high reflectivities, where the gain of information can be surprising. As a result, the use of quantum light can have non-trivial applications in the technology of digital memories, such as optical disks and barcodes.
It has been shown recently (Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 090504 (2011)) that entangled light with Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) correlations retrieves information from digital memory better than any classical light. In identifying this, a model of digital memory with each cell consisting of reflecting medium with two reflectivities (each memory cell encoding the binary numbers 0 or 1) is employed. The readout of binary memory essentially corresponds to discrimination of two Bosonic attenuator channels characterized by different reflectivities. The model requires an entire mathematical paraphernalia o…
Quantum reading provides a general framework where to formulate the statistical discrimination of quantum channels. Several paths have been taken for such a problem. However, there is much to be done in the avenue of optimizing channel discrimination using classical codes. At least two open questions can be pointed to: how to construct low complexity encoding schemes that are interesting for channel discrimination and, more importantly, how to develop capacity-achieving protocols. The aim of this paper is to present a solution to these questions using polar codes. Firstly, we characterize the …
We study the entanglement spectrum of topological systems hosting non-Abelian anyons. Akin to energy levels of a Hamiltonian, the entanglement spectrum is composed of symmetry multiplets. We find that the ratio between different eigenvalues within one multiplet is universal and is determined by the anyonic quantum dimensions. This result is a consequence of the conservation of the total topological charge. For systems with non-Abelian topological order, this generalizes known degeneracies of the entanglement spectrum, which are hallmarks of topological states. Experimental detection of these e…
Entanglement is a powerful tool for quantum sensing, and entangled states can greatly boost the discriminative power of protocols for quantum illumination, quantum metrology, or quantum reading. However, entangled state protocols generally require the retention of an idler state, to which the probes are entangled. Storing a quantum state is difficult and so technological limitations can make protocols requiring quantum memories impracticable. One alternative is idler-free protocols that utilise non-classical sources but do not require any idler states to be stored. Here we apply such a protoco…
We consider the problem of distinguishing, with minimum probability of error, two optical beam-splitter channels with unequal complex-valued reflectivities using general quantum probe states entangled over M signal and M' idler mode pairs of which the signal modes are bounced off the beam splitter while the idler modes are retained losslessly. We obtain a lower bound on the output state fidelity valid for any pure input state. We define number-diagonal signal (NDS) states to be input states whose density operator in the signal modes is diagonal in the multimode number basis. For such input sta…
An important practical open question has been to design explicit, structured optical receivers that achieve the Holevo limit in the contexts of optical communication and "quantum reading." The Holevo limit is an achievable rate that is higher than the Shannon limit of any known optical receiver. We demonstrate how a sequential decoding approach can achieve the Holevo limit for both of these settings. A crucial part of our scheme for both settings is a non-destructive "vacuum-or-not" measurement that projects an n-symbol modulated codeword onto the n-fold vacuum state or its orthogonal compleme…
We consider a quantum many-body system made of $N$ interacting $S{=}1/2$ spins on a lattice, and develop a formalism which allows to extract, out of conventional magnetic observables, the quantum probabilities for any selected spin pair to be in maximally entangled or factorized two-spin states. This result is used in order to capture the meaning of entanglement properties in terms of magnetic behavior. In particular, we consider the concurrence between two spins and show how its expression extracts information on the presence of bipartite entanglement out of the probability distributions rela…
We demonstrate a one to one correspondence between the polarization state of a light pulse tuned to neutral exciton resonances of single semiconductor quantum dots and the spin state of the exciton that it photogenerates. This is accomplished using two variably polarized and independently tuned picosecond laser pulses. The first "writes" the spin state of the resonantly excited exciton. The second is tuned to biexcitonic resonances, and its absorption is used to "read" the exciton spin state. The absorption of the second pulse depends on its polarization relative to the exciton spin direction.…
Classical and quantum mechanics across representations: an operational reading of the Wigner Weyl correspondence
University of Vienna, Faculty of Physics（维也纳大学物理学院）；Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology（维也纳量子科学与技术中心）；Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI), Austrian Academy of Sciences（奥地利科学院量子光学与量子信息研究所）；Constructor University（Constructor大学）；University of Geneva, Group of Applied Physics（日内瓦大学应用物理组）
We provide a unified picture for the master equation approach and the quantum trajectory approach to a measurement problem of a two-state quantum system (a qubit), an electron coherently tunneling between two coupled quantum dots (CQD's) measured by a low transparency point contact (PC) detector. We show that the master equation of ``partially'' reduced density matrix can be derived from the quantum trajectory equation (stochastic master equation) by simply taking a ``partial'' average over the all possible outcomes of the measurement. If a full ensemble average is taken, the traditional (unco…
We study a system of two nanomechanical resonators embedded in a dc SQUID. We show that the inductively-coupled resonators can be treated as two entangled quantum memory elements with states that can be read from, or written on by employing the SQUID as a displacement detector or switching additional external magnetic fields, respectively. We present a scheme to squeeze the even modeof the state of the resonators and consequently reduce the noise in the measurement of the magnetic flux threading the SQUID. Wefinally analyze the effect of dissipation on the squeezing using the quantum master eq…
Acquiring information about an unknown qubit in a superposition of two states is essential in any computation process. Quantum measurement, or sharp measurement, is usually used to read the information contents of that unknown qubit system. Quantum measurement is an irreversible operation that makes the superposition collapses to one of the two possible states in a probabilistic way. In this paper, a quantum algorithm will be proposed to read the information in an unknown qubit without applying sharp measurement on that qubit. The proposed algorithm will use a quantum feedback control scheme b…
The readings of a highly inaccurate "weak" quantum meter, employed to determine the value of a dichotomous variable $S$ without destroying the interference between the alternatives,may take arbitrary values. We show that the expected values of its readings may take any real value, depending on the the choice of the states in which the system is pre- and post-selected. Some of these values must fall outside the range of eigenvalues of $A$, in which case they may be expressed as "anomalous" averages obtained with negative probability weights, constructed from available probability amplitudes. Th…
We prove that the combinatorics generated by the quantum random walk on Z can be interpreted from the reading of periodic orbits of the classical chaotic map $x \mapsto 2x mod 1$.
A bipartite quantum interaction corresponds to the most general quantum interaction that can occur between two quantum systems in the presence of a bath. In this work, we determine bounds on the capacities of bipartite interactions for entanglement generation and secret key agreement between two quantum systems. Our upper bound on the entanglement generation capacity of a bipartite quantum interaction is given by a quantity called the bidirectional max-Rains information. Our upper bound on the secret-key-agreement capacity of a bipartite quantum interaction is given by a related quantity calle…
The aim of this thesis is to advance the theory behind quantum information processing tasks, by deriving fundamental limits on bipartite quantum interactions and dynamics, which corresponds to an underlying Hamiltonian that governs the physical transformation of a two-body open quantum system. The goal is to determine entangling abilities of such arbitrary bipartite quantum interactions. Doing so provides fundamental limitations on information processing tasks, including entanglement distillation and secret key generation, over a bipartite quantum network. We also discuss limitations on the en…
