Showing papers on "Coherent states published in 2010"

Efficient quantum memory for light

Abstract: Storing and retrieving a quantum state of light on demand, without corrupting the information it carries, is an important challenge in the field of quantum information processing. Classical measurement and reconstruction strategies for storing light must necessarily destroy quantum information as a consequence of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. There has been significant effort directed towards the development of devices-so-called quantum memories-capable of avoiding this penalty. So far, successful demonstrations of non-classical storage and on-demand recall have used atomic vapours and have been limited to low efficiencies, of less than 17 per cent, using weak quantum states with an average photon number of around one. Here we report a low-noise, highly efficient (up to 69 per cent) quantum memory for light that uses a solid-state medium. The device allows the storage and recall of light more faithfully than is possible using a classical memory, for weak coherent states at the single-photon level through to bright states of up to 500 photons. For input coherent states containing on average 30 photons or fewer, the performance exceeded the no-cloning limit. This guaranteed that more information about the inputs was retrieved from the memory than was left behind or destroyed, a feature that will provide security in communications applications.

High-NOON States by Mixing Quantum and Classical Light

Abstract: Precision measurements can be brought to their ultimate limit by harnessing the principles of quantum mechanics. In optics, multiphoton entangled states, known as NOON states, can be used to obtain high-precision phase measurements, becoming more and more advantageous as the number of photons grows. We generated "high-NOON" states (N = 5) by multiphoton interference of quantum down-converted light with a classical coherent state in an approach that is inherently scalable. Super-resolving phase measurements with up to five entangled photons were produced with a visibility higher than that obtainable using classical light only.

Waveguide QED: Many-body bound-state effects in coherent and Fock-state scattering from a two-level system

Abstract: Strong coupling between a two-level system (TLS) and bosonic modes produces dramatic quantum optics effects. We consider a one-dimensional continuum of bosons coupled to a single localized TLS, a system which may be realized in a variety of plasmonic, photonic, or electronic contexts. We present the exact many-body scattering eigenstate obtained by imposing open boundary conditions. Multiphoton bound states appear in the scattering of two or more photons due to the coupling between the photons and the TLS. Such bound states are shown to have a large effect on scattering of both Fock- and coherent-state wave packets, especially in the intermediate coupling-strength regime. We compare the statistics of the transmitted light with a coherent state having the same mean photon number: as the interaction strength increases, the one-photon probability is suppressed rapidly, and the two- and three-photon probabilities are greatly enhanced due to the many-body bound states. This results in non-Poissonian light.

Quantum-optical state engineering up to the two-photon level

Abstract: Tailoring of arbitrary single-mode states of travelling light up to the two-photon level is proposed and demonstrated. The desired state is remotely prepared in the signal channel of spontaneous parametric down-conversion by means of conditional measurements on the idler channel.

Visualizing and controlling vibrational wave packets of single molecules

Abstract: The active steering of the pathways taken by chemical reactions and the optimization of energy conversion processes provide striking examples of the coherent control of quantum interference through the use of shaped laser pulses. Experimentally, coherence is usually established by synchronizing a subset of molecules in an ensemble with ultra-short laser pulses. But in complex systems where even chemically identical molecules exist with different conformations and in diverse environments, the synchronized subset will have an intrinsic inhomogeneity that limits the degree of coherent control that can be achieved. A natural-and, indeed, the ultimate-solution to overcoming intrinsic inhomogeneities is the investigation of the behaviour of one molecule at a time. The single-molecule approach has provided useful insights into phenomena as diverse as biomolecular interactions, cellular processes and the dynamics of supercooled liquids and conjugated polymers. Coherent state preparation of single molecules has so far been restricted to cryogenic conditions, whereas at room temperature only incoherent vibrational relaxation pathways have been probed. Here we report the observation and manipulation of vibrational wave-packet interference in individual molecules at ambient conditions. We show that adapting the time and phase distribution of the optical excitation field to the dynamics of each molecule results in a high degree of control, and expect that the approach can be extended to achieve single-molecule coherent control in other complex inhomogeneous systems.

Implementation of a Nondeterministic Optical Noiseless Amplifier

Abstract: Quantum mechanics imposes that any amplifier that works independently on the phase of the input signal has to introduce some excess noise. The impossibility of such a noiseless amplifier is rooted in the unitarity and linearity of quantum evolution. A possible way to circumvent this limitation is to interrupt such evolution via a measurement, providing a random outcome able to herald a successful-and noiseless-amplification event. Here we show a successful realization of such an approach; we perform a full characterization of an amplified coherent state using quantum homodyne tomography, and observe a strong heralded amplification, with about a 6 dB gain and a noise level significantly smaller than the minimal allowed for any ordinary phase-independent device.

Response of the strongly driven Jaynes-Cummings oscillator.

Abstract: We analyze the Jaynes-Cummings model of quantum optics, in the strong-dispersive regime. In the bad-cavity limit and on time scales short compared to the atomic coherence time, the dynamics are those of a nonlinear oscillator. A steady-state nonperturbative semiclassical analysis exhibits a finite region of bistability delimited by a pair of critical points, unlike the usual dispersive bistability from a Kerr nonlinearity. This analysis explains our quantum trajectory simulations that show qualitative agreement with recent experiments from the field of circuit quantum electrodynamics.

Transient energy excitation in shortcuts to adiabaticity for the time-dependent harmonic oscillator

Abstract: We study for the time-dependent harmonic oscillator the transient energy excitation in speed-up processes ('shortcuts to adiabaticity') designed to reproduce the initial populations at some predetermined final frequency and time. We provide lower bounds and examples. Implications for the limits imposed to the process times and for the principle of unattainability of the absolute zero, in a single expansion or in quantum refrigerator cycles, are drawn.

All-optical generation of states for “Encoding a qubit in an oscillator”

Abstract: Most quantum computation schemes propose encoding qubits in two-level systems. Others exploit the use of an infinite-dimensional system. In "Encoding a qubit in an oscillator" [Phys. Rev. A 64, 012310 (2001)], Gottesman, Kitaev, and Preskill (GKP) combined these approaches when they proposed a fault-tolerant quantum computation scheme in which a qubit is encoded in the continuous position and momentum degrees of freedom of an oscillator. One advantage of this scheme is that it can be performed by use of relatively simple linear optical devices, squeezing, and homodyne detection. However, we lack a practical method to prepare the initial GKP states. Here we propose the generation of an approximate GKP state by using superpositions of optical coherent states (sometimes called "Schrodinger cat states"), squeezing, linear optical devices, and homodyne detection.

Transitionless quantum drivings for the harmonic oscillator

Abstract: Two methods to change a quantum harmonic oscillator frequency without transitions in a finite time are described and compared. The first method, a transitionless-tracking algorithm, makes use of a generalized harmonic oscillator and a non-local potential. The second method, based on engineering an invariant of motion, only modifies the harmonic frequency in time, keeping the potential local at all times.

Coherent spin-networks

Abstract: In this paper we discuss a proposal of coherent states for loop quantum gravity. These states are labeled by a point in the phase space of general relativity as captured by a spin-network graph. They are defined as the gauge-invariant projection of a product over links of Hall's heat kernels for the cotangent bundle of SU(2). The labels of the state are written in terms of two unit vectors, a spin and an angle for each link of the graph. The heat-kernel time is chosen to be a function of the spin. These labels are the ones used in the spin-foam setting and admit a clear geometric interpretation. Moreover, the set of labels per link can be written as an element of SL(2,C). These states coincide with Thiemann's coherent states with the area operator as complexifier. We study the properties of semiclassicality of these states and show that, for large spins, they reproduce a superposition over spins of spin-networks with nodes labeled by Livine-Speziale coherent intertwiners. Moreover, the weight associated to spins on links turns out to be given by a Gaussian times a phase as originally proposed by Rovelli.

Feasibility of quantum key distribution through dense wavelength division multiplexing network

Abstract: In this paper, we study the feasibility of conducting quantum key distribution (QKD) together with classical communication through the same optical fiber by employing dense-wavelength-division-multiplexing (DWDM) technology at telecom wavelength. The impact of the classical channels to the quantum channel has been investigated for both QKD based on single photon detection and QKD based on homodyne detection. Our studies show that the latter can tolerate a much higher level of contamination from the classical channels than the former. This is because the local oscillator used in the homodyne detector acts as a "mode selector" which can suppress noise photons effectively. We have performed simulations based on both the decoy BB84 QKD protocol and the Gaussian modulated coherent state (GMCS) QKD protocol. While the former cannot tolerate even one classical channel (with a power of 0dBm), the latter can be multiplexed with 38 classical channels (0dBm power each channel) and still has a secure distance around 10km. Preliminary experiment has been conducted based on a 100MHz bandwidth homodyne detector.

Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics

Abstract: Supersymmetric quantum mechanics (SUSY QM) is a powerful tool for generating new potentials with known spectra departing from an initial solvable one. In these lecture notes we will present some general formulae concerning SUSY QM of first second order for one‐dimensional arbitrary systems, we will illustrate the method through the trigonometric Poschl‐Teller potentials. Some intrinsically related subjects, as the algebraic structure inherited by the new Hamiltonians and the corresponding coherent states will be analyzed. The technique will be as well implemented for periodic potentials, for which the corresponding spectrum is composed of allowed bands separated by energy gaps.

Optical Quantum Computation

Abstract: We review the field of Optical Quantum Computation, considering the various implementations that have been proposed and the experimental progress that has been made toward realizing them We examine both linear and nonlinear approaches and both particle and field encodings In particular we discuss the prospects for large scale optical quantum computing in terms of the most promising physical architectures and the technical requirements for realizing them

Demonstration of Coherent-State Discrimination Using a Displacement-Controlled Photon-Number-Resolving Detector

Abstract: We experimentally demonstrate a new measurement scheme for the discrimination of two coherent states. The measurement scheme is based on a displacement operation followed by a photon-number-resolving detector, and we show that it outperforms the standard homodyne detector which we, in addition, prove to be optimal within all Gaussian operations including conditional dynamics. We also show that the non-Gaussian detector is superior to the homodyne detector in a continuous variable quantum key distribution scheme.

Quantum-to-classical transition in cavity quantum electrodynamics.

Abstract: The quantum properties of electromagnetic, mechanical or other harmonic oscillators can be revealed by investigating their strong coherent coupling to a single quantum two level system in an approach known as cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED). At temperatures much lower than the characteristic energy level spacing the observation of vacuum Rabi oscillations or mode splittings with one or a few quanta asserts the quantum nature of the oscillator. Here, we study how the classical response of a cavity QED system emerges from the quantum one when its thermal occupation-or effective temperature-is raised gradually over 5 orders of magnitude. In this way we explore in detail the continuous quantum-to-classical crossover and demonstrate how to extract effective cavity field temperatures from both spectroscopic and time-resolved vacuum Rabi measurements.

Pseudo-bosons, Riesz bases and coherent states

Abstract: In a recent paper, Trifonov suggested a possible explicit model of a PT-symmetric system based on a modification of the canonical commutation relation. Although being rather intriguing, in his treatment many mathematical aspects of the model have just been neglected, making most of the results of that paper purely formal. For this reason we are re-considering the same model and we repeat and extend the same construction paying particular attention to all the subtle mathematical points. From our analysis the crucial role of Riesz bases clearly emerges. We also consider coherent states associated to the model.

Relativistic Scott correction for atoms and molecules

Abstract: We prove the first correction to the leading Thomas-Fermi energy for the ground state energy of atoms and molecules in a model where the kinetic energy of the electrons is treated relativistically. The leading Thomas-Fermi energy, established in [25], as well as the correction given here, are of semiclassical nature. Our result on atoms and molecules is proved from a general semiclassical estimate for relativistic operators with potentials with Coulomb-like singularities. This semiclassical estimate is obtained using the coherent state calculus introduced in [36]. The paper contains a unified treatment of the relativistic as well as the nonrelativistic case. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

QUANTUM GRAVITY ASYMPTOTICS FROM THE SU(2) 15j-SYMBOL

Abstract: The asymptotics of the SU(2) 15j-symbol are obtained using coherent states for the boundary data. The geometry of all nonsuppressed boundary data is given. For some boundary data, the resulting formula is interpreted in terms of the Regge action of the geometry of a 4-simplex in four-dimensional Euclidean space. This asymptotic formula can be used to derive and extend the asymptotics of the spin foam amplitudes for quantum gravity models. The relation of the SU(2) Ooguri model to these quantum gravity models and their continuum Lagrangians is discussed.

Pseudobosons, Riesz bases, and coherent states

Abstract: In a recent paper, Trifonov suggested a possible explicit model of a PT-symmetric system based on a modification of the canonical commutation relation. Although being rather intriguing, in his treatment many mathematical aspects of the model have just been neglected, making most of the results of that paper purely formal. For this reason we are reconsidering the same model and we repeat and extend the same construction paying particular attention to all the subtle mathematical points. From our analysis the crucial role of Riesz bases clearly emerges. We also consider coherent states associated with the model.

Quantum state of the multiverse

Abstract: A third quantization formalism is applied to a simplified multiverse scenario. A well-defined quantum state of the multiverse is obtained which agrees with standard boundary condition proposals. These states are found to be squeezed, and related to accelerating universes: they share similar properties to those obtained previously by Grishchuk and Siderov. We also comment on related works that have criticized the third quantization approach.

Bergman Kernel from Path Integral

Abstract: We rederive the expansion of the Bergman kernel on Kahler manifolds developed by Tian, Yau, Zelditch, Lu and Catlin, using path integral and perturbation theory, and generalize it to supersymmetric quantum mechanics. One physics interpretation of this result is as an expansion of the projector of wave functions on the lowest Landau level, in the special case that the magnetic field is proportional to the Kahler form. This is relevant for the quantum Hall effect in curved space, and for its higher dimensional generalizations. Other applications include the theory of coherent states, the study of balanced metrics, noncommutative field theory, and a conjecture on metrics in black hole backgrounds discussed in [24]. We give a short overview of these various topics. From a conceptual point of view, this expansion is noteworthy as it is a geometric expansion, somewhat similar to the DeWitt-Seeley-Gilkey et al short time expansion for the heat kernel, but in this case describing the long time limit, without depending on supersymmetry.

Non-Gaussianity of quantum states: An experimental test on single-photon-added coherent states

Abstract: Non-Gaussian states and processes are useful resources in quantum information with continuous variables. An experimentally accessible criterion has been proposed to measure the degree of non-Gaussianity of quantum states based on the conditional entropy of the state with a Gaussian reference. Here we adopt such a criterion to characterize an important class of nonclassical states: single-photon-added coherent states. Our studies demonstrate the reliability and sensitivity of this measure and use it to quantify how detrimental is the role of experimental imperfections in our implementation.

Size dependence of strong coupling between nanomagnets and photonic cavities

Abstract: The coherent dynamics of a coupled photonic cavity and a nanomagnet is explored as a function of nanomagnet size. For sufficiently strong coupling eigenstates involving highly entangled photon and spin states are found, which can be combined to create coherent states. As the size of the nanomagnet increases its coupling to the photonic mode also monotonically increases, as well as the number of photon and spin states involved in the system's eigenstates. For small nanomagnets the crystalline anisotropy of the magnet strongly localizes the eigenstates in photon and spin number, quenching the potential for coherent states. For a sufficiently large nanomagnet the macrospin approximation breaks down and different domains of the nanomagnet may couple separately to the photonic mode. Thus the optimal nanomagnet size is just below the threshold for failure of the macrospin approximation.

Coherent control of a single exciton qubit by optoelectronic manipulation

Abstract: Researchers demonstrate coherent control of an exciton qubit in a semiconductor quantum dot through optoelectronic means. Such state manipulation of single quantum systems is essential for the development of quantum information systems.

Super-resolution at the shot-noise limit with coherent states and photon-number-resolving detectors

Abstract: There has been much recent interest in quantum optical interferometry for applications to metrology, subwavelength imaging, and remote sensing such as in quantum laser radar (LADAR). For quantum LADAR, atmospheric absorption rapidly degrades any quantum state of light, so that for high-photon loss the optimal strategy is to transmit coherent states of light, which suffer no worse loss than the Beer law for classical optical attenuation, and which provides sensitivity at the shot-noise limit. We show that coherent light coupled with photon-number-resolving detectors can provide a super-resolution much below the Rayleigh diffraction limit, with sensitivity no worse than shot noise in terms of the detected photon power.

Elementary gates for quantum information with superposed coherent states

Abstract: We propose an alternative way of implementing several elementary quantum gates for qubits in the coherent-state basis. The operations are probabilistic and employ single-photon subtractions as the driving force. Our schemes for single-qubit phase gate and two-qubit controlled phase gate are capable of achieving arbitrarily large phase shifts with currently available resources, which makes them suitable for the near-future tests of quantum-information processing with superposed coherent states.

Coherent state quantum key distribution with multi letter phase-shift keying

Abstract: We present a protocol for quantum key distribution using discrete modulation of coherent states of light. Information is encoded in the variable phase of coherent states which can be chosen from a regular discrete set ranging from binary to continuous modulation similar to phase-shift keying in classical communication. Information is decoded by simultaneous homodyne measurement of both quadratures and requires no active choice of basis. The protocol utilizes either direct or reverse reconciliation both with and without postselection. We analyze the security of the protocol and show how to enhance it by the optimal choice of all variable parameters of the quantum signal.

Classical limit of non-Hermitian quantum dynamics—a generalized canonical structure

Abstract: We investigate the classical limit of non-Hermitian quantum dynamics arising from a coherent state approximation, and show that the resulting classical phase space dynamics can be described by generalized 'canonical' equations of motion, for both conservative and dissipative motion. The dynamical equations combine a symplectic flow associated with the Hermitian part of the Hamiltonian with a metric gradient flow associated with the anti-Hermitian part of the Hamiltonian. We derive this structure of the classical limit of quantum systems in the case of a Euclidean phase space geometry. As an example we show that the classical dynamics of a damped and driven oscillator can be linked to a non-Hermitian quantum system, and investigate the quantum classical correspondence. Furthermore, we present an example of an angular momentum system whose classical phase space is spherical and show that the generalized canonical structure persists for this nontrivial phase space geometry.