arXiv subjects

H. M. Wiseman

Publications and source records attributed to H. M. Wiseman.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2004

Quantum trajectories for the realistic measurement of a solid-state charge qubit

We present a new model for the continuous measurement of a coupled quantum dot charge qubit. We model the effects of a realistic measurement, namely adding noise to, and filtering, the current through the detector. This is achieved by embedding the detector in an equivalent circuit for measurement. Our aim is to describe the evolution of the qubit state conditioned on the macroscopic output of the external circuit. We achieve this by generalizing a recently developed quantum trajectory theory for realistic photodetectors [P. Warszawski, H. M. Wiseman and H. Mabuchi, Phys. Rev. A_65_ 023802 (2002)] to treat solid-state detectors. This yields stochastic equations whose (numerical) solutions are the ``realistic quantum trajectories'' of the conditioned qubit state. We derive our general theory in the context of a low transparency quantum point contact. Areas of application for our theory and its relation to previous work are discussed.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2004

Quantum Non-demolition Measurements on Qubits

We discuss the characterization and properties of quantum non-demolition (QND) measurements on qubit systems. We introduce figures of merit which can be applied to systems of any Hilbert space dimension thus providing universal criteria for characterizing QND measurements. We discuss the controlled-NOT gate and an optical implementation as examples of QND devices for qubits. We also discuss the QND measurement of weak values.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2004

States for phase estimation in quantum interferometry

Ramsey interferometry allows the estimation of the phase $ϕ$ of rotation of the pseudospin vector of an ensemble of two-state quantum systems. For $ϕ$ small, the noise-to-signal ratio scales as the spin-squeezing parameter $ξ$, with $ξ<1$ possible for an entangled ensemble. However states with minimum $ξ$ are not optimal for single-shot measurements of an arbitrary phase. We define a phase-squeezing parameter, $ζ$, which is an appropriate figure-of-merit for this case. We show that (unlike the states that minimize $ξ$), the states that minimize $ζ$ can be created by evolving an unentangled state (coherent spin state) by the well-known 2-axis counter-twisting Hamiltonian. We analyse these and other states (for example the maximally entangled state, analogous to the optical "NOON" state $|ψ> = (|N,0>+|0,N>)/\sqrt{2}$) using several different properties, including $ξ$, $ζ$, the coefficients in the pseudo angular momentum basis (in the three primary directions) and the angular Wigner function $W(θ,ϕ)$. Finally we discuss the experimental options for creating phase squeezed states and doing single-shot phase estimation.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2004

Classical Robustness of Quantum Unravellings

We introduce three measures which quantify the degree to which quantum systems possess the robustness exhibited by classical systems when subjected to continuous observation. Using these we show that for a fixed environmental interaction the level of robustness depends on the measurement strategy, or unravelling, and that no single strategy is maximally robust in all ways.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2004

Dynamical creation of entanglement by homodyne-mediated feedback

For two two-level atoms coupled to a single-mode cavity field that is driven and heavily damped, the steady-state can be entangled by shining an un-modulated driving laser on the system [S.Schneider, G. J. Milburn Phys. Rev A 65, 042107, 2002]. We present a scheme to significantly increase the steady-state entanglement by using homodyne-mediated feedback, in which the driving laser is modulated by the homodyne photocurrent derived from the cavity output. Such feedback can increase the nonlinear response to both the decoherence process of the two-qubit system and the coherent evolution of individual qubits. We present the properties of the entangled states using the SO(3) Q function.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2004

All-optical versus electro-optical quantum-limited feedback

All-optical feedback can be effected by putting the output of a source cavity through a Faraday isolator and into a second cavity which is coupled to the source cavity by a nonlinear crystal. If the driven cavity is heavily damped, then it can be adiabatically eliminated and a master equation or quantum Langevin equation derived for the first cavity alone. This is done for an input bath in an arbitrary state, and for an arbitrary nonlinear coupling. If the intercavity coupling involves only the intensity (or one quadrature) of the driven cavity, then the effect on the source cavity is identical to that which can be obtained from electro-optical feedback using direct (or homodyne) detection. If the coupling involves both quadratures, this equivalence no longer holds, and a coupling linear in the source amplitude can produce a nonclassical state in the source cavity. The analogous electro-optic scheme using heterodyne detection introduces extra noise which prevents the production of nonclassical light. Unlike the electro-optic case, the all-optical feedback loop has an output beam (reflected from the second cavity). We show that this may be squeezed, even if the source cavity remains in a classical state.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2004

Adaptive phase estimation is more accurate than non-adaptive phase estimation for continuous beams of light

We consider the task of estimating the randomly fluctuating phase of a continuous-wave beam of light. Using the theory of quantum parameter estimation, we show that this can be done more accurately when feedback is used (adaptive phase estimation) than by any scheme not involving feedback (non-adaptive phase estimation) in which the beam is measured as it arrives at the detector. Such schemes not involving feedback include all those based on heterodyne detection or instantaneous canonical phase measurements. We also demonstrate that the superior accuracy adaptive phase estimation is present in a regime conducive to observing it experimentally.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2004

Quantum error correction for continuously detected errors with any number of error channels per qubit

It was shown by Ahn, Wiseman, and Milburn [PRA {\bf 67}, 052310 (2003)] that feedback control could be used as a quantum error correction process for errors induced by weak continuous measurement, given one perfectly measured error channel per qubit. Here we point out that this method can be easily extended to an arbitrary number of error channels per qubit. We show that the feedback protocols generated by our method encode $n-2$ logical qubits in $n$ physical qubits, thus requiring just one more physical qubit than in the previous case.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2003

The Uncertainty Relation in "Which-Way" Experiments: How to Observe Directly the Momentum Transfer using Weak Values

A which-way measurement destroys the twin-slit interference pattern. Bohr argued that distinguishing between two slits a distance s apart gives the particle a random momentum transfer \wp of order h/s. This was accepted for more than 60 years, until Scully, Englert and Walther (SEW) proposed a which-way scheme that, they claimed, entailed no momentum transfer. Storey, Tan, Collett and Walls (STCW) in turn proved a theorem that, they claimed, showed that Bohr was right. This work reviews and extends a recent proposal [Wiseman, Phys. Lett. A 311, 285 (2003)] to resolve the issue using a weak-valued probability distribution for momentum transfer, P_wv(\wp). We show that P_wv(\wp) must be wider than h/6s. However, its moments can still be zero because P_wv(\wp) is not necessarily positive definite. Nevertheless, it is measurable in a way understandable to a classical physicist. We introduce a new measure of spread for P_wv(\wp): half of the unit-confidence interval, and conjecture that it is never less than h/4s. For an idealized example with infinitely narrow slits, the moments of P_wv(\wp) and of the momentum distributions are undefined unless a process of apodization is used. We show that by considering successively smoother initial wave functions, successively more moments of both P_wv(\wp) and the momentum distributions become defined. For this example the moments of P_wv(\wp) are zero, and these are equal to the changes in the moments of the momentum distribution. We prove that this relation holds for schemes in which the moments of P_wv(\wp) are non-zero, but only for the first two moments. We also compare these moments to those of two other momentum-transfer distributions and \hat{p}_f-\hat{p}_i. We find agreement between all of these, but again only for the first two moments.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2003

Squeezing and feedback

Electro-optical feedback has many features in common with optical nonlinearities and hence is relevant to the generation of squeezing. First, I discuss theoretical and experimental results for traveling-wave feedback, emphasizing how the ``in-loop'' squeezing (also known as ``squashing'') differs from free squeezing. Although such feedback, based on ordinary (demolition) photodetection cannot create free squeezing, it can be used to manipulate it. Then I treat feedback based on nonlinear quantum optical measurements (of which non-demolition measurements are one example). These {\em are} able to produce free squeezing, as shown in a number of experiments. Following that I discuss theories showing that intracavity squeezing can be increased using ordinary feedback, and produced using QND-based feedback. Finally, I return to ``squashed'' fields and present recent results showing that the reduced in-loop fluctuations can suppress atomic decay in a manner analogous to the effect for squeezed fields.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2003

Precis: Quantum Feedback

The following is the body of page ix of the PhD thesis Quantum Trajectories and Feedback by H.M. Wiseman (Physics Department, University of Queensland, 1994), which is downloadable as a postscript file at http://www.sct.gu.edu.au/~sctwiseh/PhDThesis.ps.z . It is (as it described itself) a very brief technical summary of the most important results therein.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2003

The entanglement of indistinguishable particles shared between two parties

Using an operational definition we quantify the entanglement, $E_P$, between two parties who share an arbitrary pure state of $N$ indistinguishable particles. We show that $E_P \leq E_M$, where $E_M$ is the bipartite entanglement calculated from the mode-occupation representation. Unlike $E_M$, $E_P$ is {\em super-additive}. For example, $E_P =0$ for any single-particle state, but the state $\ket{1}\ket{1}$, where both modes are split between the two parties, has $E_P = 1/2$. We discuss how this relates to quantum correlations between particles, for both fermions and bosons.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2003

Entanglement constrained by superselection rules

Bipartite entanglement may be reduced if there are restrictions on allowed local operations. We introduce the concept of a generalized superselection rule (SSR) to describe such restrictions, and quantify the entanglement constrained by it. We show that ensemble quantum information processing, where elements in the ensemble are not individually addressable, is subject to the SSR associated with the symmetric group (the group of permutations of elements). We prove that even for an ensemble comprising many pairs of qubits, each pair described by a pure Bell state, the entanglement per element constrained by this SSR goes to zero for a large number of elements.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2003

Directly Observing Momentum Transfer in Twin-Slit "Which-Way" Experiments

Is the destruction of interference by a which-way measurement due to a random momentum transfer $\wp\agt\hbar/s$, with $s$ the slit separation? The weak-valued probability distribution $P_{\rm wv}(\wp)$, which is {\em directly observable}, provides a subtle answer. $P_{\rm wv}(\wp)$ cannot have support on the interval $[-\hbar/s,\hbar/s]$. Nevertheless, its moments can be identically zero.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2003

Quantum Trajectories and Quantum Measurement Theory

Beyond their use as numerical tools, quantum trajectories can be ascribed a degree of reality in terms of quantum measurement theory. In fact, they arise naturally from considering continuous observation of a damped quantum system. A particularly useful form of quantum trajectories is as linear (but non-unitary) stochastic Schrodinger equations. In the limit where a strong local oscillator is used in the detection, and where the system is not driven, these quantum trajectories can be solved. This gives an alternate derivation of the probability distributions for completed homodyne and heterodyne detection schemes. It also allows the previously intractable problem of real-time adaptive measurements to be treated. The results for an analytically soluble example of adaptive phase measurements are presented, and future developments discussed.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2002

Extending Heisenberg's measurement--disturbance relation to the twin-slit case

Heisenberg's position-measurement--momentum-disturbance relation is derivable from the uncertainty relation $σ(q)σ(p) \geq \hbar/2$ only for the case when the particle is initially in a momentum eigenstate. Here I derive a new measurement--disturbance relation which applies when the particle is prepared in a twin-slit superposition and the measurement can determine at which slit the particle is present. The relation is $d \times Δp \geq 2\hbar/π$, where $d$ is the slit separation and $Δp=D_{M}(P_{f},P_{i})$ is the Monge distance between the initial $P_{i}(p)$ and final $P_{f}(p)$ momentum distributions.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2002

There is no unmet requirement of optical coherence for continuous-variable quantum teleportation

It has been argued [T. Rudolph and B.C. Sanders, Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 077903 (2001)] that continuous-variable quantum teleportation at optical frequencies has not been achieved because the source used (a laser) was not `truly coherent'. Here I show that `true coherence' is always illusory, as the concept of absolute time on a scale beyond direct human experience is meaningless. A laser is as good a clock as any other, even in principle, and this objection to teleportation experiments is baseless.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2002

Heterodyne and adaptive phase measurements on states of fixed mean photon number

The standard technique for measuring the phase of a single mode field is heterodyne detection. Such a measurement may have an uncertainty far above the intrinsic quantum phase uncertainty of the state. Recently it has been shown [H. M. Wiseman and R. B. Killip, Phys. Rev. A 57, 2169 (1998)] that an adaptive technique introduces far less excess noise. Here we quantify this difference by an exact numerical calculation of the minimum measured phase variance for the various schemes, optimized over states with a fixed mean photon number. We also analytically derive the asymptotics for these variances. For the case of heterodyne detection our results disagree with the power law claimed by D'Ariano and Paris [Phys. Rev. A 49, 3022 (1994)].

quant-ph↗