arXiv subjects

Yu-Ao Chen

Publications and source records attributed to Yu-Ao Chen.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2025

Homogeneous fermionic Hubbard gases in a flat-top optical lattice

Fermionic atoms in a large-scale, homogeneous optical lattice provide an ideal quantum simulator for investigating the fermionic Hubbard model, yet achieving this remains challenging. Here, by developing a hybrid potential that integrates a flat-top optical lattice with an optical box trap, we successfully realize the creation of three-dimensional, homogeneous fermionic Hubbard gases across approximately $8\times10^5$ lattice sites. This homogeneous system enables us to capture a well-defined energy band occupation that aligns perfectly with the theoretical calculations for a zero-temperature, ideal fermionic Hubbard model. Furthermore, by employing novel radio-frequency spectroscopy, we precisely measure the doublon fraction $D$ as a function of interaction strength $U$ and temperature $T$, respectively. The crossover from metal to Mott insulator is detected, where $D$ smoothly decreases with increasing $U$. More importantly, we observe a non-monotonic temperature dependence in $D$, revealing the Pomeranchuk effect and the development of extended antiferromagnetic correlations.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2025

Predicting symmetries of quantum dynamics with optimal samples

Identifying symmetries in quantum dynamics, such as identity or time-reversal invariance, is a crucial challenge with profound implications for quantum technologies. We introduce a unified framework combining group representation theory and subgroup hypothesis testing to predict these symmetries with optimal efficiency. By exploiting the inherent symmetry of compact groups and their irreducible representations, we derive an exact characterization of the optimal type-II error (failure probability to detect a symmetry), offering an operational interpretation for the quantum max-relative entropy. In particular, we prove that parallel strategies achieve the same performance as adaptive or indefinite-causal-order protocols, resolving debates about the necessity of complex control sequences. Applications to the singleton group, maximal commutative group, and orthogonal group yield explicit results: for predicting the identity property, Z-symmetry, and T-symmetry of unknown qubit unitaries, with zero type-I error and type-II error bounded by $δ$, we establish the explicit optimal sample complexity which scales as $\mathcal{O}(δ^{-1/3})$ for identity testing and $\mathcal{O}(δ^{-1/2})$ for T/Z-symmetry testing. These findings offer theoretical insights and practical guidelines for efficient unitary property testing and symmetry-driven protocols in quantum information processing.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Protocols and Trade-Offs of Quantum State Purification

Quantum state purification is crucial in quantum communication and computation, aiming to recover a purified state from multiple copies of an unknown noisy state. This work introduces a general state purification framework designed to achieve the highest fidelity with a specified probability and characterize the associated trade-offs. For i.i.d. quantum states under depolarizing noise, our framework can replicate the purification protocol proposed by [Barenco et al., SIAM Journal on Computing, 26(5), 1997] and further provide exact formulas for the purification fidelity and probability with explicit trade-offs. We prove the protocols' optimality for two copies of noisy states with any dimension and confirm its optimality for higher numbers of copies and dimensions through numerical analysis. Our methodological approach paves the way for proving the protocol's optimality in more general scenarios and leads to optimal protocols for other noise models. Furthermore, we present a systematic implementation method via block encoding and parameterized quantum circuits, providing explicit circuits for purifying three-copy and four-copy states under depolarizing noise. Finally, we estimate the sample complexity and generalize the protocol to a recursive form, demonstrating its practicality for quantum computers with limited memory.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Quantum Entanglement Allocation through a Central Hub

Establishing a fully functional quantum internet relies on the efficient allocation of multipartite entangled states, which enables advanced quantum communication protocols, secure multipartite quantum key distribution, and distributed quantum computing. In this work, we propose local operations and classical communication (LOCC) protocols for allocating generalized $N$-qubit W states within a centralized hub architecture, where the central hub node preshares Bell states with each end node. We develop a detailed analysis of the optimality of the resources required for our proposed W-state allocation protocol and the previously proposed GHZ-state protocol. Our results show that these protocols deterministically and exactly distribute states using only $N$ qubits of quantum memory within the central system, with communication costs of $2N - 2$ and $N$ classical bits for the W and GHZ states, respectively. These resource-efficient LOCC protocols are further proven to be optimal within the centralized hub architecture, outperforming conventional teleportation protocols for entanglement distribution in both memory and communication costs. Our results provide a more resource-efficient method for allocating essential multipartite entangled states in quantum networks, paving the way for the realization of a quantum internet with enhanced efficiency.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Amortized Stabilizer Rényi Entropy of Quantum Dynamics

Unraveling the secrets of how much nonstabilizerness a quantum dynamic can generate is crucial for harnessing the power of magic states, the essential resources for achieving quantum advantage and realizing fault-tolerant quantum computation. In this work, we introduce the amortized $α$-stabilizer Rényi entropy, a magic monotone for unitary operations that quantifies the nonstabilizerness generation capability of quantum dynamics. Amortization is key in quantifying the magic of quantum dynamics, as we reveal that nonstabilizerness generation can be enhanced by prior nonstabilizerness in input states when considering the $α$-stabilizer Rényi entropy, while this is not the case for robustness of magic or stabilizer extent. We demonstrate the versatility of the amortized $α$-stabilizer Rényi entropy in investigating the nonstabilizerness resources of quantum dynamics of computational and fundamental interest. In particular, we establish improved lower bounds on the $T$-count of quantum Fourier transforms and the quantum evolutions of one-dimensional Heisenberg Hamiltonians, showcasing the power of this tool in studying quantum advantages and the corresponding cost in fault-tolerant quantum computation.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Reversing Unknown Quantum Processes via Virtual Combs for Channels with Limited Information

The inherent irreversibility of quantum dynamics for open systems poses a significant barrier to the inversion of unknown quantum processes. To tackle this challenge, we propose the framework of virtual combs that exploit the unknown process iteratively with additional classical post-processing to simulate the process inverse. Notably, we demonstrate that an $n$-slot virtual comb can exactly reverse a depolarizing channel with one unknown noise parameter out of $n+1$ potential candidates, and a 1-slot virtual comb can exactly reverse an arbitrary pair of quantum channels. We further explore the approximate inversion of an unknown channel within a given channel set. A worst-case error decay of $\mathcal{O}(n^{-1})$ is unveiled for depolarizing channels within a specified noise region. Moreover, we show that virtual combs can universally reverse unitary operations and investigate the trade-off between the slot number and the sampling overhead.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Physical Implementability for Reversible Magic State Manipulation

Magic states are essential for achieving universal quantum computation. This study introduces a reversible framework for the manipulation of magic states in odd dimensions, delineating a necessary and sufficient condition for the exact transformations between magic states under maps that preserve the trace of states and positivity of discrete Wigner representation. Utilizing the stochastic formalism, we demonstrate that magic mana emerges as the unique measure for such reversible magic state transformations. We propose the concept of physical implementability for characterizing the hardness and cost of maintaining reversibility. Our findings show that, analogous to the entanglement theory, going beyond the positivity constraint enables an exact reversible theory of magic manipulation, thereby hinting at a potential incongruity between the reversibility of quantum resources and the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics. Physical implementability for reversible manipulation provides a new perspective for understanding and quantifying quantum resources, contributing to an operational framework for understanding the cost of reversible quantum resource manipulation.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Super-resolution imaging based on active optical intensity interferometry

Long baseline diffraction-limited optical aperture synthesis technology by interferometry plays an important role in scientific study and practical application. In contrast to amplitude (phase) interferometry, intensity interferometry -- which exploits the quantum nature of light to measure the photon bunching effect in thermal light -- is robust against atmospheric turbulence and optical defects. However, a thermal light source typically has a significant divergence angle and a low average photon number per mode, forestalling the applicability over long ranges. Here, we propose and demonstrate active intensity interferometry for super-resolution imaging over the kilometer range. Our scheme exploits phase-independent multiple laser emitters to produce the thermal illumination and uses an elaborate computational algorithm to reconstruct the image. In outdoor environments, we image two-dimension millimeter-level targets over 1.36 kilometers at a resolution of 14 times the diffraction limit of a single telescope. High-resolution optical imaging and sensing are anticipated by applying long-baseline active intensity interferometry in general branches of physics and metrology.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Observation of the antiferromagnetic phase transition in the fermionic Hubbard model

The fermionic Hubbard model (FHM)[1], despite its simple form, captures essential features of strongly correlated electron physics. Ultracold fermions in optical lattices[2, 3] provide a clean and well-controlled platform for simulating FHM. Doping its antiferromagnetic ground state at half filling, various exotic phases are expected to arise in the FHM simulator, including stripe order[4], pseudogap[5], and d-wave superconductors[6], offering valuable insights into high-temperature superconductivity[7{9]. Although notable progress, such as the observation of antiferromagnetic correlations over short[10] and extended distances[11], has been obtained, the antiferromagnetic phase has yet to be realized due to the significant challenges of achieving low temperatures in a large and uniform quantum simulator. Here, we report the observation of the antiferromagnetic phase transition in a three-dimensional fermionic Hubbard system comprising lithium-6 atoms in a uniform optical lattice with approximately 800,000 sites. When the interaction strength, temperature, and doping concentration are finely tuned to approach their respective critical values, sharp increases in the spin structure factor (SSF) are observed. These observations can be well described by a power-law divergence, with a critical exponent of 1.396 from the Heisenberg universality class[12]. At half filling and with optimal interaction strength, the measured SSF reaches 123(8), signifying the establishment of an antiferromagnetic phase. Our results set the stage for exploring the low-temperature phase diagram of FHM.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2023

Reversible Entanglement Beyond Quantum Operations

We introduce a reversible theory of exact entanglement manipulation by establishing a necessary and sufficient condition for state transfer under trace-preserving transformations that completely preserve the positivity of partial transpose (PPT). Under these free transformations, we show that logarithmic negativity emerges as the pivotal entanglement measure for determining entangled states' transformations, analogous to the role of entropy in the second law of thermodynamics. Previous results have proven that entanglement is irreversible under quantum operations that completely preserve PPT and leave open the question of reversibility for quantum operations that do not generate entanglement asymptotically. However, we find that going beyond the complete positivity constraint imposed by standard quantum mechanics enables a reversible theory of exact entanglement manipulation, which may suggest a potential incompatibility between the reversibility of entanglement and the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Observation and quantification of pseudogap in unitary Fermi gases

The nature of pseudogap lies at the heart of strongly-interacting superconductivity and superfluidity. With known pairing interactions, unitary Fermi gases provide an ideal testbed to verify whether a pseudogap can arise from many-body pairing. Here we report the observation of the long-sought pair-fluctuation-driven pseudogap in homogeneous unitary Fermi gases of lithium-6 atoms, by precisely measuring the spectral function through momentum-resolved microwave spectroscopy without the serious effects of final-state effect. We find a large pseudogap above the superfluid transition. The inverse pair lifetime exhibits a thermally-activated exponential behavior, uncovering the microscopic virtual pair breaking and recombination mechanism. The obtained large, T-independent single-particle scattering rate is comparable with that set by the Planckian limit. Our findings quantitatively characterize the pseudogap in strongly-interacting Fermi gases, highlighting the role of preformed pairing as a precursor to superfluidity.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2023

Terrestrial Very-Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry: Workshop Summary

This document presents a summary of the 2023 Terrestrial Very-Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry Workshop hosted by CERN. The workshop brought together experts from around the world to discuss the exciting developments in large-scale atom interferometer (AI) prototypes and their potential for detecting ultralight dark matter and gravitational waves. The primary objective of the workshop was to lay the groundwork for an international TVLBAI proto-collaboration. This collaboration aims to unite researchers from different institutions to strategize and secure funding for terrestrial large-scale AI projects. The ultimate goal is to create a roadmap detailing the design and technology choices for one or more km-scale detectors, which will be operational in the mid-2030s. The key sections of this report present the physics case and technical challenges, together with a comprehensive overview of the discussions at the workshop together with the main conclusions.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2023

Experimental mode-pairing measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution without global phase-locking

In the past two decades, quantum key distribution networks based on telecom fibers have been implemented on metropolitan and intercity scales. One of the bottlenecks lies in the exponential decay of the key rate with respect to the transmission distance. Recently proposed schemes mainly focus on achieving longer distances by creating a long-arm single-photon interferometer over two communication parties. Despite their advantageous performance over long communication distances, the requirement of phase-locking between two independent lasers is technically challenging. By adopting the recently-proposed mode-pairing idea, we realize high-performance quantum key distribution without global phase-locking. Using two independent off-the-shelf lasers, we show a quadratic key-rate improvement over the conventional measurement-device-independent schemes in the regime of metropolitan and intercity distances. For longer distances, we also boost the key rate performance by three orders of magnitude via 304 km commercial fiber and 407 km ultra-low-loss fiber. We expect this ready-to-implement high-performance scheme to be widely used in future intercity quantum communication networks.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Portable ground stations for space-to-ground quantum key distribution

Quantum key distribution (QKD) uses the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics to share unconditionally secure keys between distant users. Previous works based on the quantum science satellite "Micius" have initially demonstrated the feasibility of a global QKD network. However, the practical applications of space-based QKD still face many technical problems, such as the huge size and weight of ground stations required to receive quantum signals. Here, we report space-to-ground QKD demonstrations based on portable receiving ground stations. The weight of the portable ground station is less than 100 kg, the space required is less than 1 m$^{3}$ and the installation time requires no more than 12 hours, all of the weight, required space and deployment time are about two orders of magnitude lower than those for the previous systems. Moreover, the equipment is easy to handle and can be placed on the roof of buildings in a metropolis. Secure keys have been successfully generated from the "Micius" satellite to these portable ground stations at six different places in China, and an average final secure key length is around 50 kb can be obtained during one passage. Our results pave the way for, and greatly accelerate the practical application of, space-based QKD.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Loss-tolerant all-photonic quantum repeater with generalized Shor code

The all-photonic quantum repeater (APQR) is a promising repeater scheme to realize long-distance quantum communication. For a practical APQR, an indispensable requirement is the robustness of the repeater graph state (RGS) against photon loss. We propose a new loss-tolerant scheme by applying the generalized Shor code to RGS, which can be experimentally demonstrated with current technology. Experimentally, we first prepare and verify the nine-qubit Shor code. Then, by applying the generalized Shor code to APQR and preparing a simplified encoded RGS with the structure of $1\times2$ based on the Shor code state, the effectiveness of our loss-tolerant scheme and the loss tolerance of the encoded RGS are respectively verified. Our results make an essential step toward a practical APQR and enrich the research of quantum error correction code.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Cold Atoms in Space: Community Workshop Summary and Proposed Road-Map

We summarize the discussions at a virtual Community Workshop on Cold Atoms in Space concerning the status of cold atom technologies, the prospective scientific and societal opportunities offered by their deployment in space, and the developments needed before cold atoms could be operated in space. The cold atom technologies discussed include atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters and accelerometers, and atom interferometers. Prospective applications include metrology, geodesy and measurement of terrestrial mass change due to, e.g., climate change, and fundamental science experiments such as tests of the equivalence principle, searches for dark matter, measurements of gravitational waves and tests of quantum mechanics. We review the current status of cold atom technologies and outline the requirements for their space qualification, including the development paths and the corresponding technical milestones, and identifying possible pathfinder missions to pave the way for missions to exploit the full potential of cold atoms in space. Finally, we present a first draft of a possible road-map for achieving these goals, that we propose for discussion by the interested cold atom, Earth Observation, fundamental physics and other prospective scientific user communities, together with ESA and national space and research funding agencies.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2021

Observation of the density dependence of the closed-channel fraction of a $^6$Li superfluid

Atomic Fermi gases provide an ideal platform for studying the pairing and superfluid physics, using a Feshbach resonance between closed channel molecular states and open channel scattering states. Of particular interest is the strongly interacting regime. We show that the closed-channel fraction $Z_{cc}$ provides an effective probe for the important many-body interacting effects, especially through its density dependence, which is absent from two-body theoretical predictions. Here we measure $Z_{cc}$ as a function of interaction strength and the Fermi temperature $T_\text{F}$ in a trapped $^6$Li superfluid throughout the entire BCS--BEC crossover, in quantitative agreement with theory when important thermal contributions outside the superfluid core are taken into account. Away from the deep BEC regime, the fraction $Z_{cc}$ is sensitive to $T_\text{F}$. In particular, our data show $Z_{cc} \propto T_\text{F}^α$ with $α=1/2$ at unitarity, in quantitative agreement with calculations of a two-channel pairing fluctuation theory, and $α$ increases rapidly into the BCS regime, reflecting many-body interaction effects as predicted.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2021

Dynamic formation of quasicondensate and spontaneous vortices in a strongly interacting Fermi gas

We report an experimental study of quench dynamics across the superfluid transition temperature $T_c$ in a strongly interacting Fermi gas by ramping down the trapping potential. The nonzero quasi-condensate number $N_0$ at temperature significantly above $T_c$ in the unitary and the BEC regimes reveals the pseudogap physics. Below $T_c$, a rapid growth of $N_0$ is accompanied by spontaneous generation of tens of vortices. We observe a power law scaling of the vortex density versus the quasi-condensate formation time, consistent with the Kibble-Zurek theory. Our work provides an example of studying emerged many-body physics by quench dynamics and paves the way for studying the quantum turbulence in a strongly interacting Fermi gas.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗