QUROPE Quantum Information Processing and Communication in Europe

We analyze the performance of on-off keying (OOK) and its restricted version pulse position modulation (PPM) over a lossy narrowband optical channel under the constraint of a low average photon number, when direct detection is used at the output. An analytical approximation for the maximum PPM transmission rate is derived, quantifying the effects of photon statistics on the communication efficiency in terms of the g(2) second-order intensity correlation function of the light source. Enhancement attainable through the use of sub-Poissonian light is discussed.

We show that quantification of the performance of quantum-enhanced measurement schemes based on the concept of quantum Fisher information (QFI) yields results that are asymptotically equivalent to those from the rigorous Bayesian approach, provided generic uncorrelated noise is present in the setup.

We analyze the performance of a generalized Kitaev’s phase-estimation algorithm where N phase gates, acting on M qubits prepared in a product state, may be distributed in an arbitrary way. Unlike the standard algorithm, where the mean square error scales as 1/N, the optimal generalizations offer the Heisenberg 1/N2 error scaling and we show that they are in fact very close to the fundamental Bayesian estimation bound.

We analyze the role of entanglement among probes and with external ancillas in quantum metrology. In the absence of noise, it is known that unentangled sequential strategies can achieve the same Heisenberg scaling of entangled strategies and that external ancillas are useless.

We advocate a Bayesian approach to optimal quantum frequency estimation—an important issue for future quantum enhanced atomic clock operation. The approach provides a clear insight into the interplay between decoherence and the extent of prior knowledge in determining the optimal interrogation times and optimal estimation strategies.

We investigate the non-equilibrium dynamics of a driven-dissipative spin ensemble with competing power-law interactions. We demonstrate that dynamical phase transitions as well as bistabilities can emerge for asymptotic van der Waals interactions, but critically rely on the presence of a slower decaying potential-core.

By mapping the strong interaction between Rydberg excitations in ultra-cold atomic ensembles onto single photons via electromagnetically induced transparency it is now possible to realize a nonlinear optical medium which can modify light on the level of individual photons.