arXiv subjects

Liyun Hu

Publications and source records attributed to Liyun Hu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Heralded Non-Gaussian Squeezed-State Inputs for Parity-Detection SU(1,1) Interferometry

Non-Gaussian operations can reshape the photon statistics of continuous-variable probes, but their metrological advantage is meaningful only when heralding probability and photon-number resources are counted consistently. We compare photon subtraction, photon addition, and photon catalysis as input-side heralding operations in a balanced SU(1,1) interferometer with parity detection. A unified finite-transmissivity map supplies closed conditional moments and the corresponding quantum Fisher information at arbitrary operation order; internal loss is absorbed into a single effective parity observable whose lossless limit recovers the ideal pulled-back measurement. At fixed preparation parameters, single-photon subtraction and addition improve the conditional phase information over the Gaussian reference across most of the high-transmissivity regime, while multi-photon catalysis opens useful low-transmissivity windows. However, when the coherent--squeezed allocation is independently optimized at fixed conditional-probe energy and fixed interferometer gain, the success-weighted Fisher information of all three non-Gaussian operations remains below the optimized Gaussian benchmark. This conclusion is subject to the tested constraints: single-photon operations, a coherent-plus-squeezed-vacuum Gaussian family, fixed gain, and parity readout. Photon catalysis separately generates a conditional branch with high local quantum Fisher information that dark-point parity extracts poorly, identifying a measurement mismatch rather than a state-preparation failure. The result draws a sharp boundary between conditional non-Gaussian enhancement and practically available precision under explicitly stated resource constraints.

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arXiv2026

Fully-connected three-mode squeezed vacuum: Gaussian entanglement, steering, and collective photon subtraction

We investigate a fully-connected three-mode squeezed vacuum (FC-C3MSV) state, where all three modes are pairwise coupled through nonlinear interactions in a triangle ($K_3$) topology. Using the integration-within-ordered-product technique, we derive the normal product form of the squeezing operator and obtain the covariance matrix directly from the Bogoliubov transformation. Under symmetric coupling, the physical state is genuinely tripartite entangled for any nonzero squeezing, while the three Armstrong-type witnesses provide a finite-window sufficient experimental test; in the chain-type C3MSV only one of these witnesses is violated. We find that, despite two-mode entanglement, the fully-connected topology admits \emph{no} two-mode Gaussian steering ($\mathcal{G}^{i\to j}=0$) between any pair of physical modes; the steering resource is instead collective one-mode-versus-two steering $\mathcal{G}^{i\to jk}$, which is $\theta$-independent and grows with $r$. We analyze independent vacuum losses and obtain critical transmittances for steering survival: under full symmetric loss at $r=0.5$, one-to-two collective steering disappears at $\eta\approx0.58$, whereas reverse two-to-one collective steering survives down to $\eta\approx0.502$ and the underlying two-mode entanglement persists for all $\eta>0$. Finally, we revisit photon subtraction using a normalized phase-space derivation. A photon subtraction on a single physical mode does not generate Wigner negativity on another single mode, consistent with the absence of two-mode steering. Wigner negativity can instead be generated when Bob subtracts from the collective mode $(b+c)/\sqrt{2}$, with a loss threshold $\eta_c\approx0.667$ at $r=0.5$. These results distinguish pairwise and collective nonclassical resources in the FC-C3MSV and clarify the operational role of the complete-graph topology.

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arXiv2026

Enhancing Phase Estimation in a Hybrid Interferometer via Kerr Nonlinearity and Photon Subtraction

We propose a high-precision phase estimation scheme in a hybrid interferometer by synergistically combining a Kerr nonlinear phase shifter and multi-photon subtraction operations. Using a coherent state and a vacuum state as input resources, we systematically evaluate the phase sensitivity via homodyne detection and analyze the quantum Fisher information as well as the quantum Cram\'{e}r-Rao bound under both ideal and lossy conditions. Our results show that the joint integration of Kerr nonlinearity and multi-photon subtraction yields remarkable advantages over either technique used alone. The proposed scheme enables the phase sensitivity to surpass the standard quantum limit, exceed the conventional Heisenberg scaling ($1/N$), and approach the super-Heisenberg scaling ($1/N^{2}$)-a direct consequence of Kerr nonlinearity. More precisely, the super-Heisenberg scaling $\propto $ $1/N^{2}$ is the ultimate precision limit permitted by the $k=2$ Kerr nonlinearity and does not violate the fundamental Heisenberg limit for linear phase accumulation. Even under moderate internal photon loss, the system maintains high precision and exhibits enhanced robustness to decoherence. The Kerr nonlinearity introduces an intensity-dependent phase shift proportional to the squared photon number, while multi-photon subtraction tailors non-Gaussian states to strengthen phase information extraction. Compared with existing schemes based on hybrid interferometers or SU(1,1) interferometers, our architecture achieves superior precision and stronger loss resilience. All components are experimentally accessible with current quantum optical technologies. This work provides a promising route for practical high-precision quantum metrology and quantum sensing.

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arXiv2026

Quantum Steering and Entanglement in a Tritter: Hierarchy under Loss

We present a comprehensive phase diagram of quantum correlations in a three-mode Gaussian state generated by a tritter, driven by a two-mode squeezed vacuum and a coherent state. The coherent amplitude does not affect the correlation structure, which is solely governed by the initial squeezing. By systematically analyzing five physically relevant asymmetric loss configurations, we map out the exact resilience thresholds for entanglement and Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) steering under all bipartite partitions. We reveal that EPR steering exhibits a pronounced directional asymmetry under loss, and its survival can be maintained over a much wider range of loss by strategically protecting a single channel. This tunable fragility provides practical guidance for one-sided device-independent quantum protocols in noisy asymmetric networks. We further confirm the limitations of R\'{e}nyi-2 entropy in the quantification of entanglement and steering. Our results transform the abstract correlation hierarchy into a calculable, experimentally relevant guide for engineering robust quantum resources.

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arXiv2026

Enhanced Phase Estimation via Photon-Added Two-Mode Squeezed States and Kerr Nonlinearity

Quantum metrology employs quantum resources to achieve measurement precision beyond classical limits. This work investigates a Mach--Zehnder interferometer incorporating a Kerr nonlinear phase shifter, with photon-added two-mode squeezed coherent states generated via four-wave mixing as input. We demonstrate that increasing both the photon-addition order and the input resource strength systematically enhances phase sensitivity, quantum Fisher information, and the corresponding quantum Cram\'er--Rao bound. The proposed system not only surpasses the standard quantum limit but also approaches or exceeds the Heisenberg limit for linear phase shifts, while Kerr nonlinearity enables surpassing the super-Heisenberg limit. Furthermore, the scheme exhibits enhanced robustness against photon loss, providing a promising pathway toward practical high-precision quantum metrology applications.

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arXiv2025

Phase sensitivity of lossy Mach-Zehnder interferometer via photon addition operation

Photon addition operations applied to squeezed states have been shown to significantly enhance phase sensitivity. In this study, we extend this approach by applying photon addition not only to coherent states but also within a Mach--Zehnder interferometer setup, using coherent and squeezed vacuum states as input. Both intensity-difference and homodyne detection are used to evaluate photon addition schemes, and their phase sensitivities are compared under ideal and lossy conditions, respectively. We also analyze the quantum Fisher information of these two schemes. Results show both schemes improve phase sensitivity, quantum Fisher information, and loss resistance. In particular, photon addition within the interferometer performs better. Homodyne detection outperforms intensity difference detection under photon losses. Notably, each scheme has different parameter dependencies, making them suitable for different application scenarios. When the squeezing parameter is small, photon addition employed at the coherent input with intensity difference detection can approach the Heisenberg limit in ideal conditions and can exceed the standard quantum limit in high-loss conditions. Our proposed scheme represents a valuable method for quantum precision measurements.

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arXiv2025

Phase estimation via photon subtraction at the output of the hybrid interferometer

The hybrid interferometer integrating an optical parametric amplifier and a beam splitter has the potential to outperform the SU(1,1) interferometer. However, photon loss remains a critical limitation for practical implementation. To address this challenge, we propose a quantum metrology scheme utilizing multi-photon subtraction at the output and replacing the conventional 50:50 beam splitter with a variable beam splitter to enhance robustness against photon loss. We employ a coherent state and a vacuum state as inputs and perform homodyne detection. Our results show that the selection of input modes significantly affects phase estimation, and optimizing the beam splitter's transmittance is crucial for maximizing phase sensitivity in lossy conditions. Furthermore, photon subtraction markedly improves phase sensitivity, quantum Fisher information, and robustness against noise. Our scheme achieves sensitivities beyond the Heisenberg limit even under 20% photon loss.

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arXiv2025

Phase estimation via delocalized photon subtraction operation inside the SU(1,1) interferometer

We propose a theoretical scheme to improve the precision of phase measurement using intensity detection by implementing delocalized photon subtraction operation (D-PSO) inside the SU(1,1) interferometer, with the coherent state and the vacuum state as the input states. We compare the phase sensitivity and the quantum Fisher information between D-PSO and localized photon subtraction operation (L-PSO) under both ideal and photon-loss cases. It has been found that the D-PSO can improve the measurement accuracy of the SU(1,1) interferometer and enhance its robustness against internal photon loss. And it can cover and even exceed the advantages of the L-PSO on two modes, respectively. In addition, by comparing the standard quantum limit, the Heisenberg limit and quantum Cram\'er-Rao bound, we find that the phase sensitivity of the D-PSO can get closer to the quantum Cram\'er-Rao bound and has the ability to resist internal loss.

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arXiv2025

Two-parameter estimation via photon subtraction operation within a feedback-assisted interferometer

In this paper, we analyze how multi-photon subtraction operations in a feedback-assisted interferometer can enhance measurement precision for single-parameter and two-parameter estimation under both ideal and photon-loss conditions. We examine the effects of the feedback strength R, the optical parametric amplifier's gain g, the coherent state amplitude {\alpha}, and the order of multi-photon subtraction on system performance. We demonstrate that an optimal feedback strength R_{opt} exists in both conditions. Selecting a suitable R can significantly boost the system's robustness to photon loss, and markedly improve measurement precision. And the photon subtraction operations within a feedback-assisted interferometer can further enhance measurement precision effectively. Additionally, we find that increasing intramode correlations while decreasing intermode correlations can improve estimation accuracy. This work investigates a new method through the synergistic integration of feedback topology and non-Gaussian operations into a multiparameter estimation system, along with their systematic study under both ideal and loss conditions. The findings may contribute to improving quantum-enhanced measurements and hold promise for high-precision quantum sensing research.

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arXiv2025

Improved linear and Kerr nonlinear phase estimation via photon addition operations

The accuracy of quantum measurements can be effectively improved by using both photon-added non-Gaussian operations and Kerr nonlinear phase shifters. Here, we employ coherent state mixed photon-added squeezed vacuum state as input into a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with parity detection, thereby achieving a significant enhancement in phase measurement accuracy. Our research focuses on phase sensitivity of linear phase shift under both ideal conditions and photon loss, as well as quantum Fisher information. The results demonstrate that employing the photon addition operations can markedly enhance phase sensitivity and quantum Fisher information, and the measurement accuracy can even approach the Heisenberg limit. In addition, we delve deeper into the scenario of replacing the linear phase shifter with a Kerr nonlinear one and systematically analyze the quantum Fisher information under both ideal and photon loss conditions. By comparison, it is evident that employing both the photon addition operations and the Kerr nonlinear phase shifter can further significantly enhance phase measurement accuracy while effectively improving the system's robustness against photon loss. These findings are instrumental in facilitating the development and practical application of quantum metrology.

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arXiv2025

Phase sensitivity via photon-subtraction operations inside Mach-Zehnder interferometer

Based on the conventional Mach-Zehnder interferometer, we propose a metrological scheme to improve phase sensitivity. In this scheme, we use a coherent state and a squeezed vacuum state as input states, employ multi-photon-subtraction operations and make intensity-detection or homodyne-detection. We study phase sensitivity, quantum Fisher information and quantum Cram\'er-Rao bound under both ideal and lossy conditions. The results indicate that choosing an appropriate detection method and photon subtraction scheme can significantly enhance the phase sensitivity and robustness against photon losses. Even under lossy conditions, the multi-photon subtraction schemes can surpass the standard quantum limit. Notably, the homodyne detection method can even break through the Heisenberg limit. Moreover, increasing the number of photon-subtracted can enhance both phase sensitivity and quantum Fisher information. This research highlights the significant value of this scheme in quantum precision measurement.

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arXiv2024

Phase sensitivity for an SU(1,1) interferometer via multiphoton subtraction at the output port

In the field of quantum precision measurement, enhancing phase sensitivity is crucial for various applications, including quantum metrology and quantum sensing technologies. We theoretically investigate the improvement in phase sensitivity and quantum Fisher information achieved through multiphoton subtraction operations at the output port of an SU(1,1) interferometer under conditions of photon loss. We use vacuum and coherent states as the inputs and detect the outputs by intensity detection. The results indicate that internal photon losses within the SU(1,1) interferometer have a more significant impact on the phase sensitivity compared to external photon losses. Moreover, increasing the number of photon subtractions m effectively enhances both the phase sensitivity and the quantum Fisher information. Notably, even under conditions of severe photon loss, the multiphoton subtraction operations can enable the phase sensitivity to surpass the standard quantum limit, approaching both the Heisenberg limit and the quantum Cram\'er-Rao bound. This study provides a new theoretical basis for enhancing the phase sensitivity in the SU(1,1) interferometer.

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arXiv2024

Improved phase sensitivity of an SU(1,1) interferometer based on the internal single-path local squeezing operation

Compared to passive interferometers, SU(1,1) interferometers exhibit superior phase sensitivity due to the incorporation of nonlinear elements that enhance their ability to detect phase shifts. However, the precision of these interferometers is significantly affected by photon losses, especially internal losses, which can limit the overall measurement accuracy. Addressing these issues is essential to fully realize the advantages of SU(1,1) interferometers in practical applications. Among the known resources of quantum metrology, one of the most practical and efficient is squeezing. We propose a theoretical scheme to improve the precision of phase measurement using homodyne detection by implementing the single-path local squeezing operation (LSO) inside the SU(1,1) interferometer, with the coherent state and the vacuum state as the input states. We not only analyze the effects of the single-path LSO scheme on the phase sensitivity and the quantum Fisher information (QFI) under both ideal and photon-loss cases but also compare the effects of different squeezing parameters r on the system performance. Our findings reveal that the internal single-path LSO scheme can enhance the phase sensitivity and the QFI, effectively improving the robustness of the SU(1,1) interferometer against internal and external photon losses. Additionally, a larger squeezing parameter r leads to a better performance of the interferometer.

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arXiv2024

Phase estimation via number-conserving operation inside the SU(1,1) interferometer

Utilizing nonlinear elements, SU(1,1) interferometers demonstrate superior phase sensitivity compared to passive interferometers. However, the precision is significantly impacted by photon losses, particularly internal losses. We propose a theoretical scheme to improve the precision of phase measurement using homodyne detection by implementing number-conserving operations (PA-then-PS and PS-then-PA) within the SU(1,1) interferometer, with the coherent state and the vacuum state as the input states. We analyze the effects of number-conserving operations on the phase sensitivity, the quantum Fisher information, and the quantum Cramer-Rao bound under both ideal and photon losses scenarios. Our findings reveal that the internal non-Gaussian operations can enhance the phase sensitivity and the quantum Fisher information, and effectively improve the robustness of the SU(1,1) interferometer against internal photon losses. Notably, the PS-then-PA scheme exhibits superior improvement in both ideal and photon losses cases in terms of phase sensitivity. Moreover, in the ideal case, PA-then-PS scheme slightly outperforms PS-then-PA scheme in terms of the quantum Fisher information and the Quantum Cramer-Rao. However, in the presence of photon losses, PS-then-PA scheme demonstrates a greater advantage.

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arXiv2024

Phase estimation via coherent and photon-catalyzed squeezed vacuum states

The research focused on enhancing the measurement accuracy through the use of non-Gaussian states has garnered increasing attention. In this study, we propose a scheme to input the coherent state mixed with photon-catalyzed squeezed vacuum state into the Mach-Zender interferometer to enhance phase measurement accuracy. The findings demonstrate that photon catalysis, particularly multi-photon catalysis, can effectively improve the phase sensitivity of parity detection and the quantum Fisher information. Moreover, the situation of photon losses in practical measurement was studied. The results indicate that external dissipation has a greater influence on phase sensitivity than the internal dissipation. Compared to input coherent state mixed with squeezed vacuum state, the utilization of coherent state mixed photon-catalyzed squeezed vacuum state, particularly the mixed multi-photon catalyzed squeezed vacuum state as input, can enhance the phase sensitivity and quantum Fisher information. Furthermore, the phase measurement accuracy can exceed the standard quantum limit, and even surpass the Heisenberg limit. This research is expected to significantly contribute to quantum precision measurement.

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arXiv2023

Quantum steering for two-mode states with Continuous-variable in laser channel

The Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen steering is an important resource for one-sided device independent quantum information processing. This steering property will be destroyed during the interaction between quantum system and environment for some practical applications. In this paper, we use the representation of characteristic function for probability to examine the quantum steering of two-mode states with continuous-variable in laser channel, where both the gain factor and the loss effect are considered. Firstly, we analyse the steering time of two-mode squeezed vacuum state under one-mode and two-mode laser channel respectively. We find the gain process will introduce additional noise to the two-mode squeezed vacuum state such that the steerable time is reduced. Secondly, by quantising quantum Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen steering, it shows that two-side loss presents a smaller steerability than one-side loss although they share the same two-way steerable time. In addition, we find the more gained party can steer the others state, while the other party cannot steer the gained party in a certain threshold value. In this sense, it seems that the gain effect in one party is equivalent to the loss effect in the others party. Our results pave way for the distillation of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen steering and the quantum information processing in practical quantum channels.

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arXiv2022

Quantum multiparameter estimation with multi-mode photon catalysis entangled squeezed state

We propose a method to generate the multi-mode entangled catalysis squeezed vacuum states (MECSVS) by embedding the cross-Kerr nonlinear medium into the Mach-Zehnder interferometer. This method realizes the exchange of quantum states between different modes based on Fredkin gate. In addition, we study the MECSVS as the probe state of multi-arm optical interferometer to realize multi-phase simultaneous estimation. The results show that the quantum Cramer-Rao bound (QCRB) of phase estimation can be improved by increasing the number of catalytic photons or decreasing the transmissivity of the optical beam splitter using for photon catalysis. In addition, we also show that even if there is photon loss, the QCRB of our photon catalysis scheme is lower than that of the ideal entangled squeezed vacuum states (ESVS), which shows that by performing the photon catalytic operation is more robust against photon loss than that without the catalytic operation. The results here can find important applications in quantum metrology for multiparatmeter estimation.

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arXiv2022

Phase estimation of Mach-Zehnder interferometer via Laguerre excitation squeezed state

Quantum metrology has an important role in the fields of quantum optics and quantum information processing. Here we introduce a kind of non-Gaussian state, Laguerre excitation squeezed state as input of traditional Mach-Zehnder interferometer to examine phase estimation in realistic case. We consider the effects of both internal and external losses on phase estimation by using quantum Fisher information and parity detection. It is shown that the external loss presents a bigger effect than the internal one. The phase sensitivity and the quantum Fisher information can be improved by increasing the photon number and even surpass the ideal phase sensitivity by two-mode squeezed vacuum in a certain region of phase shift for realistic case.

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