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Natalia Korolkova

Publications and source records attributed to Natalia Korolkova.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Electromagnetically induced invisibility cloaking

Invisibility cloaking imposes strict conditions on the refractive index profiles of cloaking media that must be satisfied to successfully hide an object. The first experimental demonstrations of cloaking used artificial metamaterials to respond to this challenge. In this work we show how a much simpler technique of electromagnetically induced transparency can be used to achieve a partial, {\it carpet} cloaking at optical frequencies in atomic vapours or solids. To generate a desired combination of low absorption with strong modifications of the refractive index, we use chiral media with an induced magneto-electrical cross-coupling. We demonstrate that high-contrast positive refractive indices can be attained by fine tuning the material with a gradient magnetic field and calculate the parameters required to construct a carpet cloak.

physics.optics↗

Nonclassical correlations in continuous-variable non-Gaussian Werner states

We study nonclassical correlations beyond entanglement in a family of two-mode non-Gaussian states which represent the continuous-variable counterpart of two-qubit Werner states. We evaluate quantum discord and other quantumness measures obtaining exact analytical results in special instances, and upper and lower bounds in the general case. Non-Gaussian measurements such as photon counting are in general necessary to solve the optimization in the definition of quantum discord, whereas Gaussian measurements are strictly suboptimal for the considered states. The gap between Gaussian and optimal non-Gaussian conditional entropy is found to be proportional to a measure of non-Gaussianity in the regime of low squeezing, for a subclass of continuous-variable Werner states. We further study an example of a non-Gaussian state which is positive under partial transposition, and whose nonclassical correlations stay finite and small even for infinite squeezing. Our results pave the way to a systematic exploration of the interplay between nonclassicality and non-Gaussianity in continuous-variable systems, in order to gain a deeper understanding of -and to draw a bigger advantage from- these two important resources for quantum technology.

quant-ph↗

Entanglement Concentration with Quantum Non Demolition Hamiltonians

We devise and examine two procrustean entanglement concentration schemes using Quantum Non- Demolition (QND) interaction Hamiltonians in the continuous variable regime, applicable for light, for atomic ensembles or in a hybrid setting. We thus expand the standard entanglement distillation toolbox to the use of a much more general, versatile and experimentally feasible interaction class. The first protocol uses Gaussian ancillary modes and a non-Gaussian post-measurement, the second a non-Gaussian ancillary mode and a Gaussian post-measurement. We explicitly calculate the density matrix elements of the non-Gaussian mixed states resulting from these protocols using an elegant Wigner-function based method in a numerically efficient manner. We then quantify the entanglement increase calculating the Logarithmic Negativity of the output state and discuss and compare the performance of the protocols.

quant-ph↗

Entanglement Concentration for two atomic ensembles using an effective atom-light beamsplitter

We present a protocol for increasing the entanglement between two atomic ensembles based on applying an approximate atom-light beamsplitter transformation to both ensembles. The effective asymmetric atom-light beamsplitter is created via a double-pass quantum non-demolition interaction between polarized light and a spin polarized atomic ensemble, derived from the linearised dipole interaction. The entanglement concentration protocol itself uses the procrustean method, similar to that first devised for light by Browne et al [2003 Phys Rev A 67 062320] and includes photon counting after the interaction as the required non-Gaussian element. We calculate the output logarithmic negativity in this scheme and show that entanglement between macroscopic ensembles can be increased with probabilities comparable with those for the light scheme even if on-off detectors of low efficiency are used.

quant-ph↗

Measurement-induced disturbances and nonclassical correlations of Gaussian states

We study quantum correlations beyond entanglement in two-mode Gaussian states of continuous variable systems, by means of the measurement-induced disturbance (MID) and its ameliorated version (AMID). In analogy with the recent studies of the Gaussian quantum discord, we define a Gaussian AMID by constraining the optimization to all bi-local Gaussian positive operator valued measurements. We solve the optimization explicitly for relevant families of states, including squeezed thermal states. Remarkably, we find that there is a finite subset of two-mode Gaussian states, comprising pure states, where non-Gaussian measurements such as photon counting are globally optimal for the AMID and realize a strictly smaller state disturbance compared to the best Gaussian measurements. However, for the majority of two--mode Gaussian states the unoptimized MID provides a loose overestimation of the actual content of quantum correlations, as evidenced by its comparison with Gaussian discord. This feature displays strong similarity with the case of two qubits. Upper and lower bounds for the Gaussian AMID at fixed Gaussian discord are identified. We further present a comparison between Gaussian AMID and Gaussian entanglement of formation, and classify families of two-mode states in terms of their Gaussian AMID, Gaussian discord, and Gaussian entanglement of formation. Our findings provide a further confirmation of the genuinely quantum nature of general Gaussian states, yet they reveal that non-Gaussian measurements can play a crucial role for the optimized extraction and potential exploitation of classical and nonclassical correlations in Gaussian states.

quant-ph↗

Distribution of continuous-variable entanglement by separable Gaussian states

Entangling two systems at distant locations using a {\it separable} mediating ancilla is a counterintuitive phenomenon proposed for qubits by T. Cubitt {\it et al}. [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 91}, 037902 (2003)]. We show that such entanglement distribution is possible with Gaussian states, using a certain three-mode fully separable mixed Gaussian state and linear optics elements readily available in experiments. Two modes of the state become entangled by sequentially mixing them on two beam splitters, while the third one remains separable in all stages of the protocol.

quant-ph↗

Weak Measurements with Entangled Probes

Encoding the imaginary part of a weak value onto an initially entangled probe can modify its entanglement content - provided the probe observable can distinguish between states of different entropies. Apart from fundamental interest, this result illustrates the utility of the imaginary weak value as a calculational tool in certain entanglement concentration protocols.

quant-ph↗

Cross-Kerr effective Hamiltonian for a non-resonant four-level atom

We derive a cross-Kerr type effective Hamiltonian for the four-level atom interacting with three electromagnetic fields in the N-configuration. When the atom has relaxed into the ground state a cross-Kerr nonlinearity arises between two weak probe fields. As a development on earlier work we show in general that the atom will also display a linear and self-Kerr response. However, if certain resonance conditions are satisfied then the linear and self-Kerr interactions will vanish. The electrical susceptibilities of the probe transitions are also explored and it is shown that a large, pure cross-Kerr nonlinearity can be generated with vanishing absorption of both probe fields.

quant-ph↗

Weak Values and Continuous-Variable Entanglement Concentration

We demonstrate a general weak measurement model which allows Gaussian preserving entanglement concentration of the two mode squeezed vacuum. The power of this simple and elegant protocol is through the constraints it places on possible ancilla states and measurement strategies that will allow entanglement concentration. In particular, it is shown how previously discovered protocols of this kind emerge as special examples of the general model described here. Finally, as evidence of its utility, we use it to provide another novel example of such a protocol.

quant-ph↗

Highly non-Gaussian states created via cross-Kerr nonlinearity

We propose a feasible scheme for generation of strongly non-Gaussian states using the cross-Kerr nonlinearity. The resultant states are highly non-classical states of electromagnetic field and exhibit negativity of their Wigner function, sub-Poissonian photon statistics, and amplitude squeezing. Furthermore, the Wigner function has a distinctly pronounced ``banana'' or ``crescent'' shape specific for the Kerr-type interactions, which so far was not demonstrated experimentally. We show that creating and detecting such states should be possible with the present technology using electromagnetically induced transparency in a four-level atomic system in N-configuration.

quant-ph↗

Cross-Kerr interaction in a four-level atomic system

We derive the form of the cross-Kerr interaction in a four-level atomic system in the N-configuration. We use time-independent perturbation theory to calculate the eigenenergies and eigenstates of the Schrodinger equation for the system. The system is considered as a perturbation of a Raman resonant three-level lambda scheme for which exact solutions are known. We show that within the strong control field limit the cross-Kerr interaction can arise between two weak probe fields. The strength of this nonlinear coupling is several orders of magnitude larger than that achievable using optical fibres.

quant-ph↗

Procrustean entanglement concentration of continuous variable states of light

We propose a Procrustean entanglement concentration scheme for continuous variable states inspired by the scheme proposed in Fiurasek et. al. Phys. Rev. A 67, 022304, (2003). We show that the eight-port homodyne measurement of Fiurasek et. al. Phys. Rev. A 67, 022304, (2003) can be replaced by a balanced homodyne measurement with the advantage of providing a success criterion that allows Alice and Bob to determine if entanglement concentration was achieved. In addition, it facilitates a straightforward and feasible experimental implementation.

quant-ph↗

Continuous variable quantum key distribution using polarization encoding and post selection

We present an experimental demonstration of a quantum key distribution protocol using coherent polarization states. Post selection is used to ensure a low error rate and security against beam splitting attacks even in the presence of high losses. Signal encoding and readout in polarization bases avoids the difficult task of sending a local oscillator with the quantum channel. This makes our setup robust and easy to implement. A shared key was established for losses up to 64%.

quant-ph↗

Experiment towards continuous-variable entanglement swapping: Highly correlated four-partite quantum state

We present a protocol for performing entanglement swapping with intense pulsed beams. In a first step, the generation of amplitude correlations between two systems that have never interacted directly is demonstrated. This is verified in direct detection with electronic modulation of the detected photocurrents. The measured correlations are better than expected from a classical reconstruction scheme. In the entanglement swapping process, a four--partite entangled state is generated. We prove experimentally that the amplitudes of the four optical modes are quantum correlated 3 dB below shot noise, which is due to the potential four--party entanglement.

quant-ph↗

Polarization squeezing and continuous-variable polarization entanglement

The Stokes-parameter operators and the associated Poincare sphere, which describe the quantum-optical polarization properties of light, are defined and their basic properties are reviewed. The general features of the Stokes operators are illustrated by evaluation of their means and variances for a range of simple polarization states. Some of the examples show polarization squeezing, in which the variances of one or more Stokes parameters are smaller than the coherent-state value. The main object of the paper is the application of these concepts to bright squeezed light. It is shown that a light beam formed by interference of two orthogonally-polarized quadrature-squeezed beams exhibits squeezing in some of the Stokes parameters. Passage of such a primary polarization-squeezed beam through suitable optical components generates a pair of polarization-entangled light beams with the nature of a two-mode squeezed state. The use of pairs of primary polarization-squeezed light beams leads to substantially increased entanglement and to the generation of EPR-entangled light beams. The important advantage of these nonclassical polarization states for quantum communication is the possibility of experimentally determining all of the relevant conjugate variables of both squeezed and entangled fields using only linear optical elements followed by direct detection.

quant-ph↗