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Xin-Qi Li

Publications and source records attributed to Xin-Qi Li.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Improving precision scaling via backaction-evading continuous measurement in a driven-dissipative Kerr parametric oscillator

Dissipative phase transitions in the driven-dissipative Kerr parametric oscillator offer a promising route for realizing criticality-enhanced quantum sensing based on continuous measurements. However, achieving such enhancement through realistic measurement schemes remains an outstanding challenge. Here, we extend the backaction-evasion strategy introduced in our earlier work for the Gaussian linear case [arXiv:2511.22248 (2025)] to analyze how the quantum and classical Fisher information scale with the Kerr nonlinearity at dissipative critical points. Our results show that backaction-evading homodyne monitoring achieves enhanced photon-number scaling that surpasses the standard quantum limit, and significantly outperforms alternative protocols such as continuous photon counting. As an additional methodological contribution, we also implement and benchmark time-discrete approximation schemes with improved statistical convergence properties. We use these methods to compute the classical Fisher information for continuous homodyne detection, and demonstrate that they provide efficient access to this quantity near dissipative critical points, thereby extending the reach of existing methods.

quant-ph

Criticality-enhanced global frequency sensing with a monitored Kerr parametric oscillator via extended Kalman filter

We analyze a global sensing scenario in which the frequency of a monitored Kerr parametric oscillator is estimated assuming limited prior information. The frequency is estimated in real-time by continuously monitoring the oscillator quadrature through homodyne detection and processing the resulting photocurrent with an extended Kalman filter (EKF). Due to the sensor nonlinearity, individual EKF trajectories do not always converge to the true unknown frequency in the long-time limit. However, we show that the statistical distribution of the frequency estimates does exhibit a sharp peak around the true value in the same limit. Leveraging this key statistical property, we develop a global sensing protocol assisted by adaptive control of the sensor parameters to harness critical enhancement. We present numerical evidence that this criticality-enhanced frequency estimation remains robust under low detection efficiency.

quant-ph

Purified pseudomode model for nonlinear system-bath interactions

The theory of purified pseudomodes [arXiv:2412.04264 (2024)] was recently developed to provide a numerical tool for the analysis of the properties of a quantum system and the environment it couples to via linear system-bath interactions. Here we extend this theory to allow for the description of general nonlinear system-bath interactions. We demonstrate the validity of our method by considering the spontaneous decay of a two-level atom placed inside a single-mode lossy cavity and furthermore, its potential application to nanophotonics by calculating the resonance fluorescence spectrum of a quantum dot in the presence of a phonon environment. Our method provides a useful tool for the study of phonon-assisted emission in quantum dots and holds the the promise for broad applications in fields like quantum biology, nonlinear phononics, and nanophotonics.

quant-ph

Enhancing information retrieval in quantum-optical critical systems via quantum measurement backaction

Continuous monitoring of open quantum-optical systems offers a promising route towards quantum-enhanced estimation precision. In such continuous-measurement-based sensing protocols, the ultimate precision limit is dictated, through the quantum Cramér-Rao bound, by the global quantum Fisher information associated with the joint system-environment state. Reaching this limit with established continuous measurement techniques in quantum optics remains an outstanding challenge. Here we present a sensing protocol tailored for open quantum-optical sensors that exhibit dissipative criticality, enabling them to significantly narrow the gap to the ultimate precision limit. Our protocol leverages a previously unexplored interplay between the quantum criticality and the quantum measurement backaction inherent in continuous general-dyne detection. We identify a performance sweet spot, near which the ultimate precision limit can be efficiently approached. Our protocol establishes a new pathway towards quantum-enhanced precision in open quantum-optical setups and can be extended to other sensor designs featuring similar dissipative criticality.

quant-ph

Postselected amplification and photon recycling applied to optical sensing of magnetic fields

We apply the combined technique of postselected amplification and photon-recycling to an optical setup of magnetic field precision measurement. We propose two recycling schemes and carry out analytic expressions for the amplified signal and measurement sensitivity. The results show significant improvement of performance over conventional measurement. The underlying reason is twofold. On one aspect, introducing the technique of recycling eliminates the shortcoming of data discarding in postselection, thus maintains similar noise level of conventional measurement (without postselection). On the other aspect, performing intentional postselection within the recycling framework, which was originally proposed in the context of gravitational wave detection, can amplify the signal. Thus, the measurement signal-to-noise ratio is enhanced.

quant-ph

Probing nontrivial fusion of Majorana zero modes via near-adiabatic coupling

We propose and simulate a near-adiabatically coupling probing scheme for nontrivial fusion of a pair of Majorara zero modes (MZMs). The scheme can avoid the complexity of oscillating charge occupation in the probing quantum dot, making thus practical measurements more feasible. We also show how to extract the information of nonadiabatic transition and fermion parity violation caused during moving the MZMs together to fuse, from the initial states prepared with definite fermion parity. All the simulations, including the effective coupling between the fusing MZMs, and their coupling to the probing quantum dot, are based on the lattice model of a Rashba quantum wire in proximity contact with an s-wave superconductor, under the modulation of mini-gate voltage control.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Optical phase estimation via homodyne measurement in the presence of saturation effect of photodetectors

For optical phase estimation via homodyne measurement, we generalize the theory from detector's linear to nonlinear response regime, which accounts for the presence of saturation effect. For optical coherent light, we carry out analytic expressions for detector's current and estimate precision. Using specific device parameters, we illustrate the improved estimation after accounting for the saturation effect.

quant-ph

Transport and fusion of Majorana zero modes in the presence of nonadiabatic transitions

We perform simulations for transport and nontrivial fusion of Majorana zero modes in topological superconducting quantum wires. We uncover interesting behaviors of nonadiabatic transition associated with the transport through mini-gate-controlled multiple-segments modulations. Owing to breaking of the initial fermion parity induced by nonadiabatic transitions, a deviation from the statistics of outcomes of nontrivial fusion arises and is analyzed. Moreover, we develop a measurement scheme to infer the amount of fermion parity breaking and nonadiabatic transition probability to excited states, based on the characteristic spectrum of measurement current by a quantum-point-contact detector, by measurement of the charge occupation dynamics in a fusion-outcome-probing quantum dot.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Postselected amplification applied to atomic magnetometers

We propose to embed the atomic magnetometer (AM) into an optical Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI). We analyze the effect of amplification of the Faraday rotation (FR) angle of the probe laser light, by properly postselecting the path-information state of the laser photons when passing through the MZI. In the presence of saturation of photo-detectors and existence of polarization cross talk in the polarizing-beam-splitter performance, the amplified FR angle in the postselected photons makes the scheme be able to outperform the conventional measurement (without postselection), being thus further enhancing the sensitivity of the nowadays state-of-the-art optical AM.

quant-ph

Probing the non-Abelian fusion of a pair of Majorana zero modes

In this work, we perform real time simulations for probing the non-Abelian fusion of a pair of Majorana zero modes (MZMs). The nontrivial fusion outcomes can be either a vacuum, or an unpaired fermion, which reflect the underlying non-Abelian statistics. The two possible outcomes can cause different charge variations in the nearby probing quantum dot (QD), while the charge occupation in the dot is detected by a quantum point contact. In particular, we find that gradual fusion and gradual coupling of the MZMs to the QD (in nearly adiabatic switching-on limit) provide a simpler detection scheme than sudden coupling after fusion to infer the coexistence of two fusion outcomes, by measuring the occupation probability of the QD. For the scheme of sudden coupling (after fusion), we propose and analyze continuous weak measurement for the quantum oscillations of the QD occupancy. From the power spectrum of the measurement currents, one can identify the characteristic frequencies and infer thus the coexistence of the fusion outcomes.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Enhanced super-Heisenberg scaling precision by nonlinear coupling and postselection

In quantum precision metrology, the famous result of Heisenberg limit scaling as $1/N$ (with $N$ the number of probes) can be surpassed by considering nonlinear coupling measurement. In this work, we consider the most practice-relevant quadratic nonlinear coupling and show that the metrological precision can be enhanced from the $1/N^{\frac{3}{2}}$ super-Heisenberg scaling to $1/N^2$, by simply employing a pre- and post-selection (PPS) technique, but not using any expensive quantum resources such as quantum entangled state of probes.

quant-ph

Quality analysis for precision metrology based on joint weak measurements without discarding readout data

We present a theoretical analysis for the metrology quality of joint weak measurements (JWM), in close comparison with the weak-value-amplification (WVA) technique. We point out that the difference probability function employed in the JWM scheme cannot be used to calculate the uncertainty variance and Fisher information (FI). In order to carry out the metrological precision, we reformulate the problem in terms of difference-combined stochastic variables, which makes all calculations well defined. We reveal that, in general, the metrological precision of the JWM scheme cannot reach that indicated by the total FI, despite that all the readouts are collected without discarding. We also analyze the effect of technical noise, showing that the technical noise cannot be removed by the subtracting procedure, which yet can be utilized to outperform the conventional measurement, when considering the imaginary WV measurement.

quant-ph

Dynamics simulation of braiding two Majorana-zero-modes via a quantum dot

In this work we perform real time simulations for the dynamics of braiding a pair of Majorana zero modes (MZMs) through a quantum dot in a minimal setup of pure 1D realization. We reveal the strong nonadiabatic effect when the dot energy level approaches to zero in order to achieve a geometric phase $π/4$ which is required for a full exchange between the MZMs. Rather than the strategies of nonuniformly manipulating the system according to adiabatic condition and shortcuts-to-adiabaticity, we propose and illustrate a more feasible scheme to suppress the nonadiabatic transition, meanwhile which allows for a full exchange between the Majorana modes.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Quantum-coherence-free precision metrology by means of difference-signal amplification

The novel weak-value-amplification (WVA) scheme of precision metrology is deeply rooted in the quantum nature of destructive interference between the pre- and post-selection states. And, an alternative version, termed as joint WVA (JWVA), which employs the difference-signal from the post-selection accepted and rejected results, has been found possible to achieve even better sensitivity (two orders of magnitude higher) under some technical limitations (e.g. misalignment errors). In this work, after erasing the quantum coherence, we analyze the difference-signal amplification (DSA) technique, which serves as a classical counterpart of the JWVA, and show that similar amplification effect can be achieved. We obtain a simple expression for the amplified signal, carry out characterization of precision, and point out the optimal working regime. We also discuss how to implement the post-selection of a classical mixed state. The proposed classical DSA technique holds similar technical advantages of the JWVA and may find interesting applications in practice.

quant-ph

Master equation approach for transport through Majorana zero modes

Based on an exact formulation, we present a master equation approach to transport through Majorana zero modes (MZMs). Within the master equation treatment, the occupation dynamics of the regular fermion associated with the MZMs holds a quite different picture from the BdG S-matrix scattering process, in which the "positive" and "negative" energy states are employed, while the master equation treatment does not involve them at all. Via careful analysis for the structure of the rates and the rate processes governed by the master equation, we reveal the intrinsic connection between both approaches. This connection enables us to better understand the confusing issue of teleportation when the Majorana coupling vanishes. We illustrate the behaviors of transient rates, occupation dynamics and currents. Through the bias voltage dependence, we also show the Markovian condition for the rates, which can extremely simplify the applications in practice. As future perspective, the master equation approach developed in this work can be applied to study important time-dependent phenomena such as photon-assisted tunneling through the MZMs and modulation effect of the Majorana coupling energy.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Fisher information analysis on post-selection involved quantum precision measurements using optical coherent states

The weak-value-amplification (WVA) technique has been extensively considered and debated in the field of quantum precision measurement, largely owing to the reduced Fisher information caused by the low probability of successful post-selection. %% In this work we show that, rather than the Gaussian meter state as typically considered, using the optical coherent state as a meter, the WVA measurement can definitely outperform the conventional measurement not involving the strategy of post-selection. %% We also show that the post-selection procedure involved in the WVA scheme can make a mixture of coherent states work better than a pure coherent state with identical average photon numbers. This is in sharp contrast to the claim proved in the absence of post-selection. The post-selection strategy can also result in the precision of Heisenberg (or even "super-Heisenberg") scaling with the photon numbers, but without using any expensive quantum resources. %% The present work may stimulate further investigations for the potential of the post-selection strategy in quantum precision measurements.

quant-ph

Transport probe of nonadiabatic transition caused by Majorana moving

We propose a transport probe scheme to detect the nonadiabatic transition caused by Majornana moving, which is relevant to the braiding operations in topological quantum computation. The scheme is largely based on a time dependent single-electron-wavefunction approach to quantum transport. Applying the Kitaev model, we simulate the time dependent Andreev-reflection current and examine the feasibility of using the current to infer the nonadiabatic transition. We design a scheme to determine the Landau-Zener tunneling ratio in the context of transport, and compare it with the result obtained from the isolated quantum wire. Desirable agreements are demonstrated for the proposed scheme.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Cross-correlation mediated by Majorana island with finite charging energy

Based on the many-particle-number-state treatment for transport through a pair of Majorana zero modes (MZMs) which are coupled to the leads via two quantum dots, we identify that the reason for zero cross correlation of currents at uncoupling limit between the MZMs is from a degeneracy of the teleportation and the Andreev process channels. We then propose a scheme to eliminate the degeneracy by introducing finite charging energy on the Majorana island which allows for coexistence of the two channels. We find nonzero cross correlation established even in the Majorana uncoupling limit (and also in the small charging energy limit), which demonstrates well the teleportation or nonlocal nature of the MZMs. More specifically, the characteristic structure of coherent peaks in the power spectrum of the cross correlation is analyzed to identify the nonlocal and coherent coupling mechanism between the MZMs and the quantum dots. We also display the behaviors of peak shift with variation of the Majorana coupling energy, which can be realized by modulating parameters such as the magnetic field.

cond-mat.mes-hall