Optimal state estimation for cavity optomechanical systems

We demonstrate optimal state estimation for a cavity optomechanical system through Kalman filtering. By taking into account nontrivial experimental noise sources, such as colored laser noise and spurious mechanical modes, we implement a realistic state-space model. This allows us to obtain the conditional system state, i.e., conditioned on previous measurements, with minimal least-square estimation error. We apply this method for estimating the mechanical state, as well as optomechanical correlations both in the weak and strong coupling regime. The application of the Kalman filter is an important next step for achieving real-time optimal (classical and quantum) control of cavity optomechanical systems.Comment: replaced with published version, 5+12 page

Practical Advantages of Almost-Balanced-Weak-Values Metrological Techniques

Precision measurements of ultra-small linear velocities of one of the mirrors in a Michelson interferometer are performed using two different weak-values techniques. We show that the technique of Almost-Balanced Weak Values (ABWV) offers practical advantages over the technique of Weak-Value Amplification (WVA), resulting in larger signal-to-noise ratios and the possibility of longer integration times due to robustness to slow drifts. As an example of the performance of the ABWV protocol we report a velocity sensitivity of 60 fm/s after 40 hours of integration time. The sensitivity of the Doppler shift due to the moving mirror is of 150 nHz

Weak value amplification: a view from quantum estimation theory that highlights what it is and what isn't

Weak value amplification (WVA) is a concept that has been extensively used in a myriad of applications with the aim of rendering measurable tiny changes of a variable of interest. In spite of this, there is still an on-going debate about its true nature and whether is really needed for achieving high sensitivity. Here we aim at solving the puzzle, using some basic concepts from quantum estimation theory, highlighting what the use of the WVA concept can offer and what it can not. While WVA cannot be used to go beyond some fundamental sensitivity limits that arise from considering the full nature of the quantum states, WVA can notwithstanding enhance the sensitivity of real detection schemes that are limited by many other things apart from the quantum nature of the states involved, i.e. technical noise. Importantly, it can do that in a straightforward and easily accessible manner.Comment: 2 pages, 5 figure

Generating the local oscillator "locally" in continuous-variable quantum key distribution based on coherent detection

Continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) protocols based on coherent detection have been studied extensively in both theory and experiment. In all the existing implementations of CV-QKD, both the quantum signal and the local oscillator (LO) are generated from the same laser and propagate through the insecure quantum channel. This arrangement may open security loopholes and also limit the potential applications of CV-QKD. In this paper, we propose and demonstrate a pilot-aided feedforward data recovery scheme which enables reliable coherent detection using a "locally" generated LO. Using two independent commercial laser sources and a spool of 25 km optical fiber, we construct a coherent communication system. The variance of the phase noise introduced by the proposed scheme is measured to be 0.04 (rad^2), which is small enough to enable secure key distribution. This technology also opens the door for other quantum communication protocols, such as the recently proposed measurement-device-independent (MDI) CV-QKD where independent light sources are employed by different users.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figure

Quantum sensing

"Quantum sensing" describes the use of a quantum system, quantum properties or quantum phenomena to perform a measurement of a physical quantity. Historical examples of quantum sensors include magnetometers based on superconducting quantum interference devices and atomic vapors, or atomic clocks. More recently, quantum sensing has become a distinct and rapidly growing branch of research within the area of quantum science and technology, with the most common platforms being spin qubits, trapped ions and flux qubits. The field is expected to provide new opportunities - especially with regard to high sensitivity and precision - in applied physics and other areas of science. In this review, we provide an introduction to the basic principles, methods and concepts of quantum sensing from the viewpoint of the interested experimentalist.Comment: 45 pages, 13 figures. Submitted to Rev. Mod. Phy

Efficient Direct Detection of M-PAM Sequences with Implicit CSI Acquisition for The FSO System

Compared to on-off keying (OOK), M-ary pulse amplitude modulation (M-PAM, M>2) is more spectrally efficient. However, to detect M-PAM signals reliably, the requirement of accurate channel state information is more stringent. Previously, for OOK systems, we have developed a receiver that requires few pilot symbols and can jointly detect the data sequence and estimate the unknown channel gain implicitly. In this paper, using the same approach, we extend our previous work and derive a generalized receiver for M-PAM systems. A Viterbi-type trellis-search algorithm coupled with a selective-store strategy is adopted, resulting in a low implementation complexity and a low memory requirement. Therefore, the receiver is efficient in terms of energy, spectra, implementation complexity and memory. Using theoretical analysis, we show that its error performance approaches that of maximum likelihood detection with perfect knowledge of the channel gain, as the observation window length increases. Also, simulation results are presented to justify the theoretical analysis.Comment: 6 page