Tunable non-Gaussian resources for continuous-variable quantum technologies

We investigate continuous variable (CV) quantum teleportation using relevant classes of non-Gaussian states of the radiation field as entangled resources. First, we introduce the class two-mode squeezed symmetric superposition of Fock states, including finite truncations of twin-beam Gaussian states as special realizations. These states depend on a set of free independent parameters that can be adjusted for the optimization of teleportation protocols, with an enhancement of the success probability of teleportation both for coherent and Fock input states. We show that the optimization procedure reduces the entangled resources to truncated twin beam states, which thus represents an optimal class of non-Gaussian resources for quantum teleportation. We then introduce a further class of two-mode non-Gaussian entangled resources, in the form of squeezed cat-like states. We analyze the performance and the properties of such states when optimized for (CV) teleportation, and compare them to the optimized squeezed Bell-like states introduced in a previous work [12]. We discuss how optimal resources for teleportation are characterized by a suitable balance of entanglement content and squeezed vacuum affinity. We finally investigate the effects of thermal noise on the efficiency of quantum teleportation. To this aim, a convenient framework is to describe noisy entangled resources as linear superpositions of non-Gaussian state and thermal states. Although the presence of the thermal component strongly reduces the teleportation fidelity, noisy non-Gaussian states remain preferred resources when compared to noisy twin-beam Gaussian states.

We investigate the efficiency of inseparability criteria in detecting the entanglement properties of two-mode non-Gaussian states of the electromagnetic field. We focus our study on the relevant class of two-mode squeezed number states. These states combine the entangling capability of two-mode squeezers with the non-Gaussian character (nonclassicality) of number states. They allow for some exact analytical treatments, and include as a particular case the two-mode Gaussian squeezed vacuum. We show that the generalized PPT criterion recently proposed by Shchukin and Vogel, based on higher order statistical moments, is very efficient in detecting the entanglement for this class of non-Gaussian states.

Non-Gaussian quantum states are a known necessary resource for reaching a quantum advantage and for violating Bell inequalities in continuous variable systems. As one kind of manifestation of quantum correlations, Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen steering enables verification of shared entanglement even when one of the subsystems is not characterized. However, how to detect and classify such an effect for non-Gaussian states is far from being well understood. Here, we present an efficient non-Gaussian steering criterion based on the high-order observables and conduct a systematic investigation into the hierarchy of non-Gaussian steering criteria. Moreover, we apply our criterion to three experimentally-relevant non-Gaussian states under realistic conditions and, in particular, propose a feasible scheme to create multi-component cat states with tunable size by performing a suitable high-order quadrature measurement on the steering party. Our work reveals the fundamental characteristics of non-Gaussianity and quantum correlations, and offers new insights to explore their applications in quantum information processing.

Cavity quantum optomechanics has emerged as a new platform for quantum science and technology with applications ranging from quantum-information processing to tests of the foundations of physics. Of crucial importance for optomechanics is the generation and verification of non-Gaussian states of motion and a key outstanding challenge is the observation of a canonical two-mode Schrödinger-cat state in the displacement of two mechanical oscillators. In this work, we introduce a pulsed approach that utilizes the nonlinearity of the radiation–pressure interaction combined with photon-counting measurements to generate this entangled non-Gaussian mechanical state, and, importantly, describe a protocol using subsequent pulsed interactions to verify the non-Gaussian entanglement generated. Our pulsed verification protocol allows quadrature moments of the two mechanical oscillators to be measured up to any finite order providing a toolset for experimental characterisation of bipartite mechanical quantum states and allowing a broad range of inseparability criteria to be evaluated. Key experimental factors, such as optical loss and open-system dynamics, are carefully analyzed and we show that the scheme is feasible with only minor improvements to current experiments that operate outside the resolved-sideband regime. Our scheme provides a new avenue for quantum experiments with entangled mechanical oscillators and offers significant potential for further research and development that utilizes such non-Gaussian states for quantum-information and sensing applications, and for studying the quantum-to-classical transition.

We study the continuous-variable quantum teleportation of states, statistical moments of observables, and scale parameters such as squeezing. We investigate the problem both in ideal and imperfect Vaidman-Braunstein-Kimble protocol setups. We show how the teleportation fidelity is maximized and the difference between output and input variances is minimized by using suitably optimized entangled resources. Specifically, we consider the teleportation of coherent squeezed states, exploiting squeezed Bell states as entangled resources. This class of non-Gaussian states, introduced by Illuminati and co-workers [F. Dell'Anno, S. De Siena, L. Albano, and F. Illuminati, Phys. Rev. A 76, 022301 (2007); F. Dell'Anno, S. De Siena, and F. Illuminati, Phys. Rev. A 81, 012333 (2010)], includes photon-added and photon-subtracted squeezed states as special cases. At variance with the case of entangled Gaussian resources, the use of entangled non-Gaussian squeezed Bell resources allows one to choose different optimization procedures that lead to inequivalent results. Performing two independent optimization procedures, one can either maximize the state teleportation fidelity, or minimize the difference between input and output quadrature variances. The two different procedures are compared depending on the degrees of displacement and squeezing of the input states and on the working conditions in ideal and nonideal setups.

We propose an efficient microwave-photonic modulator as a resource for stationary entangled microwave-optical fields and develop the theory for deterministic entanglement generation and quantum state transfer in multi-resonant electro-optic systems. The device is based on a single crystal whispering gallery mode resonator integrated into a 3D-microwave cavity. The specific design relies on a new combination of thin-film technology and conventional machining that is optimized for the lowest dissipation rates in the microwave, optical, and mechanical domains. We extract important device properties from finite-element simulations and predict continuous variable entanglement generation rates on the order of a Mebit/s for optical pump powers of only a few tens of microwatts. We compare the quantum state transfer fidelities of coherent, squeezed, and non-Gaussian cat states for both teleportation and direct conversion protocols under realistic conditions. Combining the unique capabilities of circuit quantum electrodynamics with the resilience of fiber optic communication could facilitate long-distance solid-state qubit networks, new methods for quantum signal synthesis, quantum key distribution, and quantum enhanced detection, as well as more power-efficient classical sensing and modulation.

Leveraging the unique quantum properties of non-Gaussian states is crucial for advancing continuous variable quantum technologies. Recent experimental advancements in generating non-Gaussian states, coupled with theoretical findings of their superior performance in quantum information protocols compared to Gaussian states, motivate this investigation. This work investigates the role of the non-Gaussianity on the frequency estimation problem. The analysis focuses on a single bosonic mode and its non-Gaussian excited states as probe states, while the frequency estimation is investigated by explicitly computing the quantum Fisher information. Firstly, we consider a stationary regime, where the study of single Fock states yields a deeper understanding of the behavior of the non-Gaussianity as well as its comparison with other relevant candidates to probes, such as the coherent and squeezed vacuum states. Here, the connection with the non-Gaussianity is also discussed, as well as the Heisenberg limit and the comparison with other relevant superposition states for the same task. The results indicate that the advantage in using Fock states as probes for frequency estimation is directly associated with the degree of non-Gaussianity of the probe.

Quantum teleportation is one of the most basic quantum protocols, which transfers an unknown quantum state from one location to another through local operation and classical communication by using shared quantum entanglement without physical transfer of the information carrier. And it has been widely used in various quantum information protocols such as entanglement swapping, quantum repeaters, quantum gate teleportation, quantum computation based on measurement, and quantum teleportation networks, which have important application value in quantum computation and quantum information. Quantum teleportation is a naturally bipartite process, in which an unknown quantum state can only be transmitted from one node to another. With the further development of quantum information research, it is necessary to transfer quantum states or quantum information among more and more nodes. Multipartite quantum protocols are expected to form fundamental components for larger-scale quantum communication and computation. A bipartite quantum teleportation should be extended to a multipartite protocol known as a quantum teleportation network. In this paper, a multifunctional quantum teleportation network is proposed theoretically. We first propose a special method of constructing four-partite quantum resources in continuous variables (CVs), and based on this, construct two different types of CV quantum teleportation networks. One type of network contains just one quantum teleportation process consisting of a sender, a receiver and two controllers. In this type of network, the unknown quantum state can be recovered at any other node according to the requirement after the measurement in the input node, which enriches the transfer direction and transfer mode of the unknown quantum state. And meanwhile, the two controllers can control the transfer of a quantum state from the sender to the receiver by restricting the sender and receiver’s access to their information, which makes the quantum teleportation network controllable. The other type of network has two quantum teleportation processes, each containing only a sender, a receiver and no controllers, which increases the number of quantum states that can be transmitted. Then we analyze the dependence of the fidelity of each quantum teleportation network on different physical parameters, and compare the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages among different types of quantum teleportation networks. The scheme for constructing a multifunctional quantum teleportation network in this paper shows some advantages, such as the greater number of quantum nodes, diversity of types, simple operation procedure. And all these advantages provide a broader application prospect for establishing larger and more complex quantum information networks in the future and quicken the pace of the application of quantum information.

Quantum emitters such as quantum dots, defects in diamond or in silicon have emerged as efficient single-photon sources that are progressively exploited in quantum technologies. In 2019, it was shown that the emitted single-photon states often include coherence with the vacuum component. Here we investigate how such photon-number coherence alters quantum interference experiments that are routinely implemented both for characterizing or exploiting the generated photons. We show that it strongly modifies intensity correlation measurements in a Hong–Ou–Mandel experiment and leads to errors in indistinguishability estimations. It also results in additional entanglement when performing partial measurements. We illustrate the impact on quantum protocols by evidencing modifications in heralding efficiency and fidelity of two-qubit gates.

We introduce a quantum teleportation scheme that transfers a spin coherent state between two locations using entanglement. In the scheme an unknown spin coherent state lying on the equator of the Bloch sphere, such as realized in a coherent two-component Bose–Einstein condensate, is teleported onto a distant spin coherent state using only elementary operations and measurements. The scheme works in the regime beyond the standard continuous variables approximation based on the Holstein–Primakoff transformation. We analyze the error of the protocol with the number of particles N in the spin coherent state under decoherence and find that it scales favorably with N. The simplicity of the operations involved and the robustness under decoherence should make the protocol suitable under realistic experimental conditions.

Quantum entanglement and decoherence are the two counterforces of many quantum technologies and protocols. For example, while quantum teleportation is fueled by a pair of maximally entangled resource qubits, it is vulnerable to decoherence. Here, we propose an efficient quantum teleportation protocol in the presence of pure decoherence and without entangled resource qubits entering the Bell-state measurement. Instead, we use multipartite hybrid entanglement between the auxiliary qubits and their local environments within the open-quantum system context. With a hybrid-entangled initial state, it is the decoherence that allows us to achieve high fidelities. We demonstrate our protocol in an all-optical experiment.

In a recent work, authors prove a yet another no-go theorem that forbids the existence of a universal probabilistic quantum protocol producing a superposition of two unknown quantum states. In this short note, we show that in the presence of closed time-like curves (CTCs), one can indeed create superposition of unknown quantum states and evade the no-go result.

Probabilistic and controlled teleportation of unknown quantum states

In this paper, via 12-particle entangled states as quantum channels, two schemes for cyclic quantum teleportation are proposed by using two different measurement methods, one is the Bell state measurement, the other is single-particle measurement. Besides, these schemes can be generalized to realize the probabilistic teleportation of an unknown multi-particle high-dimension state. Furthermore, feasibility for the schemes and some conclusions are discussed at the end of this paper.

An alternative scheme is proposed for teleportation of an unknown atomic state and an entanglement of zero- and one-photon states. The scheme is based on the resonant interaction of a two-mode cavity field with a ∧-type three-level atom. In contrast with the previously proposed schemes, the present scheme is ascendant, since the fidelity is 1.0 in principle similarly without the Bell-state measurement. And the scheme is experimentally feasible based on the current cavity QED technique.