arXiv subjects

T. C. Ralph

Publications and source records attributed to T. C. Ralph.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Protecting Classical-Quantum Signals in Free Space Optical Channels

Due to turbulence and tracking errors, free-space optical channels involving mobile transceivers are characterized by a signal's partial loss or complete erasure. This work presents an error correction protocol capable of protecting a signal passing through such channels by encoding it with an ancillary entangled bipartite state. Beyond its ability to offer protection under realistic channel conditions, novel to our protocol is its ability to encompass both classical and quantum information on the encoded signal. We show how, relative to non-encoded direct transmission, the protocol can improve the fidelity of transmitted coherent states over a wide range of losses and erasure probabilities. In addition, the use of ancillary non-Gaussian entangled bipartite states in the signal encoding is considered, showing how this can increase performance. Finally, we briefly discuss the application of our protocol to the transmission of more complex input states, such as multi-mode entangled states.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Pump Depletion in Parametric Amplification

We derive analytic solutions for Heisenberg evolution under the trilinear parametric Hamiltonian which are correct to second order in the interaction strength but are valid for all pump amplitudes. The solutions allow pump depletion effects to be incorporated in the description of parametric amplification in experimentally relevant scenarios and the resulting new phenomena to be rigorously described.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Reconstruction of photon number conditioned states using phase randomized homodyne measurements

We experimentally demonstrate the reconstruction of a photon number conditioned state without using a photon number discriminating detector. By using only phase randomized homodyne measurements, we reconstruct up to the three photon subtracted squeezed vacuum state. The reconstructed Wigner functions of these states show regions of pronounced negativity, signifying the non-classical nature of the reconstructed states. The techniques presented allow for complete characterization of the role of a conditional measurement on an ensemble of states, and might prove useful in systems where photon counting still proves technically challenging.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Spinning up a Time Machine

We present a global metric describing closed timelike curves embedded in Minkowski spacetime. Physically, the metric represents an Alcubierre warp drive on a rotating platform. The physical realizability of such a metric is uncertain due to the exotic matter required to produce it. Never-the-less we suggest that this metric will have applications in more rigorously studying the behavior of quantum fields interacting with closed timelike curves.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Estimation of gravitational acceleration with quantum optical interferometers

The precise estimation of the gravitational acceleration is important for various disciplines. We consider making such an estimation using quantum optics. A Mach-Zehnder interferometer in an "optical fountain" type arrangement is considered and used to define a standard quantum limit for estimating the gravitational acceleration. We use an approach based on quantum field theory on a curved, Schwarzschild metric background to calculate the coupling between the gravitational field and the optical signal. The analysis is extended to include the injection of a squeezed vacuum to the Mach-Zehnder arrangement and also to consider an active, two-mode SU(1,1) interferometer in a similar arrangement. When detection loss is larger than $8\%$, the SU(1,1) interferometer shows an advantage over the MZ interferometer with single-mode squeezing input. The proposed system is based on current technology and could be used to examine the intersection of quantum theory and general relativity as well as for possible applications.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

Exact Boson Sampling using Gaussian continuous variable measurements

BosonSampling is a quantum mechanical task involving Fock basis state preparation and detection and evolution using only linear interactions. A classical algorithm for producing samples from this quantum task cannot be efficient unless the polynomial hierarchy of complexity classes collapses, a situation believe to be highly implausible. We present method for constructing a device which uses Fock state preparations, linear interactions and Gaussian continuous-variable measurements for which one can show exact sampling would be hard for a classical algorithm in the same way as Boson Sampling. The detection events used from this arrangement does not allow a similar conclusion for the classical hardness of approximate sampling to be drawn. We discuss the details of this result outlining some specific properties that approximate sampling hardness requires.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

On the problem of non-zero word error rates for fixed-rate error correction codes in continuous variable quantum key distribution

The maximum operational range of continuous variable quantum key distribution protocols has shown to be improved by employing high-efficiency forward error correction codes. Typically, the secret key rate model for such protocols is modified to account for the non-zero word error rate of such codes. In this paper, we demonstrate that this model is incorrect: Firstly, we show by example that fixed-rate error correction codes, as currently defined, can exhibit efficiencies greater than unity. Secondly, we show that using this secret key model combined with greater than unity efficiency codes, implies that it is possible to achieve a positive secret key over an entanglement breaking channel - an impossible scenario. We then consider the secret key model from a post-selection perspective, and examine the implications for key rate if we constrain the forward error correction codes to operate at low word error rates.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

Quantum Sampling Problems, BosonSampling and Quantum Supremacy

There is a large body of evidence for the potential of greater computational power using information carriers that are quantum mechanical over those governed by the laws of classical mechanics. But the question of the exact nature of the power contributed by quantum mechanics remains only partially answered. Furthermore, there exists doubt over the practicality of achieving a large enough quantum computation that definitively demonstrates quantum supremacy. Recently the study of computational problems that produce samples from probability distributions has added to both our understanding of the power of quantum algorithms and lowered the requirements for demonstration of fast quantum algorithms. The proposed quantum sampling problems do not require a quantum computer capable of universal operations and also permit physically realistic errors in their operation. This is an encouraging step towards an experimental demonstration of quantum algorithmic supremacy. In this paper, we will review sampling problems and the arguments that have been used to deduce when sampling problems are hard for classical computers to simulate. Two classes of quantum sampling problems that demonstrate the supremacy of quantum algorithms are BosonSampling and IQP Sampling. We will present the details of these classes and recent experimental progress towards demonstrating quantum supremacy in BosonSampling.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2016

Models of reduced-noise, probabilistic linear amplifiers

We construct an amplifier that interpolates between a nondeterministic, immaculate linear amplifier and a deterministic, ideal linear amplifier and beyond to nonideal linear amplifiers. The construction involves cascading an immaculate linear amplifier that has amplitude gain $g_1$ with a (possibly) nonideal linear amplifier that has gain $g_2$. With respect to normally ordered moments, the device has output noise $μ^2(G^2-1)$ where $G=g_1 g_2$ is the overall amplitude gain and $μ^2$ is a noise parameter. When $μ^2\ge1$, our devices realize ideal ($μ^2=1$) and nonideal ($μ^2>1$) linear amplifiers. When $0\leμ^2<1$, these devices work effectively only over a restricted region of phase space and with some subunity success probability $p_{\checkmark}$. We investigate the performance of our $μ^2$-amplifiers in terms of a gain-corrected probability-fidelity product and the ratio of input to output signal-to-noise ratios corrected for success probability.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2016

Spacetime diamonds

We show that the particle-number distribution of diamond modes, modes that are localized in a finite space-time region, are thermal for the Minkowski vacuum state of a massless scalar field, an analogue to the Unruh effect. The temperature of the diamond is inversely proportional to its size. An inertial observer can detect this thermal radiation by coupling to the diamond modes using an appropriate energy-scaled detector. We further investigate the correlations between various diamonds and find that entanglement between adjacent diamonds dominates.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2015

Quantum communication in the presence of a horizon

Based on homodyne detection, we discuss how the presence of an event horizon affects quantum communication between an inertial partner, Alice, and a uniformly accelerated partner, Rob. We show that there exists a low frequency cutoff for Rob's homodyne detector that maximizes the signal to noise ratio and it approximately corresponds to the Unruh frequency. In addition, the low frequency cutoff which minimizes the conditional variance between Alice's input state and Rob's output state is also approximately equal to the Unruh frequency. Thus the Unruh frequency provides a natural low frequency cutoff in order to optimize quantum communication of both classical and quantum information between Alice and Rob.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2015

Photon Sorting, Efficient Bell Measurements and a Deterministic CZ Gate using a Passive Two-level Nonlinearity

Although the strengths of optical non-linearities available experimentally have been rapidly increasing in recent years, significant challenges remain to using such non-linearities to produce useful quantum devices such as efficient optical Bell state analysers or universal quantum optical gates. Here we describe a new approach that avoids the current limitations by combining strong non-linearities with active Gaussian operations in efficient protocols for Bell state analysers and Controlled-Sign gates.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2014

Theoretical Analysis of an Ideal Noiseless Linear Amplifier for Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Entanglement Distillation

We study the operational regime of a noiseless linear amplifier based on quantum scissors that can nondeterministically amplify the one photon component of a quantum state with weak excitation. It has been shown that an arbitrarily large quantum state can be amplified by first splitting it into weak excitation states using a network of beamsplitters. The output states of the network can then be coherently recombined. In this paper, we analyse the performance of such a device for distilling entanglement after transmission through a lossy quantum channel, and look at two measures to determine the efficacy of the noiseless linear amplifier. The measures used are the amount of entanglement achievable and the final purity of the output amplified entangled state. We study the performances of both a single and a two-element noiseless linear amplifier for amplifying weakly excited states. Practically, we show that it may be advantageous to work with a limited number of stages.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2014

Quantum Key Distribution without sending a Quantum Signal

Quantum Key Distribution is a quantum communication technique in which random numbers are encoded on quantum systems, usually photons, and sent from one party, Alice, to another, Bob. Using the data sent via the quantum signals, supplemented by classical communication, it is possible for Alice and Bob to share an unconditionally secure secret key. This is not possible if only classical signals are sent. Whilst this last statement is a long standing result from quantum information theory it turns out only to be true in a non-relativistic setting. If relativistic quantum field theory is considered we show it is possible to distribute an unconditionally secure secret key without sending a quantum signal, instead harnessing the intrinsic entanglement between different regions of space time. The protocol is practical in free space given horizon technology and might be testable in principle in the near term using microwave technology.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2014

Configurable unitary transformations and linear logic gates using quantum memories

We show that a set of optical memories can act as a configurable linear optical network operating on frequency-multiplexed optical states. Our protocol is applicable to any quantum memories that employ off-resonant Raman transitions to store optical information in atomic spins. In addition to the configurability, the protocol also offers favourable scaling with an increasing number of modes where N memories can be configured to implement an arbitrary N-mode unitary operations during storage and readout. We demonstrate the versatility of this protocol by showing an example where cascaded memories are used to implement a conditional CZ gate.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2014

Entanglement decoherence in a gravitational well according to the event formalism

The event formalism is a non-linear extension of quantum field theory designed to be compatible with the closed time-like curves that appear in general relativity. Whilst reducing to standard quantum field theory in flat space-time the formalism leads to testably different predictions for entanglement distribution in curved space. In this paper we introduce a more general version of the formalism and use it to analyse the practicality of an experimental test of its predictions in the earth's gravitational well.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2014

Experimental Verification of Quantum Discord in Continuous-Variable States

We introduce a simple and efficient technique to verify quantum discord in unknown Gaussian states and a certain class of non-Gaussian states. We show that any separation in the peaks of the marginal distributions of one subsystem conditioned on two different outcomes of homodyne measurements performed on the other subsystem indicates correlation between the corresponding quadratures, and hence nonzero discord. We also apply this method to non-Gaussian states that are prepared by overlapping a statistical mixture of coherent and vacuum states on a beam splitter. We experimentally demonstrate this technique by verifying nonzero quantum discord in a bipartite Gaussian and certain class of non-Gaussian states.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2013

Boson Sampling from Gaussian States

We pose a generalized Boson Sampling problem. Strong evidence exists that such a problem becomes intractable on a classical computer as a function of the number of Bosons. We describe a quantum optical processor that can solve this problem efficiently based on Gaussian input states, a linear optical network and non-adaptive photon counting measurements. All the elements required to build such a processor currently exist. The demonstration of such a device would provide the first empirical evidence that quantum computers can indeed outperform classical computers and could lead to applications.

quant-ph↗