arXiv subjects

Timothy C. Ralph

Publications and source records attributed to Timothy C. Ralph.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Hybrid Heralded Noiseless Amplification with Finite-Cutoff Quantum Scissors

A noiseless linear amplifier (NLA) can probabilistically amplify an optical state without the noise required by deterministic phase-insensitive amplification. We study a hybrid amplifier in which a finite-cutoff quantum-scissor NLA is placed between two single-mode squeezers. Analysis based on an ideal (infinite cutoff) NLA finds a gain enhancement from the squeezing. We explore the physics of this enhancement as the cutoff of the quantum scissors is increased. The low-cutoff sequence shows how this gain enhancement emerges from the truncated Fock space. Cutoff 3 is the lowest order at which the additional even- and odd-photon components can both contribute to gain enhancement, albeit with some skewing of the coefficients which reduces the fidelity. As the cutoff is increased the fidelity improves. However, unlike the ideal transformation, the finite-cutoff device depends on the phase of the coherent amplitude relative to the squeezing axes, with states aligned with the anti-squeezing requiring higher cutoffs to achieve high fidelity. We track behavior to high cutoffs and eventually see the performance predicted in the ideal theory emerge.

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arXiv2026

Observing relativistic trajectories of single photons

While the standard interpretation of quantum mechanics does not assign definite trajectories to particles, the Bohmian interpretation does. Only recently has an operational method for reconciling Bohmian mechanics with relativity been proposed. Here, we experimentally reconstruct relativistic Bohmian trajectories of a single photon in a Michelson-Sagnac interferometer, where counter-propagating probability amplitudes interfere head-on at the speed of light. As predicted by the relativistic Bohmian theory, we observe subluminal and superluminal features of the Bohmian trajectories of the photon traversing through the fringes. Our work provides experimental access to relativistic Bohmian mechanics and enables exploration of its unusual and counterintuitive properties.

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arXiv2026

Co-transmission of classical data and continuous-variable entanglement over a single quantum channel

Displacement-based simultaneous quantum-classical communications (SQCC) protocols, as originally proposed, are generally incompatible with the majority of useful quantum communication schemes, such as entanglement distribution or repeater-based quantum key distribution: direct measurement of the classical signal also measures and destroys the quantum state, leaving point-to-point Gaussian quantum key distribution as the only quantum communication scheme amenable to integration with SQCC. In this work, we apply the classically-modulated quantum communication protocol proposed by Zaunders and Ralph [arXiv:2606.03181v3] to circumvent this issue and demonstrate the distribution of continuous-variable Gaussian entanglement simultaneously with classical information. We characterise the quality of the distributed entangled state and outline how the scheme is suitable for use in repeater-based networks. Lastly, we compute the secret key generation rate of the Gaussian CMQC scheme in the point-to-point case and compare it to the equivalent point-to-point SQCC protocol.

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arXiv2026

Can a quantum circuit detect the Unruh effect?

The Unruh effect predicts that an accelerating observer perceives the Minkowski vacuum as a thermal bath, yet direct detection remains experimentally inaccessible. Its timelike counterpart, arising from the entanglement of massless fields between the future and past light cones, offers a more feasible route but requires a detector whose transition frequency follows a specific conformal-time scaling. We propose and analyze a practical implementation of such a detector using superconducting fluxonium circuits, which naturally provide two quasi-degenerate ground states and a tunable excited state, forming an effective $\Lambda$-system. By modulating the excited-state transition frequency in Minkowski time, the detector accumulates a geometric phase associated with the timelike Unruh effect. Open-system simulations predict $\sim 10\%$ shift in the ground-state population within $530$ ns, representing a three-order-of-magnitude sensitivity enhancement over two-level Unruh-DeWitt detectors. These results establish a realistic quantum-circuit platform for experimentally probing the timelike Unruh effect and, more broadly, for testing fundamental nature of quantum fields using engineered quantum systems.

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arXiv2026

Generalised simultaneous transmission of arbitrary quantum states and classical information

We present a protocol which allows for arbitrary optical quantum states to simultaneously carry and transmit classical data, without sacrificing the integrity of either the quantum or classical information. Our scheme encodes classical information via displacements in the phase space prior to transmission and retrieves each classical symbol via a Gaussian continuous-variable teleportation. The original quantum state is then restored by guessing the the original displacement and performing the appropriate inverse operation. In the limit of sufficiently high classical signal and high squeezing, we show that our scheme is capable of perfectly reconstructing both the input classical signal and the input quantum state without loss of coherence. An example is given in terms of the transmission of a dual-rail Bell state.

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arXiv2026

Loss-Tolerant Quantum Communication via Bosonic-GKP-Parity-Encoding

Quantum repeaters constitute a promising platform for enabling long-distance quantum communication and may ultimately serve as the backbone of a secure quantum internet, a scalable quantum network, or a distributed quantum computer. An efficient approach to encoding qubits within an error correcting code is provided by bosonic codes, in which even a single oscillator mode can function as a sufficiently large physical system. In this work, we initially investigate the bosonic Gottesman Kitaev Preskill (GKP) code as a promising platform for loss correcting quantum repeaters, compatible with room temperature implementation, and analyse how loss and other noise sources propagate through the circuit using Heisenberg evolution. We analyse three quantum repeater protocols in which transmission loss is suppressed at the cost of logical errors, identifying a relay-like teleamplifier as the optimal scheme. This enables long distance quantum communication via densely packed nodes without higher-level encoding, and we evaluate the resulting secure key rates exploiting analog syndrome information. Furthermore, we propose a concatenated Bell-state measurement (CBSM) scheme with a modified parity encoding based on GKP qubits, CV measurement with teleamplifier and a clipping method that corrects transmission loss without introducing logical errors. This significantly enhances the possible secure key distance. We find that GKP based repeaters can achieve performance comparable to approaches relying on photonic qubits, while requiring orders of magnitude fewer qubits. Our parity encoded GKP repeater protocol achieves a substantially higher secret key rate than existing GKP based repeater schemes while maintaining a comparable resource overhead.

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arXiv2026

Time-energy uncertainty relation from subcycle mode vacuum fluctuations of a quantum field

The time-energy uncertainty relation is often invoked as a heuristic explanation for virtual particles in interacting quantum field theories. However, this interpretation breaks down upon closer scrutiny for several reasons, particularly since virtual particles do not have a well-defined temporal extension. Although concrete derivations and interpretations of time-energy uncertainty bounds in quantum mechanics have been established, most famously by Mandelstam and Tamm in 1945, there is no known rigorous connection between these bounds and the concept of virtual particles in quantum field theory. In this work, we use a model in which the vacuum particle content associated with subcycle, spatiotemporally localised modes of a free scalar field can be converted into excitations of a rapidly-switched harmonic-oscillator Unruh-DeWitt detector coupled to the conjugate field. Defining the time uncertainty as the effective duration of the detector-field interaction and identifying the contribution to the energy fluctuations of the detector resulting from the subcycle mode vacuum fluctuations, we show that a time-energy uncertainty relation is satisfied in the deep subcycle regime. Our results provide a concrete operational meaning to the textbook heuristic picture of virtual particles in quantum field theory in terms of the time-energy uncertainty principle.

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arXiv2025

Enhancing Long-distance Continuous-variable Quantum-key-distribution with an Error-correcting Relay

Noiseless linear amplifiers (NLAs) serve as an effective means to enable long-distance continuous-variable (CV) quantum key distribution (QKD), even under realistic conditions with non-unit reconciliation efficiency. Separately, unitary averaging has been suggested to mitigate some stochastic noise, including phase noise in continuous-variable states. In this work, we combine these two protocols to simultaneously compensate for thermal-loss effects and suppress phase noise, thereby enabling long-distance CV QKD that surpasses the repeaterless bound, the fundamental rate-distance limit, for repeaterless quantum communication systems.

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arXiv2025

Utility of noiseless linear amplification and attenuation in single-rail discrete-variable quantum communications

Quantum communication offers many applications, with teleportation and superdense coding being two of the most fundamental. In these protocols, pre-shared entanglement enables either the faithful transfer of quantum states or the transmission of more information than is possible classically. However, channel losses degrade the shared states, reducing teleportation fidelity and the information advantage in superdense coding. Here, we investigate how to mitigate these effects by optimising the measurements applied by the communicating parties. We formulate the problem as an optimisation over general positive operator-valued measurements (POVMs) and compare the results with physically realisable noiseless attenuation (NA) and noiseless linear amplification (NLA) circuits. For teleportation, NLA/NA and optimised POVMs improve the average fidelity by up to 78% while maintaining feasible success probabilities. For superdense coding, they enhance the quantum advantage over the classical channel capacity by more than 100% in some regimes and shift the break-even point, thereby extending the tolerable range of losses. Notably, the optimal POVMs effectively reduce to NA or NLA, showing that simple, experimentally accessible operations already capture the essential performance gains.

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arXiv2025

A unified optical platform for non-Gaussian and fault-tolerant Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill states

Quantum technologies, encompassing communication, computation, and metrology, rely on the generation and control of non-Gaussian states of light. These states enable secure quantum communication, fault-tolerant quantum computation, and precision sensing beyond classical limits, yet their practical realisation remains a major challenge due to reliance on high-photon-number Fock states or strong non-linearities. Here we introduce a unified optical framework that removes this constraint, using only Gaussian inputs, optical parametric amplification, and heralded photon detection. Within a single architecture, we demonstrate the generation of photon-added squeezed states with near unit fidelity, cubic-phase-like states with strong non-linearities and fidelities above 98.5%, and squeezed-cat states exceeding 99% fidelity that can be iteratively bred into GKP grid states surpassing the 9.75 dB fault-tolerance threshold. Operating entirely below 3 dB of input squeezing, the approach provides a scalable, experimentally accessible platform that unites the state resources required for quantum communication, metrology, and computation within one coherent optical framework.

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arXiv2025

Software-enhanced simultaneous quantum-classical communication protocol with Gaussian post-selection

Simultaneous quantum-classical communication (SQCC) protocols offer a practical approach to continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) by encoding quantum and classical signals onto the same optical pulse. However, like most QKD protocols, their performance is limited when experimental parameters, such as modulation variance, are optimised based on stationary channel assumptions. In fluctuating environments, such as free-space links, this can result in sub-optimal key rates and reduced transmission distances. In this work, we introduce Gaussian post-selection into the SQCC framework, enabling a software-based optimisation of the modulation variance after channel estimation. This passive approach enhances key rates in both asymptotic and finite-size regimes without requiring hardware modifications and remains effective even when receiver imperfections are taken into account. We demonstrate that our protocol improves the transmission distance and robustness of SQCC relative to the standard fixed-variance SQCC protocol, and approaches the performance of a fully pre-optimised system across both fibre and free-space channels. In particular, we show that the protocol enables full communication windows under ideal weather conditions and maintains higher duty cycles during adverse weather in satellite-to-ground scenarios. These results highlight the practicality of post-selection based SQCC for real-world quantum communication over both terrestrial fibre networks and satellite-based free-space links.

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arXiv2025

Entanglement distribution via satellite: an evaluation of competing protocols assuming realistic free-space optical channels

A key technical requirement of any future quantum network is the ability to distribute quantum-entangled resources between two spatially separated points at a high rate and high fidelity. Entanglement distribution protocols based on satellite platforms, which transmit and receive quantum resources directly via free-space optical propagation, are therefore excellent candidates for quantum networking, since the geometry and loss characteristics of satellite networks feasibly allow for up to continental-scale ($\sim10^3$ km) over-the-horizon communication without the infrastructure, cost, or losses associated with equivalent fibre-optic networks. In this work, we explore two network topologies commonly associated with quantum networks - entanglement distribution between two satellites in low-Earth orbit mediated by a third satellite and entanglement distribution between two ground stations mediated by a satellite in low-Earth orbit, and two entanglement distribution schemes - one where the central satellite is used as a relay, and the other where the central satellite is used to generate and distribute the entangled resource directly. We compute a bound on the rate of distribution of distillable entanglement achieved by each protocol in each network topology as a function of the network channels for both single-rail discrete- (DV) and continuous-variable (CV) resources and use or non-use of probabilistic noiseless linear quantum amplification (NLA). In the case of atmospheric channels we take into account the turbulent and optical properties of the free-space propagation. We determine that for the triple-satellite network configuration, the optimal strategy is to perform a distributed NLA scheme in either CV or DV, and for the ground-satellite-ground network the optimal strategy is to distribute a DV resource via the central satellite.

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arXiv2025

Gaussian Atemporality: When Gaussian Quantum Correlations Imply Common Cause

Conventionally, covariances do not distinguish between spatial and temporal correlations. The same covariance matrix could equally describe temporal correlations between observations of the same system at two different times or correlations made on two spatially separated systems that arose from some common cause. Here, we demonstrate Gaussian quantum correlations that are `atemporal', such that the covariances governing their quadrature measurements are unphysical without postulating some common cause. We introduce Gaussian atemporality robustness as a measure of atemporality, illustrating its efficient computability and operational meaning as the maximum noise which can be added without removing this uniquely quantum phenomenon. We illustrate that (i) specific spatiotemporal Gaussian correlations possess an intrinsic arrow of time, such that Gaussian atemporality robustness is zero in one temporal direction and not the other and (ii) that it measures quantum correlations beyond entanglement.

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arXiv2025

Stokes Parameters and Dual Classical-Quantum Signaling

Catering to emerging satellite-based free-space optical (FSO) communication networks and exploiting polarization encoding via Stokes operators, we propose a novel simultaneous quantum-classical communications (SQCC) protocol. The protocol enables the coexistence of secure quantum communications and high-throughput classical communications with minimal alterations in both the infrastructure and the energy input. Compared to the conventional SQCC protocol, our new approach provides superior practicality in the real world, eliminates the need for a separate local oscillator, and allows for the simple readout of both quantum and classical information using direct detection. The protocol also minimizes the undesirable interplay between the quantum and the classical parts of communication. We provide a detailed mathematical formulation of the protocol, along with theoretical and numerical analysis of its performance, illustrating a promising path to practical and effective realization of combined classical-quantum communications

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arXiv2025

Noise-reduction of multimode Gaussian Boson Sampling circuits via Unitary Averaging

We improve Gaussian Boson Sampling (GBS) circuits by integrating the unitary averaging (UA) protocol, previously demonstrated to protect unknown Gaussian states from phase errors [Phys. Rev. A 110, 032622]. Our work extends the applicability of UA to mitigate arbitrary interferometric noise, including beam-splitter and phase-shifter imperfections. Through comprehensive numerical analysis, we demonstrate that UA consistently achieves higher fidelity and success probability compared to unprotected circuits, establishing its robustness in noisy conditions. Remarkably, enhancement is maintained across varying numbers of modes with respect to the noise. We further derive a power-law formula predicting performance gains in large-scale systems, including 100-mode and 216-mode configurations. A detailed step-by-step algorithm for implementing the UA protocol is also provided, offering a practical roadmap for advancing near-term quantum technologies.

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arXiv2025

A heralded quantum amplifier of multi-photon states

Large-scale quantum networking systems will inevitably require methods to overcome photon loss. While the no-cloning theorem forbids perfect and deterministic amplification of unknown quantum states, probabilistic heralded amplification schemes offer a viable path forward. Yet, for over a decade, successful multi-photon state amplification has remained out of reach, despite the fundamental importance of such states in achieving quantum advantage in optical applications. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a high-fidelity and post-selection-free amplifier for multi-photon states. We achieve heralded amplification of states with up to two photons in a single optical mode, with over a hundredfold intensity gain, and verify the coherence-preserving operation of our scheme. Our approach is scalable to higher photon numbers and enables noiseless amplification of complex multi-photon quantum states, with applications in large-scale quantum communication systems, distributed quantum metrology, and information processing.

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arXiv2025

Enhanced Simultaneous Quantum-Classical Communications Under Composable Security

Simultaneous quantum-classical communications (SQCC) protocols are a family of continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) protocols which allow for quantum and classical symbols to be integrated concurrently on the same optical pulse and mode. In this work, we present a revised analysis of simultaneous quantum-classical communications in Gaussian-modulated coherent-state CV-QKD protocols. We address security concerns inherently associated with SQCC schemes and provide an updated model of the coupling between the classical and quantum channels. We provide evidence for our model via Monte Carlo simulation. We compute the performance of our revised SQCC protocol in terms of the secret-key generation rate optimised over free parameters and demonstrate improved quantum efficiency for a given classical bit-error rate. Lastly, we extend our analysis into the finite-key regime, where we propose a scheme for composably-secure SQCC under realistic operating conditions and demonstrate that our scheme retains the advantage in quantum performance over previous models.

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arXiv2025

Coherently mitigating boson samplers with stochastic errors

Sampling experiments provide a viable route to show quantum advantages of quantum devices over classical computers in well-defined computational tasks. However, quantum devices such as boson samplers are susceptible to various errors, including stochastic errors due to fabrication imperfections. These cause the implemented unitary operations to deviate randomly from their intended targets, following distributions with finite variance. Whilst full-scale quantum error correction remains challenging in the near term, quantum error mitigation schemes have been devised to estimate expectation values, but it is unclear how these schemes would work for sampling experiments. In this work, we demonstrate that, given access to multiple stochastic unitaries, it is possible to mitigate the effect of these errors in sampling experiments. We adopt the unitary averaging protocol which employs multiple stochastic boson samplers to generate a distribution that approximates the ideal boson sampler distribution as the number of samplers increases. We derive a rigorous upper bound on the trace distance between the output probability distributions induced by invertible vacuum-heralded networks based on the Schur-Weyl duality. This result can be seen concretely as an error mitigation scheme in sampling experiments against stochastic errors. On a broader level, it suggests a path towards understanding error mitigation for sampling experiments and developing analysis tools for photonic circuits incorporating measurements and feed-forward. We further provide other applications of unitary averaging, including its use in implementing the linear combination of unitaries and benchmarking fabrication repeatability in linear optics.

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