Quantum computing is usually associated with discrete quantum states and physical quantities possessing discrete eigenvalue spectrum. However, quantum computing in general is any computation accomplished by the exploitation of quantum properties of physical quantities, discrete or otherwise. It has been shown that physical quantities with continuous eigenvalue spectrum can be used for quantum computing as well. Currently, continuous variable quantum computing is a rapidly developing field both theoretically and experimentally. In this pedagogical introduction we present the basic theoretical concepts behind it and the tools for algorithm development. The paper targets readers with discrete quantum computing background, who are new to continuous variable quantum computing.
A quantum channel is derived for continuous variable teleportation which is performed by means of an arbitrary entangled state and the standard protocol. When a Gaussian entangled state such as a two-mode squeezed-vacuum state is used, the continuous variable teleportation is equivalent to the thermalizing quantum channel. Continuous variable dense coding is also considered. Both the continuous variable teleportation and the continuous variable dense coding are characterized by the same function determined by the entangled state and the quantum measurement.
A fast quantum search algorithm for continuous variables is presented. The result is the quantum continuous variable analog of Grover's algorithm originally proposed for qubits. A continuous variable analog of the Hadamard (i.e., Fourier transform) operation is used in conjunction with inversion about the average of quantum states to allow the approximate identification of an unknown quantum state in a way that gives a square-root speed-up over search algorithms using classical continuous variables. Also, we show that this quantum search algorithm is robust for a generalised Fourier transforma…
Uncertainty relation is one of the fundamental principle in quantum mechanics and plays an important role in quantum information science. We experimentally test the error-disturbance uncertainty relation (EDR) with continuous variables for Gaussian states. Two conjugate continuous-variable observables, amplitude and phase quadratures of an optical mode, are measured simultaneously by using a heterodyne measurement system. The EDR with continuous variables for a coherent state, a squeezed state and a thermal state are verified experimentally. Our experimental results demonstrate that Heisenberg…
Quantum capacity, as the key figure of merit for a given quantum channel, upper bounds the channel's ability in transmitting quantum information. Identifying different type of channels, evaluating the corresponding quantum capacity and finding the capacity-approaching coding scheme are the major tasks in quantum communication theory. Quantum channel in discrete variables has been discussed enormously involving various error models, while error model in the continuous variable channel has been less studied due to the infinite dimensional problem. In this paper, we investigate a general continuo…
We develop theoretical and numerical tools for the quantification of entanglement in systems with continuous degrees of freedom. Continuous variable entanglement swapping is introduced and based on this idea we develop methods of entanglement purification for continuous variable systems. The success of these entanglement purification methods is then assessed using these tools.
We provide several schemes to construct the continuous-variable SWAP gate and present a Hermitian generalized many-body continuous controlled^n-NOT gate. We introduce and study the hybrid controlled-NOT gate and controlled-SWAP gate, and physical realizations of them are discussed in trapped-ion systems. These continuous-variable and hybrid quantum gates may be used in the corresponding continuous-variable and hybrid quantum computations.
Quantum repeaters are used to overcome the exponential photon loss scaling that quantum states acquire as they are transmitted over long distances. While repeaters for discrete variable encodings of quantum information have existed for some time, novel approaches for continuous variable encoding quantum repeaters have only recently been proposed. In this work, we present a method of using a discrete variable repeater protocol to distribute continuous variable states and utilize it to compare the rates of continuous variable entanglement distribution between first generation continuous and disc…
We describe a new Bell test for two-particle entangled systems that engages an unbounded continuous variable. The continuous variable state is allowed to be arbitrary and inaccessible to direct measurements. A systematic method is introduced to perform the required measurements indirectly. Our results provide new perspectives on both the study of local realistic theory for continuous-variable systems and on the nonlocal control theory of quantum information.
I argue that the objections by Rudolph and Sanders \cite{RS} to performing continuous variable quantum teleportation experiments using lasers, as well as the various rebuttals to their paper, are based on a misunderstanding of the Partition Ensemble Fallacy.
We report on a continuous variable analogue of the triplet two-qubit Bell states. We theoretically and experimentally demonstrate a remarkable similarity of two-mode continuous variable entangled states with triplet Bell states with respect to their correlation patterns. Borrowing from the two qubit language, we call these correlations triplet-like.
The process of quantum teleportation can be considered as a quantum channel. The exact classical capacity of the continuous variable teleportation channel is given. Also, the channel fidelity is derived. Consequently, the properties of the continuous variable quantum teleportation are discussed and interesting results are obtained.
The impact of the operator-valued commutator on nonclassical properties of continuous polarization variables is discussed. The definition of polarization squeezing is clarified to exclude those squeezed states which do not contain any new physics beyond quadrature squeezing. We present a consistent derivation of the general nonseparability criterion for the continuous variables with the operator-valued commutator, and apply it to the polarization variables.
Entanglement is a crucial resource in quantum information theory. We investigate the use of different forms of entangled states in continuous variable quantum teleportation, specifically the use of a finite-basis entanglement resource. We also consider the continuous variable teleportation of finite-basis states, such as qubits, and present results that point to the possibility of an efficient conditional scheme for continuous variable teleportation of such states with near-unit fidelity using finite-basis entanglement.
I introduce a continuous-variable quantum topological data algorithm. The goal of the quantum algorithm is to calculate the Betti numbers in persistent homology which are the dimensions of the kernel of the combinatorial Laplacian. I accomplish this task with the use of qRAM to create an oracle which organizes sets of data. I then perform a continuous-variable phase estimation on a Dirac operator to get a probability distribution with eigenvalue peaks. The results also leverage an implementation of continuous-variable conditional swap gate.
We propose a variation of Bell inequalities for continuous variables that employs the Wigner function and Weyl symbols of operators in phase space. We present examples of Bell inequality violation which beat Cirel'son's bound.
We study a continuous set of spin 1 measurements and show that for a special family of measurements parametrized by a single variable $θ$ the possibility of hidden-variable description is a discontinuous property.
A generalization of the stabilizer code construction presented by Gottesman is described, which allows for the construction of quantum error-correcting codes for continuous-variable systems. This formalism describes all continuous-variable codes presented to date, and can be used to construct new codes based on discrete-variable codes or classical codes. We use it to describe the nine-mode code given by Lloyd and Slotine, and a five-mode code described by Braunstein. In addition, we construct a new continuous-variable code based an code of Gottesman which encodes three logical modes of informa…
We theoretically show that bright six-partite continuous-variable entanglement can be generated using cascaded four-wave mixing effects of third-order nonlinearity atomic systems above threshold. The six-partite continuous-variable entanglement among the six cavity fields with different frequencies is analyzed by applying optimized inseparability criteria proposed by Van Loock and Furusawa.
We propose an error correction coding algorithm for continuous quantum variables. We use this algorithm to construct a highly efficient 5-wavepacket code which can correct arbitrary single wavepacket errors. We show that this class of continuous variable codes is robust against imprecision in the error syndromes. A potential implemetation of the scheme is presented.
We discuss how continous-variable quantum states such as coherent states and two-mode squeezed states can be encoded in phase-reference independent ways.
Teleportation of continuous variables can be described in two different ways, one in terms of Wigner functions, the other in terms of discrete basis states. The latter formulation provides the connection between the theory of teleportation of continuous degrees of freedom of a light field and the standard description of teleportation of discrete variables.
We present an idealized quantum continuous variable analog of the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm which can be implemented on a perfect continuous variable quantum computer. Using the Fourier transformation and XOR gate appropriate for continuous spectra we show that under ideal operation to infinite precision that there is an infinite reduction in number of query calls in this scheme.
We investigate the changes to a single photon state caused by the non-maximal entanglement in continuous variable quantum teleportation. It is shown that the teleportation measurement introduces field coherence in the output.
We describe how continuous-variable abelian anyons, created on the surface of a continuous-variable analogue of Kitaev's lattice model can be utilized for quantum computation. In particular, we derive protocols for the implementation of quantum gates using topological operations. We find that the topological operations alone are insufficient for universal quantum computation which leads us to study additional non-topological operations such as offline squeezing and single-mode measurements. It is shown that these in conjunction with a non-Gaussian element allow for universal quantum computatio…
We establish a framework for oracle identification problems in the continuous variable setting, where the stated problem necessarily is the same as in the discrete variable case, and continuous variables are manifested through a continuous representation in an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space. We apply this formalism to the Deutsch-Jozsa problem and show that, due to an uncertainty relation between the continuous representation and its Fourier-transform dual representation, the corresponding Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm is probabilistic hence forbids an exponential speed-up, contrary to a previou…
We propose an experimental scheme for the cloning machine of continuous quantum variables through a network of parametric amplifiers working as input-output four-port gates.
An inseparability criterion based on the total variance of a pair of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen type operators is proposed for continuous variable systems. The criterion provides a sufficient condition for entanglement of any two-party continuous variable states. Furthermore, for all the Gaussian states, this criterion turns out to be a necessary and sufficient condition for inseparability.
We investigate how entanglement can be transferred between continuous variable and qubit systems. We find that a two-mode squeezed vacuum state and a continuous variable Werner state can be converted to the product states of infinitive number of two-qubit states while keeping the entanglement. The reverse process is also possible.
In this paper, we analyze a potential procedure based on the combination of an alternative information encoding system inside the state of an electromagnetic mode and on continuous-variable post-selected teleportation, for speed up computational power of a classic architecture up to resolution of problems in PSPACE.
A very explicit analytic formula of the separability criterion of two-party Gaussian systems is given. This formula is compared to the past formulation of the separability criterion of continuous variables two-party Gaussian systems.
The concept of mutually unbiased bases is studied for N pairs of continuous variables. To find mutually unbiased bases reduces, for specific states related to the Heisenberg-Weyl group, to a problem of symplectic geometry. Given a single pair of continuous variables, three mutually unbiased bases are identified while five such bases are exhibited for two pairs of continuous variables. For N = 2, the golden ratio occurs in the definition of these mutually unbiased bases suggesting the relevance of number theory not only in the finite-dimensional setting.
We gather and examine in detail gate decomposition techniques for continuous-variable quantum computers and also introduce some new techniques which expand on these methods. Both exact and approximate decomposition methods are studied and gate counts are compared for some common operations. While each having distinct advantages, we find that exact decompositions have lower gate counts whereas approximate techniques can cover decompositions for all continuous-variable operations but require significant circuit depth for a modest precision.
We derive a fine-grained uncertainty relation for the measurement of two incompatible observables on a single quantum system of continuous variables, and show that continuous variable systems are more uncertain than discrete variable systems. Using the derived fine-grained uncertainty relation, we formulate stronger steering criterion that is able to reveal the steerability of N00N states that has hitherto not been possible using other criteria. We further obtain a monogamy relation for our steering inequality which leads to an, in principle, improved lower bound on the secret key rate of a on…
We investigate the separability, nonlocality and squeezing of continuous-variable analogue of the Werner state: a mixture of pure two-mode squeezed vacuum state with local thermal radiations. Utilizing this Werner state, coherent-state teleportation in Braunstein-Kimble setup is discussed.
We show theoretically that Bell-type correlations can be observed between continuous variable measurements performed on a parametric source. An auxiliary measurement, performed on the detection environment, negates the possibility of constructing a local realistic description of these correlations.
The continuous-variable controlled-Z gate is a canonical two-mode gate for universal continuous-variable quantum computation. It is considered as one of the most fundamental continuous-variable quantum gates. Here we present a scheme for realizing continuous-variable controlled-Z gate between two optical beams using an atomic ensemble. The gate is performed by simply sending the two beams propagating in two orthogonal directions twice through a spin-squeezed atomic medium. Its fidelity can run up to one if the input atomic state is infinitely squeezed. Considering the noise effects due to atom…
We show that the existing argument on the non-classicality of the continuous variable quantum teleportation (CVQT) experiment by the average fidelity criterion is incomplete therefore so far it is still unclear whether the CVQT experiment(Furusawa et al, Science,282, 706(1998)) is really non-classical.
Continuous variable quantum cryptography has developed rapidly in recent decades, but how to verify identity in the continuous variable quantum system is still an urgent issue to be solved. To solve this problem, we propose a continuous variable quantum identification (CV-QI) protocol based on the correlation of two-mode squeezed vacuum state and the continuous variable teleportation. The bidirectional identity verification between two participants of the communication can be achieved by the proposed CV-QI protocol. In order to guarantee the security, we make full use of the decoy state sequen…
We analyze the asymptotic security of the family of Gaussian modulated Quantum Key Distribution protocols for Continuous Variables systems. We prove that the Gaussian unitary attack is optimal for all the considered bounds on the key rate when the first and second momenta of the canonical variables involved are known by the honest parties.
We investigate how quantum state can be converted between continuous variable and qubits systems. Non-linear Jaynes-Cumings interaction Hamiltonian is introduced to accomplish the conversion. Detail analysis on the conversion of thermal state exhibits that pretty good fidelity can be achieved.
An uncertainty relation is introduced for a symmetric arrangement of three mutually unbiased bases in continuous variable phase space, and then used to derive a bipartite entanglement criterion based on the variance of global operators composed of these three phase space variables. We test this criterion using spatial variables of photon pairs, and show that the entangled photons are correlated in three pairs of bases.
We present a class of non-Gaussian two-mode continuous variable states for which the separability criterion for Gaussian states can be employed to detect whether they are separable or not. These states reduce to the two-mode Gaussian states as a special case.
We give a protocol and criteria for demonstrating unconditional teleportation of continuous-variable entanglement (i.e., entanglement swapping). The initial entangled states are produced with squeezed light and linear optics. We show that any nonzero entanglement (any nonzero squeezing) in both of two entanglement sources is sufficient for entanglement swapping to occur. In fact, realization of continuous-variable entanglement swapping is possible using only {\it two} single-mode squeezed states.
We present the solution to the "mean king's problem" in the continuous variable setting. We show that in this setting, the outcome of a randomly-selected projective measurement of any linear combination of the canonical variables x and p can be ascertained with arbitrary precision. Moreover, we show that the solution is in turn a solution to an associated "conjunctive" version of the problem, unique to continuous variables, where the inference task is to ascertain all the joint outcomes of a simultaneous measurement of any number of linear combinations of x and p.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) in principle offers unconditional security based on the laws of physics. Continuous variable (CV) quantum key distribution has the potential for high-key-rate and low-cost implementations using standard telecom components. Despite tremendous theoretical and experimental progress in continuous-variable quantum key distribution, the security has not been rigorously established for most current continuous-variable quantum key distribution systems that have imperfections. Among the imperfections, intensity fluctuation is a significant principal problem affecting secu…
We study Bosonic representation of spin Ising model with the application of simulating two level systems using continuous variable quantum processors. We decompose the time evolution of spin systems into a sequence of continuous variable logical gates and analyze their structure. We provide an estimation of quantum circuit scaling with the size of the spin lattice system. Furthermore, we discuss the possibility of using a Gaussian Boson sampling device to estimate the ground state energy of Ising Hamiltonian. The result has potential application in developing hybrid classical-quantum algorithm…
We describe a continuous variable error correction protocol that can correct the Gaussian noise induced by linear loss on Gaussian states. The protocol can be implemented using linear optics and photon counting. We explore the theoretical bounds of the protocol as well as the expected performance given current knowledge and technology.
We discuss the criteria presently used for evaluating the efficiency of quantum teleportation schemes for continuous variables. It is argued that the fidelity criterion used so far has some severe drawbacks, and that a fidelity value larger than 2/3 is actually required for successful quantum teleportation. This value has never been reached experimentally so far.
We derive necessary conditions in terms of the variances of position and momentum linear combinations for all kinds of separability of a multi-party multi-mode continuous-variable state. Their violations can be sufficient for genuine multipartite entanglement, provided the combinations contain both conjugate variables of all modes. Hence a complete state determination, for example by detecting the entire correlation matrix of a Gaussian state, is not needed.
We present a model to realize quantum feedback control of continuous variable entanglement. It consists of two interacting bosonic modes subject to amplitude damping and achieving entangled Gaussian steady state. The possibility to greatly improve the degree of entanglement by means of Markovian (direct) feedback is then shown.
We investigate the conditions under which unconditional dense coding can be achieved using continuous variable entanglement. We consider the effect of entanglement impurity and detector efficiency and discuss experimental verification. We conclude that the requirements for a strong demonstration are not as stringent as previously thought and are within the reach of present technology.
We present a continuous-variable quantum key distribution protocol combining a continuous but slightly non-Gaussian modulation together with a efficient reverse reconciliation scheme. We establish the security of this protocol against collective attacks which correspond to a linear quantum channel. In particular, all Gaussian attacks are considered in our framework. We show that this protocol outperforms all known practical protocols, even taking into account finite size effects.
We point out limitations to the analogy between the continuous variable and spin 1/2 systems and show that the maximal violation of Bell inequality is related to an infinite degeneracy. We quantify non-maximal violation of the Bell-CHSH inequality and comment potential experimental implications of our work.
