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Rana X Adhikari

Publications and source records attributed to Rana X Adhikari.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

Scaling Quantum Networks via Phase-Stable Vacuum Beam Guide: Architectural Blueprint and Benchmark

Scaling quantum networks to continental distances requires physical infrastructure capable of overcoming both exponential attenuation and severe phase decoherence. While the concept of the vacuum beam guide (VBG) has recently emerged as a promising low-loss solution, we move beyond it by proposing a stringent and conservative physical-layer architectural blueprint anchored by empirical data and methods from Advanced LIGO, particularly regarding its interferometric stability in dynamic environments. To evaluate its system-level viability, we benchmark this architecture against various protocols across quantum communication, metrology, and computation. Ultimately, we identify no fundamental technical blockers to scaling this infrastructure.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2026

Optimized Quantum States for Sensing in the Presence of Loss and Phase Noise

Squeezed vacuum lets gravitational-wave detectors and other quantum sensors surpass the standard quantum limit, and is optimal in the loss-limited regime; phase noise breaks this optimality. Numerically optimizing the quantum Fisher information across the loss and phase-noise landscape, we identify non-Gaussian states that outperform any Gaussian state. These fall into three classes: Fock-like, cubic-phase-like, and states with discrete rotational symmetry. Limiting the average number of photons in the input state to $\bar{n}=5$, with $1-η= 5\%$ photon loss and 200 mrad phase noise, the non-Gaussian advantage reaches up to 2.2 dB. Furthermore, we observe that the non-Gaussian advantage can persist even when the measurement strategy is homodyne detection.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2025

Neural surrogates for designing gravitational wave detectors

Physics simulators are essential in science and engineering, enabling the analysis, control, and design of complex systems. In experimental sciences, they are increasingly used to automate experimental design, often via combinatorial search and optimization. However, as the setups grow more complex, the computational cost of traditional, CPU-based simulators becomes a major limitation. Here, we show how neural surrogate models can significantly reduce reliance on such slow simulators while preserving accuracy. Taking the design of interferometric gravitational wave detectors as a representative example, we train a neural network to surrogate the gravitational wave physics simulator Finesse, which was developed by the LIGO community. Despite that small changes in physical parameters can change the output by orders of magnitudes, the model rapidly predicts the quality and feasibility of candidate designs, allowing an efficient exploration of large design spaces. Our algorithm loops between training the surrogate, inverse designing new experiments, and verifying their properties with the slow simulator for further training. Assisted by auto-differentiation and GPU parallelism, our method proposes high-quality experiments much faster than direct optimization. Solutions that our algorithm finds within hours outperform designs that take five days for the optimizer to reach. Though shown in the context of gravitational wave detectors, our framework is broadly applicable to other domains where simulator bottlenecks hinder optimization and discovery.

cs.LG↗
arXiv2024

Vacuum Beam Guide for Large-Scale Quantum Networks

The vacuum beam guide (VBG) presents a completely different solution for quantum channels to overcome the limitations of existing fiber and satellite technologies for long-distance quantum communication. With an array of aligned lenses spaced kilometers apart, the VBG offers ultra-high transparency over a wide range of optical wavelengths. With realistic parameters, the VBG can outperform the best fiber by three orders of magnitude in terms of attenuation rate. Consequently, the VBG can enable long-range quantum communication over thousands of kilometers with quantum channel capacity beyond $10^{13}$ qubit/sec, orders of magnitude higher than the state-of-the-art quantum satellite communication rate. Remarkably, without relying on quantum repeaters, the VBG can provide a ground-based, low-loss, high-bandwidth quantum channel that enables novel distributed quantum information applications for computing, communication, and sensing.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2024

Effects of mirror birefringence and its fluctuations to laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors

Crystalline materials are promising candidates as substrates or high-reflective coatings of mirrors to reduce thermal noises in future laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors. However, birefringence of such materials could degrade the sensitivity of gravitational wave detectors, not only because it can introduce optical losses, but also because its fluctuations create extra phase noise in the arm cavity reflected beam. In this paper, we analytically estimate the effects of birefringence and its fluctuations in the mirror substrate and coating for gravitational wave detectors. Our calculations show that the requirements for the birefringence fluctuations in silicon substrate and AlGaAs coating will be on the order of $10^{-8}$ and $10^{-10}$ rad/$\sqrt{\rm Hz}$ at 100~Hz, respectively, for future gravitational wave detectors. We also point out that optical cavity response needs to be carefully taken into account to estimate optical losses from depolarization.

astro-ph.IM↗
arXiv2023

Global optimization of multilayer dielectric coatings for precision measurements

We describe the design of optimized multilayer dielectric coatings for precision laser interferometry. By setting up an appropriate cost function and then using a global optimizer to find a minimum in the parameter space, we were able to realize coating designs that meet the design requirements for spectral reflectivity, thermal noise, absorption, and tolerances to coating fabrication errors.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2023

Digital Discovery of interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors

Gravitational waves, detected a century after they were first theorized, are spacetime distortions caused by some of the most cataclysmic events in the universe, including black hole mergers and supernovae. The successful detection of these waves has been made possible by ingenious detectors designed by human experts. Beyond these successful designs, the vast space of experimental configurations remains largely unexplored, offering an exciting territory potentially rich in innovative and unconventional detection strategies. Here, we demonstrate the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to systematically explore this enormous space, revealing novel topologies for gravitational wave (GW) detectors that outperform current next-generation designs under realistic experimental constraints. Our results span a broad range of astrophysical targets, such as black hole and neutron star mergers, supernovae, and primordial GW sources. Moreover, we are able to conceptualize the initially unorthodox discovered designs, emphasizing the potential of using AI algorithms not only in discovering but also in understanding these novel topologies. We've assembled more than 50 superior solutions in a publicly available Gravitational Wave Detector Zoo which could lead to many new surprising techniques. At a bigger picture, our approach is not limited to gravitational wave detectors and can be extended to AI-driven design of experiments across diverse domains of fundamental physics.

astro-ph.IM↗
arXiv2022

Optical Refrigeration for an Optomechanical Amplifier

We explore the viability of using optical refrigeration as a low-vibration cooling method for a phase-sensitive optomechanical amplifier proposed to improve the sensitivity of future gravitational wave detectors. We find that with moderate improvements on coolants currently available, optical refrigeration can improve the amplifier gain by a factor of 10 relative to what is possible with radiative cooling. We also show that the technique does not add significant noise to the amplifier. These results indicate that optical refrigeration can play an important role in cooling optomechanical devices.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2022

Exposing Gravitational Waves below the Quantum Shot Noise

The sensitivities of ground-based gravitational-wave (GW) detectors are limited by quantum shot noise at a few hundred Hertz and above. Nonetheless, one can use a quantum-correlation technique proposed by Martynov, et al. [Phys. Rev. A 95, 043831 (2017)] to remove the expectation value of the shot noise, thereby exposing underlying classical signals in the cross spectrum formed by cross-correlating the two outputs in a GW interferometer's anti-symmetric port. We explore here the prospects and analyze the sensitivity of using quantum correlation to detect astrophysical GW signals. Conceptually, this technique is similar to the correlation of two different GW detectors as it utilizes the fact that a GW signal will be correlated in the two outputs but the shot noise will be uncorrelated. Quantum correlation also has its unique advantages as it requires only a single interferometer to make a detection. Therefore, quantum correlation could increase the duty cycle, enhance the search efficiency, and enable the detection of highly polarized signals. In particular, we show that quantum correlation could be especially useful for detecting post-merger remnants of binary neutron stars with both short ($< 1\,{\rm s}$) and intermediate ($\sim 10-10^4\,{\rm s}$) durations and setting upper limits on continuous emissions from unknown pulsars.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2022

Scattering Loss in Precision Metrology due to Mirror Roughness

Optical losses degrade the sensitivity of laser interferometric instruments. They reduce the number of signal photons and introduce technical noise associated with diffuse light. In quantum-enhanced metrology, they break the entanglement between correlated photons. Such decoherence is one of the primary obstacles in achieving high levels of quantum noise reduction in precision metrology. In this work, we compare direct measurements of cavity and mirror losses in the Caltech 40m gravitational-wave detector prototype interferometer with numerical estimates obtained from semi-analytic intra-cavity wavefront simulations using mirror surface profile maps. We show a unified approach to estimating the total loss in optical cavities (such as the LIGO gravitational detectors) that will lead towards the engineering of systems with minimum decoherence for quantum-enhanced precision metrology.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2021

The Science Case for LIGO-India

The global network of gravitational-wave detectors has completed three observing runs with $\sim 50$ detections of merging compact binaries. A third LIGO detector, with comparable astrophysical reach, is to be built in India (LIGO-Aundha) and expected to be operational during the latter part of this decade. Multiple detectors operating at different parts of the globe will provide several pairs of interferometers with longer baselines and an increased network SNR. This will improve the sky localisation of GW events. Multiple detectors simultaneously in operation will also increase the baseline duty factor, thereby, leading to an improvement in the detection rates and, hence, the completeness of surveys. In this paper, we quantify the improvements due to the expansion of the LIGO Global Network (LGN) in the precision with which source properties will be measured. We also present examples of how this expansion will give a boost to tests of fundamental physics.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2021

A Horizon Study for Cosmic Explorer: Science, Observatories, and Community

This Horizon Study describes a next-generation ground-based gravitational-wave observatory: Cosmic Explorer. With ten times the sensitivity of Advanced LIGO, Cosmic Explorer will push gravitational-wave astronomy towards the edge of the observable universe ($z \sim 100$). The goals of this Horizon Study are to describe and evaluate design concepts for Cosmic Explorer; to plan for the United States' leadership in gravitational-wave astronomy; and to envisage the role of Cosmic Explorer in the international effort to build a "Third-Generation" (3G) observatory network that will make discoveries transformative across astronomy, physics, and cosmology.

astro-ph.IM↗
arXiv2021

Gravitational-wave physics with Cosmic Explorer: limits to low-frequency sensitivity

Cosmic Explorer (CE) is a next-generation ground-based gravitational-wave observatory concept, envisioned to begin operation in the 2030s, and expected to be capable of observing binary neutron star and black hole mergers back to the time of the first stars. Cosmic Explorer's sensitive band will extend below 10 Hz, where the design is predominantly limited by geophysical, thermal, and quantum noises. In this work, thermal, seismic, gravity-gradient, quantum, residual gas, scattered-light, and servo-control noises are analyzed in order to motivate facility and vacuum system design requirements, potential test mass suspensions, Newtonian noise reduction strategies, improved inertial sensors, and cryogenic control requirements. Our analysis shows that with improved technologies, Cosmic Explorer can deliver a strain sensitivity better than $10^{-23}/\mathrm{Hz}^{1/2}$ down to 5 Hz. Our work refines and extends previous analysis of the Cosmic Explorer concept and outlines the key research areas needed to make this observatory a reality.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2020

Broadband sensitivity improvement via coherent quantum feedback with PT symmetry

A conventional resonant detector is often subject to a trade-off between bandwidth and peak sensitivity that can be traced back to quantum Cramer-Rao Bound. Anomalous dispersion has been shown to improve it by signal amplification and is thus more robust against decoherence, while it leads to instabilities. We propose a stable quantum amplifier applicable to linear systems operating at the fundamental detection limits, enabled by two-mode non-degenerate parametric amplification. At threshold, one mode of the amplifier forms a PT-symmetric system of original detector mode. Sensitivity improvements are shown for laser-interferometric gravitational-wave detectors and microwave cavity axion detectors.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2020

Astrophysics and cosmology with a decihertz gravitational-wave detector: TianGO

We present the astrophysical science case for a space-based, decihertz gravitational-wave (GW) detector. We particularly highlight an ability to infer a source's sky location, both when combined with a network of ground-based detectors to form a long triangulation baseline, and by itself for the early warning of merger events. Such an accurate location measurement is the key for using GW signals as standard sirens for constraining the Hubble constant. This kind of detector also opens up the possibility to test type Ia supernovae progenitor hypotheses by constraining the merger rates of white dwarf binaries with both super- and sub-Chandrasekhar masses separately. We will discuss other scientific outcomes that can be delivered, including the constraint of structure formation in the early Universe, the search for intermediate-mass black holes, the precise determination of black hole spins, the probe of binary systems' orbital eccentricity evolution, and the detection of tertiary masses around merging binaries.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2020

A Cryogenic Silicon Interferometer for Gravitational-wave Detection

The detection of gravitational waves from compact binary mergers by LIGO has opened the era of gravitational wave astronomy, revealing a previously hidden side of the cosmos. To maximize the reach of the existing LIGO observatory facilities, we have designed a new instrument that will have 5 times the range of Advanced LIGO, or greater than 100 times the event rate. Observations with this new instrument will make possible dramatic steps toward understanding the physics of the nearby universe, as well as observing the universe out to cosmological distances by the detection of binary black hole coalescences. This article presents the instrument design and a quantitative analysis of the anticipated noise floor.

astro-ph.IM↗
arXiv2020

A phase-sensitive optomechanical amplifier for quantum noise reduction in laser interferometers

The sensitivity of future gravitational wave interferometers is expected to be limited through-out the detection band by quantum vacuum fluctuations, which can be reduced by quantum non-demolition methods such as squeezed vacuum injection. However, optical losses in the readout chainseverely limit the effectiveness of such schemes. We propose an optomechanical device to be installedat the output of the detector that mitigates the effect of readout loss, thus allowing the detector tobetter exploit quantum noise evasion schemes.

quant-ph↗