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Quantum phase estimation is a cornerstone in quantum algorithm design, allowing for the inference of eigenvalues of exponentially-large sparse matrices. The maximum rate at which these eigenvalues may be learned, --known as the Heisenberg limit--, is constrained by bounds on the circuit depth required to simulate an arbitrary Hamiltonian. Single-control qubit variants of quantum phase estimation have garnered interest in recent years due to lower circuit depth and minimal qubit overhead. In this work we show that these methods can achieve the Heisenberg limit, {em also} when one is unable to prepare eigenstates of the system. Given a quantum subroutine which provides samples of a `phase function $g(k)=sum_j A_j e^{i phi_j k}$ with unknown eigenvalue phases $phi_j$ and probabilities $A_j$ at quantum cost $O(k)$, we show how to estimate the phases ${phi_j}$ with accuracy (root-mean-square) error $delta$ for total quantum cost $T=O(delta^{-1})$. Our scheme combines the idea of Heisenberg-limited multi-order quantum phase estimation for a single eigenvalue phase cite{Higgins09Demonstrating,Kimmel15Robust} with subroutines with so-called dense quantum phase estimation which uses classical processing via time-series analysis for the QEEP problem cite{Somma19Quantum} or the matrix pencil method. For our algorithm which adaptively fixes the choice for $k$ in $g(k)$ we prove Heisenberg-limited scaling when we use the time-series/QEEP subroutine. We present numerical evidence that using the matrix pencil technique the algorithm can achieve Heisenberg-limited scaling as well.
Measurement underpins all quantitative science. A key example is the measurement of optical phase, used in length metrology and many other applications. Advances in precision measurement have consistently led to important scientific discoveries. At the fundamental level, measurement precision is limited by the number N of quantum resources (such as photons) that are used. Standard measurement schemes, using each resource independently, lead to a phase uncertainty that scales as 1/sqrt(N) - known as the standard quantum limit. However, it has long been conjectured that it should be possible to achieve a precision limited only by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, dramatically improving the scaling to 1/N. It is commonly thought that achieving this improvement requires the use of exotic quantum entangled states, such as the NOON state. These states are extremely difficult to generate. Measurement schemes with counted photons or ions have been performed with N <= 6, but few have surpassed the standard quantum limit and none have shown Heisenberg-limited scaling. Here we demonstrate experimentally a Heisenberg-limited phase estimation procedure. We replace entangled input states with multiple applications of the phase shift on unentangled single-photon states. We generalize Kitaevs phase estimation algorithm using adaptive measurement theory to achieve a standard deviation scaling at the Heisenberg limit. For the largest number of resources used (N = 378), we estimate an unknown phase with a variance more than 10 dB below the standard quantum limit; achieving this variance would require more than 4,000 resources using standard interferometry. Our results represent a drastic reduction in the complexity of achieving quantum-enhanced measurement precision.
High-precision frequency estimation is an ubiquitous issue in fundamental physics and a critical task in spectroscopy. Here, we propose a quantum Ramsey interferometry to realize high-precision frequency estimation in spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensate via driving the system through quantum phase transitions(QPTs). In our scheme, we combine adiabatically driving the system through QPTs with {pi}/2 pulse to realize the initialization and recombination. Through adjusting the laser frequency under fixed evolution time, one can extract the transition frequency via the lock-in point. The lock-in point can be determined from the pattern of the population measurement. In particular, we find the measurement precision of frequency can approach to the Heisenberg-limited scaling. Moreover, the scheme is robust against detection noise and non-adiabatic effect. Our proposed scheme does not require single-particle resolved detection and is within the reach of current experiment techniques. Our study may point out a new way for high-precision frequency estimation.
We derive, and experimentally demonstrate, an interferometric scheme for unambiguous phase estimation with precision scaling at the Heisenberg limit that does not require adaptive measurements. That is, with no prior knowledge of the phase, we can obtain an estimate of the phase with a standard deviation that is only a small constant factor larger than the minimum physically allowed value. Our scheme resolves the phase ambiguity that exists when multiple passes through a phase shift, or NOON states, are used to obtain improved phase resolution. Like a recently introduced adaptive technique [Higgins et al 2007 Nature 450 393], our experiment uses multiple applications of the phase shift on single photons. By not requiring adaptive measurements, but rather using a predetermined measurement sequence, the present scheme is both conceptually simpler and significantly easier to implement. Additionally, we demonstrate a simplified adaptive scheme that also surpasses the standard quantum limit for single passes.
Achieving ultimate bounds in estimation processes is the main objective of quantum metrology. In this context, several problems require measurement of multiple parameters by employing only a limited amount of resources. To this end, adaptive protocols, exploiting additional control parameters, provide a tool to optimize the performance of a quantum sensor to work in such limited data regime. Finding the optimal strategies to tune the control parameters during the estimation process is a non-trivial problem, and machine learning techniques are a natural solution to address such task. Here, we investigate and implement experimentally for the first time an adaptive Bayesian multiparameter estimation technique tailored to reach optimal performances with very limited data. We employ a compact and flexible integrated photonic circuit, fabricated by femtosecond laser writing, which allows to implement different strategies with high degree of control. The obtained results show that adaptive strategies can become a viable approach for realistic sensors working with a limited amount of resources.
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.