arXiv subjects

C. Macchiavello

Publications and source records attributed to C. Macchiavello.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv1999

On Quantum Algorithms

Quantum computers use the quantum interference of different computational paths to enhance correct outcomes and suppress erroneous outcomes of computations. In effect, they follow the same logical paradigm as (multi-particle) interferometers. We show how most known quantum algorithms, including quantum algorithms for factorising and counting, may be cast in this manner. Quantum searching is described as inducing a desired relative phase between two eigenvectors to yield constructive interference on the sought elements and destructive interference on the remaining terms.

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arXiv1999

Distributed Quantum Computation over Noisy Channels

We analyse the use of entangled states to perform quantum computations non locally among distant nodes in a quantum network. The complexity associated with the generation of multiparticle entangled states is quantified in terms of the concept of global cost. This parameter allows us to compare the use of physical resources in different schemes. We show that for ideal channels and for a sufficiently large number of nodes, the use of maximally entangled states is advantageous over uncorrelated ones. For noisy channels, one has to use entanglement purification procedures in order to create entangled states of high fidelity. We show that under certain circumstances a quantum network supplied with a maximally entangled input still yields a smaller global cost, provided that $n$ belongs to a given interval $n\in [n_{min},n_{max}]$. The values of $n_{min}$ and $n_{max}$ crucially depend on the purification protocols used to establish the $n$-- processor entangled states, as well as on the presence of decoherence processes during the computation. The phase estimation problem has been used to illustrate this fact.

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arXiv1998

Optimal purification of single qubits

We introduce a new decomposition of the multiqubit states of the form $ρ^{\otimes N}$ and employ it to construct the optimal single qubit purification procedure. The same decomposition allows us to study optimal quantum cloning and state estimation of mixed states.

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arXiv1998

On the general problem of quantum phase estimation

The problem of estimating a generic phase-shift experienced by a quantum state is addressed for a generally degenerate phase shift operator. The optimal positive operator-valued measure is derived along with the optimal input state. Two relevant examples are analyzed: i) a multi-mode phase shift operator for multipath interferometry; ii) the two mode heterodyne phase detection.

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arXiv1998

Optimal state estimation for d-dimensional quantum systems

We establish a connection between optimal quantum cloning and optimal state estimation for d-dimensional quantum systems. In this way we derive an upper limit on the fidelity of state estimation for d-dimensional pure quantum states and, furthermore, for generalized inputs supported on the symmetric subspace.

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arXiv1998

Optimal universal quantum cloning and state estimation

We derive a tight upper bound for the fidelity of a universal N to M qubit cloner, valid for any M \geq N, where the output of the cloner is required to be supported on the symmetric subspace. Our proof is based on the concatenation of two cloners and the connection between quantum cloning and quantum state estimation. We generalise the operation of a quantum cloner to mixed and/or entangled input qubits described by a density matrix supported on the symmetric subspace of the constituent qubits. We also extend the validity of optimal state estimation methods to inputs of this kind.

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arXiv1998

Quantum tomography of mesoscopic superpositions of radiation states

We show the feasibility of a tomographic reconstruction of Schrödinger cat states generated according to the scheme proposed by S. Song, C.M. Caves and B. Yurke [Phys. Rev. A 41, 5261 (1990)]. We present a technique that tolerates realistic values for quantum efficiency at photodetectors. The measurement can be achieved by a standard experimental setup.

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arXiv1998

Noise, errors and information in quantum amplification

We analyze and compare the characterization of a quantum device in terms of noise, transmitted bit-error-rate (BER) and mutual information, showing how the noise description is meaningful only for Gaussian channels. After reviewing the description of a quantum communication channel, we study the insertion of an amplifier. We focus attention on the case of direct detection, where the linear amplifier has a 3 decibels noise figure, which is usually considered an unsurpassable limit, referred to as the standard quantum limit (SQL). Both noise and BER could be reduced using an ideal amplifier, which is feasible in principle. However, just a reduction of noise beyond the SQL does not generally correspond to an improvement of the BER or of the mutual information. This is the case of a laser amplifier, where saturation can greatly reduce the noise figure, although there is no corresponding improvement of the BER. Such mechanism is illustrated on the basis of Monte Carlo simulations.

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arXiv1998

Comment on "Loss-error compensation in quantum-state measurements"

In the two papers [T. Kiss, U. Herzog, and U. Leonhardt, Phys. Rev. A 52, 2433 (1995); U. Herzog, Phys. Rev. A 53, 1245 (1996)] with titles similar to the one given above, the authors assert that in some cases it is possible to compensate a quantum efficiency $η\leq 1/2$ in quantum-state measurements, violating the lower bound 1/2 proved in a preceding paper [G. M. D'Ariano, U. Leonhardt and H. Paul, Phys. Rev. A 52, R1801 (1995)]. Here we re-establish the bound as unsurpassable for homodyning any quantum state, and show how the proposed loss-compensation method would always fail in a real measurement outside the allowed $η>1/2$ region.

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arXiv1997

Optimal Universal and State-Dependent Quantum Cloning

We establish the best possible approximation to a perfect quantum cloning machine which produces two clones out of a single input. We analyze both universal and state-dependent cloners. The maximal fidelity of cloning is shown to be 5/6 for universal cloners. It can be achieved either by a special unitary evolution or by a novel teleportation scheme. We construct the optimal state-dependent cloners operating on any prescribed two non-orthogonal states, discuss their fidelities and the use of auxiliary physical resources in the process of cloning. The optimal universal cloners permit us to derive a new upper bound on the quantum capacity of the depolarizing quantum channel.

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arXiv1997

On the Improvement of Frequency Stardards with Quantum Entanglement

The optimal precision of frequency measurements in the presence of decoherence is discussed. We analyze different preparations of n two level systems as well as different measurement procedures. We show that standard Ramsey spectroscopy on uncorrelated atoms and optimal measurements on maximally entangled states provide the same resolution. The best resolution is achieved using partially entangled preparations with a high degree of symmetry.

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arXiv1997

Systematic and statistical errors in homodyne measurements of the density matrix

We study both systematic and statistical errors in radiation density matrix measurements. First we estimate the minimum number of scanning phases needed to reduce systematic errors below a fixed threshold. Then, we calculate the statistical errors, intrinsic in the procedure that gives the density matrix. We present a detailed study of such errors versus the detectors quantum efficiency $η$ and the matrix indexes in the number representation, for different radiation states. For unit quantum efficiency, and for both coherent and squeezed states, the statistical errors of the diagonal matrix elements saturate for large n. On the contrary, off-diagonal errors increase with the distance from the diagonal. For non unit quantum efficiency the statistical errors along the diagonal do not saturate, and increase dramatically versus both $1-η$ and the matrix indexes.

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arXiv1996

Quantum privacy amplification and the security of quantum cryptography over noisy channels

Existing quantum cryptographic schemes are not, as they stand, operable in the presence of noise on the quantum communication channel. Although they become operable if they are supplemented by classical privacy-amplification techniques, the resulting schemes are difficult to analyse and have not been proved secure. We introduce the concept of quantum privacy amplification and a cryptographic scheme incorporating it which is provably secure over a noisy channel. The scheme uses an `entanglement purification' procedure which, because it requires only a few quantum Controlled-Not and single-qubit operations, could be implemented using technology that is currently being developed. The scheme allows an arbitrarily small bound to be placed on the information that any eavesdropper may extract from the encrypted message.

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arXiv1996

Error Correction in Quantum Communication

We show how procedures which can correct phase and amplitude errors can be directly applied to correct errors due to quantum entanglement. We specify general criteria for quantum error correction, introduce quantum versions of the Hamming and the Gilbert-Varshamov bounds and comment on the practical implementation of quantum codes.

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