We suggest an experimentally realizable scheme to test entanglement of a mixed Gaussian continuous variable state. We find that the entanglement condition is simplified for the family of Gaussian states which are relevant to experimental realization. The entanglement condition is then shown to be directly related to joint homodyne measurements. We show how robust the proposed test of entanglement is against imperfect detection efficiency.
The optimization of entanglement evolution for two-mode Gaussian pure states under one-side Gaussian map is studied. Even there isn't complete information about the one-side Gaussian noisy channel, one can still maximize the entanglement distribution by testing the channel with only two specific states.
We investigate localization of entanglement of multimode Gaussian states into a pair of modes by local Gaussian measurements on the remaining modes and classical communication. We find that for pure states and for mixed symmetric states maximum entanglement between two modes can be localized by local homodyne detections, i.e. projections onto infinitely squeezed states. We also show that non-Gaussian measurements allow to localize more entanglement than Gaussian ones.
The recently developed Kraus representation for bosonic Gaussian channels is employed to study analytically the robustness of non-Gaussian entanglement against evolution under noisy attenuator and amplifier environments, and compare it with the robustness of Gaussian entanglement. Our results show that some non-Gaussian states with one ebit of entanglement are more robust than all Gaussian states, even the ones with arbitrarily large entanglement, a conclusion of direct consequence to the recent conjecture by Allegra et al. [PRL, 105, 100503 (2010)].
Simplified scheme for continuous-variable entanglement distillation: multicopy distillation of Gaussian entanglement without heralding Gaussian measurements
We write the optimal pure-state decomposition of any two-mode Gaussian state and show that its entanglement of formation coincides with the Gaussian one. This enables us to develop an insightful approach of evaluating the exact entanglement of formation. Its additivity is finally proven.
We demonstrate that the entanglement in a class of two-mode non-Gaussian states obtained by subtracting photons from Gaussian twin beams can be bounded from above and from below by functionals of the second moments only. Knowledge of the covariance matrix thus suffices for an entanglement quantification with appreciable precision. The absolute error in the entanglement estimation scales with the non-Gaussianity of the considered states.
We present a formalism to derive entanglement criteria beyond the Gaussian regime that can be readily tested by only homodyne detection. The measured observable is the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) correlation. Its arbitrary functional form enables us to detect non-Gaussian entanglement even when an entanglement test based on second-order moments fails. We illustrate the power of our experimentally friendly criteria for a broad class of non-Gaussian states under realistic conditions. We also show rigorously that quantum teleportation for continuous variables employs a specific functional form …
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.
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 ga…
Entanglement distillation is an essential ingredient for long distance quantum communications. In the continuous variable setting, Gaussian states play major roles in quantum teleportation, quantum cloning and quantum cryptography. However, entanglement distillation from Gaussian states has not yet been demonstrated. It is made difficult by the no-go theorem stating that no Gaussian operation can distill Gaussian states. Here we demonstrate the entanglement distillation from Gaussian states by using measurement-induced non-Gaussian operations, circumventing the fundamental restriction of the n…
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-dis…
We introduce a Gaussian version of the entanglement of formation adapted to bipartite Gaussian states by considering decompositions into pure Gaussian states only. We show that this quantity is an entanglement monotone under Gaussian operations and provide a simplified computation for states of arbitrary many modes. For the case of one mode per site the remaining variational problem can be solved analytically. If the considered state is in addition symmetric with respect to interchanging the two modes, we prove additivity of the considered entanglement measure. Moreover, in this case and consi…
Intrinsic entanglement (IE) is a quantity which aims at quantifying bipartite entanglement carried by a quantum state as an optimal amount of the intrinsic information that can be extracted from the state by measurement. We investigate in detail the properties of a Gaussian version of IE, the so-called Gaussian intrinsic entanglement (GIE). We show explicitly how GIE simplifies to the mutual information of a distribution of outcomes of measurements on a conditional state obtained by a measurement on a purifying subsystem of the analyzed state, which is first minimized over all measurements on …
The local uncertainty relation (LUR) criteria for quantum entanglement, which is dependent on chosen observables, is developed recent. In the paper, applying the uncertainty principle, an entanglement criteria for multipartite Gaussian states is given, which is implemented by a minimum optimization computer program and independent on observalbes.
Quantum random variable, distortion operator are introduced based on canonical operators. As the lower bound of rate distortion, the entanglement information rate distortion is achieved by Gaussian map for Gaussian source. General Gaussian maps are further reduced to unitary transformations and additive noises from the physical meaning of distortion. The entanglement information rate distortion function then are calculated for one mode Gaussian source. The rate distortion is accessible at zero distortion point. For pure state, the rate distortion function is always zero. In contrast to the dis…
Entanglement distillation is a fundamental building block in long-distance quantum communication. Though known to be useless on their own for distilling Gaussian entangled states, local Gaussian operations may still help to improve non-Gaussian entanglement distillation schemes. Here we show that by applying local squeezing operations, both the performance and the efficiency of existing distillation protocols can be enhanced. We derive the optimal enhancement through local Gaussian unitaries, which can be obtained even in the most natural scenario when Gaussian mixed entangled states are share…
We provide a rigorous treatment of the entanglement properties of two-mode Gaussian states in atmospheric channels by deriving and analyzing the input-output relations for the corresponding entanglement test. A key feature of such turbulent channels is a non-trivial dependence of the transmitted continuous-variable entanglement on coherent displacements of the quantum state of the input field. Remarkably, this allows one to optimize the entanglement certification by modifying local coherent amplitudes using a finite, but optimal amount of squeezing. In addition, we propose a protocol which, in…
In the paper, we give a characterization of arbitrary $n$-mode Gaussian coherence breaking channels (GCBCs) and show the tensor product of a GCBC and arbitrary a Gaussian channel maps all input states into product states. The inclusion relation among GCBCs, Gaussian positive partial transpose channels (GPPTC), entanglement breaking channels (GEBC) and Gaussian classical-quantum channels (GCQC) is displayed. Finally, we prove that Gaussian classical ($χ$-) capacity for the tensor products of GCBCs and arbitrary Gaussian channels is additive.
We investigate entanglement concentration of continuous-variable Gaussian states by local single-photon subtractions combined with local Gaussian operations. We first analyze the local squeezing-enhanced entanglement concentration protocol proposed very recently by Zhang and van Loock [e-print: arXiv:1103.4500 (2011)] and discuss the mechanism by which local squeezing before photon subtraction helps to increase the entanglement of the output state of the protocol. We next show that a similar entanglement improvement can be achieved by using local coherent displacements instead of single-mode s…
We give an introduction to Gaussian states and operations. A discussion of the entanglement properties of bipartite Gaussian states in terms of its covariance matrix follows. It is explained how entanglement can be witnessed using feasible measurements, e.g. homodyne measurements. We find that the outcome of such a measurements cannot only witness but also quantify entanglement.
We study the task of distilling entanglement by a coherent superposition operation $t\hat{a}+r\hat{a}^\dagger$ applied to a continuous-variable state under a thermal noise. In particular, we compare the performances of two different strategies, i.e., the non-Gaussian operation $t\hat{a}+r\hat{a}^\dagger$ is applied before or after the noisy Gaussian channel. This is closely related to a fundamental problem of whether Gaussian or non-Gaussian entanglement can be more robust under a noisy channel and also provides a useful insight into the practical implementation of entanglement distribution fo…
We propose a method to witness entanglement between two continuous-variable systems in a Gaussian state. Its key ingredient is a local lossy state transfer from the original spatially separated systems onto two spatially separated qubits. The qubits are initially in a pure product state, therefore by detecting entanglement between the qubits we witness entanglement between the two original systems. This method greatly simplifies entanglement witnessing in complex systems.
We propose a scheme for measuring the squeezing, purity, and entanglement of Gaussian states of light that does not require homodyne detection. The suggested setup only needs beam splitters and single-photon detectors. Two-mode entanglement can be detected from coincidences between photodetectors placed on the two beams.
Triple-photon states generated by three-mode spontaneous parametric down-conversion are the paradigm of unconditional non-Gaussian states, essential assets for quantum advantage. How to fully characterize their non-Gaussian entanglement remains however elusive. We propose here a hierarchy of sufficient and necessary conditions for separability of the broad family of spontaneously-generated three-mode non-Gaussian states. We further derive state-of-the-art conditions for genuine tripartite non-Gaussian entanglement, the strongest class of entanglement. We apply our criteria to triple-photon sta…
We present a Gaussian state analysis of the entanglement generation between two macroscopic atomic ensembles due the continuous probing of collective spin variables by optical Faraday rotation. The evolution of the mean values and the variances of the atomic variables is determined and the entanglement is characterized by the Gaussian entanglement of formation (GEoF) and the logarithmic negativity. The effects of induced opposite Larmor rotation of the samples and of light absorption and atomic decay are analyzed in detail.
We analyze the stabilizability of entangled two-mode Gaussian states in three benchmark dissipative models: local damping, dissipators engineered to preserve two-mode squeezed states, and cascaded oscillators. In the first two models, we determine principal upper bounds on the stabilizable entanglement, while in the last model, arbitrary amounts of entanglement can be stabilized. All three models exhibit a tradeoff between state entanglement and purity in the entanglement maximizing limit. Our results are derived from the Hamiltonian-independent stabilizability conditions for Gaussian systems.…
In this work we probe the usefulness of non-Gaussian entangled states as a resource for quantum communication through atmospheric channels. We outline the initial conditions in which non-Gaussian state transfer leads to enhanced entanglement transfer relative to that obtainable via Gaussian state transfer. However, we conclude that in (anticipated) operational scenarios - where most of the non-Gaussian states to be transferred over the air are created just-in-time via photonic subtraction, addition or replacement from incoming Gaussian states - the entanglement-generation rate between stations…
In the framework of the theory of open systems, we give a description of quantum entanglement and quantum discord for two non-interacting modes embedded in a thermal environment. We describe the evolution of entanglement in terms of the covariance matrix for Gaussian input states. For all values of the temperature of the thermal reservoir, an initial separable squeezed thermal state remains separable for all times. In the case of an entangled initial squeezed thermal state, entanglement suppression (entanglement sudden death) takes place, for non-zero temperatures of the environment. The Gauss…
We develop a theory of a quantifier of bipartite Gaussian entanglement called Gaussian intrinsic entanglement (GIE) which was proposed recently in [L. Mišta {\it et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 117}, 240505 (2016)]. The GIE provides a compromise between computable and physically meaningful entanglement quantifiers and so far it was calculated for two-mode Gaussian states including all symmetric partial minimum-uncertainty states, weakly mixed asymmetric squeezed thermal states with partial minimum uncertainty, and weakly mixed symmetric squeezed thermal states. We improve the method of derivati…
Entanglement is an essential ingredient for building a quantum network that can have many applications. Understanding how entanglement is distributed in a network is a crucial step to move forward. Here we study the conservation and distribution of Gaussian entanglement in a linear network using a new quantifier for bipartite entanglement. We show that the entanglement can be distributed through a beam-splitter in the same way as the transmittance and the reflectance. The requirements on the entangled states and the type of networks to satisfy this relation are presented explicitly. Our result…
We introduce a cryptographically motivated quantifier of entanglement in bipartite Gaussian systems called Gaussian intrinsic entanglement (GIE). The GIE is defined as the optimized mutual information of a Gaussian distribution of outcomes of measurements on parts of a system, conditioned on the outcomes of a measurement on a purifying subsystem. We show that GIE vanishes only on separable states and exhibits monotonicity under Gaussian local trace-preserving operations and classical communication. In the two-mode case we compute GIE for all pure states as well as for several important classes…
We experimentally demonstrate that the entanglement between Gaussian entangled states can be increased by non-Gaussian operations. Coherent subtraction of single photons from Gaussian quadrature-entangled light pulses, created by a non-degenerate parametric amplifier, produces delocalized states with negative Wigner functions and complex structures, more entangled than the initial states in terms of negativity. The experimental results are in very good agreement with the theoretical predictions.
The most useful measure of a bipartite entanglement is the von Neumann entropy of either of the reduced density matrices. For a particular class of continuous-variable states, the Gaussian states, the entropy of entanglement can be expressed rather elegantly in terms of the symplectic eigenvalues, elements that characterize a Gaussian state and depend on the correlations of the canonical variables. We give a pedagogical step-by-step derivation of this result and provide some insights that can be useful in practical calculations.
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 operato…
Entanglement distribution task encounters a problem of how the initial entangled state should be prepared in order to remain entangled the longest possible time when subjected to local noises. In the realm of continuous-variable states and local Gaussian channels it is tempting to assume that the optimal initial state with the most robust entanglement is Gaussian too; however, this is not the case. Here we prove that specific non-Gaussian two-mode states remain entangled under the effect of deterministic local attenuation or amplification (Gaussian channels with the attenuation factor/power ga…
The entanglement of general pure Gaussian two-mode states is examined in terms of the coefficients of the quadrature components of the wavefunction. The entanglement criterion and the entanglement of formation are directly evaluated as a function of these coefficients, without the need for deriving local unitary transformations. These reproduce the results of other methods for the special case of symmetric pure states which employ a relation between squeezed states and Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen correlations. The modification of the quadrature coefficients and the corresponding entanglement due t…
We show that for a fixed amount of entanglement, two-mode squeezed states are those that maximize Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen-like correlations. We use this fact to determine the entanglement of formation for all symmetric Gaussian states corresponding to two modes. This is the first instance in which this measure has been determined for genuine continuous variable systems.
In the framework of the theory of open systems based on completely positive quantum dynamical semigroups, we give a description of the dynamics of entanglement for a system consisting of two uncoupled harmonic oscillators interacting with a thermal environment. Using Peres-Simon necessary and sufficient criterion for separability of two-mode Gaussian states, we describe the evolution of entanglement in terms of the covariance matrix for a Gaussian input state. For some values of the temperature of environment, the state keeps for all times its initial type: separable or entangled. In other cas…
We investigate the entanglement properties of multi-mode Gaussian states, which have some symmetry with respect to the ordering of the modes. We show how the symmetry constraints the entanglement between two modes of the system. In particular, we determine the maximal entanglement of formation that can be achieved in symmetric graphs like chains, 2d and 3d lattices, mean field models and the platonic solids. The maximal entanglement is always attained for the ground state of a particular quadratic Hamiltonian. The latter thus yields the maximal entanglement among all quadratic Hamiltonians hav…
We study an experimental scheme to generate Gaussian two-mode entangled states via beam splitter. Specifically, we consider a nonclassical Gaussian state (squeezed state) and a thermal state as two input modes, and evaluate the degree of entanglement at the output. Experimental conditions to generate entangled outputs are completely identified and the critical thermal noise to destroy entanglement is analytically obtained. By doing so, we discuss the possibility to link the resistance to noise in entanglement generation with the degree of single-mode nonclassicality.
We use quantum entanglement witnesses derived from Gaussian operators to study the separable criteria of continuous variable states. We transform the validity of a Gaussian witness to a Bosonic Gaussian channel problem. It follows that the maximal means of two-mode and some four-mode Gaussian operators over product pure states are achieved by vacuum (or coherent states and squeezed states) according to the properties of Bosonic Gaussian channels. Then we have necessary and sufficient criteria of separability not only for Gaussian quantum states, but also for non-Gaussian states prepared by pho…
We address the interaction of two Gaussian states interferring at a beam splitter and analyze the correlations exhibited by the resulting bipartite system. We demonstrate that nonlocal correlations (entanglement) arise if and only if the fidelity between the two input Gaussian states falls under a threshold value depending only on their purities and on the transmissivity of the beam splitter. Our result clarifies the role of squeezing as a prerequisite for entanglement and provide a tool to optimize the generation of entanglement by passive devices.
We consider two classes of non-Gaussian entangled states generated from the product of number states with the action of the beamsplitter or the two-mode squeezer. It is shown that, for many of these states, the covariance matrix is compatible with the covariance matrix of separable Gaussian states and their separability cannot be verified by the measurements of the first and second moments of canonical variables. We identify a couple of continuous-variable entanglement criteria with higher order moments to verify these non-Gaussian entanglement.
How to prepare deterministically non-Gaussian entangled states is a fundamental question for continuous-variable quantum information technology. Here, we theoretically demonstrate through numerical methods that the triple-photon state generated by three-photon spontaneous parametric down-conversion is a pure super-Gaussian resource of non-Gaussian entanglement. Interestingly, the degree of entanglement between the modes of the triple-photon state is stronger than that corresponding to the two-mode squeezed vacuum state produced by a quadratic Hamiltonian with the same parameters. Furthermore, …
We investigate the viability of coupled waveguides as basic units of quantum circuits. In particular, we study the dynamics of entanglement for the single photon state, and single mode squeezed vacuum state. We further consider the case of entangled inputs in terms of the two mode mode squeezed vacuum states and the two photon NOON state. We present explicit analytical results for the measure of entanglement in terms of the logarithmic negativity. We also address the effect of loss on entanglement dynamics of waveguide modes. Our results indicate that the waveguide structures are reasonably ro…
We have investigated the dynamics of entanglement between two spin-1/2 qubits that are subject to independent kick and Gaussian pulse type external magnetic fields analytically as well as numerically. Dyson time ordering effect on the dynamics is found to be important for the sequence of kicks. We show that "almost-steady" high entanglement can be created between two initially unentangled qubits by using carefully designed kick or pulse sequences.
In this work we study the production and swapping of non-gaussian multipartite entanglement in a setup containing a parametric amplifier which generates three photons in different modes coupled to three qubits. We prove that the entanglement generated in this setup is of nongaussian nature. We introduce witnesses of genuine tripartite nongaussian entanglement, valid both for mode and qubit entanglement. Moreover, those witnesses show that the entanglement generated among the photons can be swapped to the qubits, and indeed the qubits display nongaussian genuine tripartite entanglement over a w…
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-orde…
We present a theory of entanglement transformations of Gaussian pure states with local Gaussian operations and classical communication. This is the experimentally accessible set of operations that can be realized with optical elements such as beam splitters, phase shifts and squeezers, together with homodyne measurements. We provide a simple necessary and sufficient condition for the possibility to transform a pure bipartite Gaussian state into another one. We contrast our criterion with what is possible if general local operations are available.
A necessary and sufficient condition for characterization and quantification of entanglement of any bipartite Gaussian state belonging to a special symmetry class is given in terms of classicality measures of one-party states. For Gaussian states whose local covariance matrices have equal determinants it is shown that separability of a two-party state and classicality of one party state are completely equivalent to each other under a nonlocal operation, allowing entanglement features to be understood in terms of any available classicality measure.
We show how the presence of entanglement in a bipartite Gaussian state can be detected by the amount of work extracted by a continuos variable Szilard-like device, where the bipartite state serves as the working medium of the engine. We provide an expression for the work extracted in such a process and specialize it to the case of Gaussian states. The extractable work provides a sufficient condition to witness entanglement in generic two-mode states, becoming also necessary for squeezed thermal states. We extend the protocol to tripartite Gaussian states, and show that the full structure of in…
The effect of a thermal reservoir is investigated on a bipartite Gaussian state. We derive a pre-Lindblad master equation in the non-rotating wave approximation for the system. We then solve the master equation for a bipartite harmonic oscillator Hamiltonian with entangled initial state. We show that for strong damping the loss of entanglement is the same as for freely evolving particles. However, if the damping is small, the entanglement is shown to oscillate and eventually tend to a constant nonzero value.
We derive two lower bounds on entanglement of formation for arbitrary mixed Gaussian states by two distinct methods. To achieve the first one we use a local measurement procedure derived by Giedke et al [Quantum Inf. and Comp. vol.1, 79 (2001)] that symmetrizes a general Gaussian state and the fact that entanglement cannot increase under local operations and classical communications. The second one is obtained via a generalization to mixed states of an interesting result derived by Giedke et al [quant-ph/0304042], who show that squeezed states are those that, for a fixed amount of entanglement…
We found that the Hermit-Gaussian(HG) modes of the down converted beams from the spontaneous parametric down conversion are quasi-conserved and the generated photon pairs are HG modes entangled for some special cases. This is valuable for either the investigation of fundament properties of multi-dimensional entanglement or quantum information applications.
