No Arabic abstract
Methods borrowed from the world of quantum information processing have lately been used to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio of quantum detectors. Here we analyze the use of stabilizer quantum error-correction codes for the purpose of signal detection. We show that using quantum error-correction codes a small signal can be measured with Heisenberg limited uncertainty even in the presence of noise. We analyze the limitations to the measurement of signals of interest and discuss two simple examples. The possibility of long coherence times, combined with their Heisenberg limited sensitivity to certain signals, pose quantum error-correction codes as a promising detection scheme.
The goal of quantum metrology is the precise estimation of parameters using quantum properties such as entanglement. This estimation usually consists of three steps: state preparation, time evolution during which information of the parameters is encoded in the state, and readout of the state. Decoherence during the time evolution typically degrades the performance of quantum metrology and is considered to be one of the major obstacles to realizing entanglement-enhanced sensing. We show, however, that under suitable conditions, this decoherence can be exploited to improve the sensitivity. Assume that we have two axes, and our aim is to estimate the relative angle between them. Our results reveal that the use of Markvoian collective dephasing to estimate the relative angle between the two directions affords Heisenberg-limited sensitivity. Moreover, our scheme based on Markvoian collective dephasing is robust against environmental noise, and it is possible to achieve the Heisenberg limit even under the effect of independent dephasing. Our counterintuitive results showing that the sensitivity is improved by using the decoherence pave the way to novel applications in quantum metrology.
Two-mode interferometers, such as Michelson interferometer based on two spatial optical modes, lay the foundations for quantum metrology. Instead of exploring quantum entanglement in the two-mode interferometers, a single bosonic mode also promises a measurement precision beyond the shot-noise limit (SNL) by taking advantage of the infinite-dimensional Hilbert space of Fock states. However, the experimental demonstration still remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate a single-mode phase estimation that approaches the Heisenberg limit (HL) unconditionally. Due to the strong dispersive nonlinearity and long coherence time of a microwave cavity, quantum states of the form $left(left|0rightrangle +left|Nrightrangle right)/sqrt{2}$ are generated, manipulated and detected with high fidelities, leading to an experimental phase estimation precision scaling as $sim N^{-0.94}$. A $9.1$~$mathrm{dB}$ enhancement of the precision over the SNL at $N=12$, which is only $1.7$~$mathrm{dB}$ away from the HL, is achieved. Our experimental architecture is hardware efficient and can be combined with the quantum error correction techniques to fight against decoherence, thus promises the quantum enhanced sensing in practical applications.
Based on the group structure of a unitary Lie algebra, a scheme is provided to systematically and exhaustively generate quantum error correction codes, including the additive and nonadditive codes. The syndromes in the process of error-correction distinguished by different orthogonal vector subspaces, the coset subspaces. Moreover, the generated codes can be classified into four types with respect to the spinors in the unitary Lie algebra and a chosen initial quantum state.
For a generic set of Markovian noise models, the estimation precision of a parameter associated with the Hamiltonian is limited by the $1/sqrt{t}$ scaling where $t$ is the total probing time, in which case the maximal possible quantum improvement in the asymptotic limit of large $t$ is restricted to a constant factor. However, situations arise where the constant factor improvement could be significant, yet no effective quantum strategies are known. Here we propose an optimal approximate quantum error correction (AQEC) strategy asymptotically saturating the precision lower bound in the most general adaptive parameter estimation scheme where arbitrary and frequent quantum controls are allowed. We also provide an efficient numerical algorithm finding the optimal code. Finally, we consider highly-biased noise and show that using the optimal AQEC strategy, strong noises are fully corrected, while the estimation precision depends only on the strength of weak noises in the limiting case.
The accumulation of quantum phase in response to a signal is the central mechanism of quantum sensing, as such, loss of phase information presents a fundamental limitation. For this reason approaches to extend quantum coherence in the presence of noise are actively being explored. Here we experimentally protect a room-temperature hybrid spin register against environmental decoherence by performing repeated quantum error correction whilst maintaining sensitivity to signal fields. We use a long-lived nuclear spin to correct multiple phase errors on a sensitive electron spin in diamond and realize magnetic field sensing beyond the timescales set by natural decoherence. The universal extension of sensing time, robust to noise at any frequency, demonstrates the definitive advantage entangled multi-qubit systems provide for quantum sensing and offers an important complement to quantum control techniques. In particular, our work opens the door for detecting minute signals in the presence of high frequency noise, where standard protocols reach their limits.