No Arabic abstract
Rotated quadratures carry the phase-dependent information of the electromagnetic field, so they are somehow conjugate to the photon number. We analyze this noncanonical pair, finding an exact uncertatinty relation, as well as a couple of weaker inequalities obtained by relaxing some restrictions of the problem. We also find the intelligent states saturating that relation and complete their characterization by considering extra constraints on the second-order moments of the variables involved. Using these moments, we construct performance measures tailored to diagnose photon-added and Schrodinger catlike states, among others.
We report the experimental reconstruction of a nonclassicality quasiprobability for a single-photon added thermal state. This quantity has significant negativities, which is necessary and sufficient for the nonclassicality of the quantum state. Our method presents several advantages compared to the reconstruction of the P function, since the nonclassicality filters used in this case can regularize the quasiprobabilities as well as their statistical uncertainties. A-priori assumptions about the quantum state are therefore not necessary. We also demonstrate that, in principle, our method is not limited by small quantum efficiencies.
We evaluate a Gaussian distance-type degree of nonclassicality for a single-mode Gaussian state of the quantum radiation field by use of the recently discovered quantum Chernoff bound. The general properties of the quantum Chernoff overlap and its relation to the Uhlmann fidelity are interestingly illustrated by our approach.
Quantum states can be stabilized in the presence of intrinsic and environmental losses by either applying active feedback conditioned on an ancillary system or through reservoir engineering. Reservoir engineering maintains a desired quantum state through a combination of drives and designed entropy evacuation. We propose and implement a quantum reservoir engineering protocol that stabilizes Fock states in a microwave cavity. This protocol is realized with a circuit quantum electrodynamics platform where a Josephson junction provides direct, nonlinear coupling between two superconducting waveguide cavities. The nonlinear coupling results in a single photon resolved cross-Kerr effect between the two cavities enabling a photon number dependent coupling to a lossy environment. The quantum state of the microwave cavity is discussed in terms of a net polarization and is analyzed by a measurement of its steady state Wigner function.
In the context of multiparameter quantum estimation theory, we investigate the construction of linear schemes in order to infer two classical parameters that are encoded in the quadratures of two quantum coherent states. The optimality of the scheme built on two phase-conjugate coherent states is proven with the saturation of the quantum Cramer--Rao bound under some global energy constraint. In a more general setting, we consider and analyze a variety of $n$-mode schemes that can be used to encode $n$ classical parameters into $n$ quantum coherent states and then estimate all parameters optimally and simultaneously.
The striking differences between quantum and classical systems predicate disruptive quantum technologies. We peruse quantumness from a variety of viewpoints, concentrating on phase-space formulations because they can be applied beyond particular symmetry groups. The symmetry-transcending properties of the Husimi $Q$ function make it our basic tool. In terms of the latter, we examine quantities such as the Wehrl entropy, inverse participation ratio, cumulative multipolar distribution, and metrological power, which are linked to intrinsic properties of any quantum state. We use these quantities to formulate extremal principles and determine in this way which states are the most and least quantum; the corresponding properties and potential usefulness of each extremal principle are explored in detail. While the extrema largely coincide for continuous-variable systems, our analysis of spin systems shows that care must be taken when applying an extremal principle to new contexts.