75 research outputs found
Optimal estimation of multiple phases
We study the issue of simultaneous estimation of several phase shifts induced
by commuting operators on a quantum state. We derive the optimal positive
operator-valued measure corresponding to the multiple-phase estimation. In
particular, we discuss the explicit case of the optimal detection of double
phase for a system of identical qutrits and generalise these results to optimal
multiple phase detection for d-dimensional quantum states.Comment: 6 page
The creation of large photon-number path entanglement conditioned on photodetection
Large photon-number path entanglement is an important resource for enhanced
precision measurements and quantum imaging. We present a general constructive
protocol to create any large photon number path-entangled state based on the
conditional detection of single photons. The influence of imperfect detectors
is considered and an asymptotic scaling law is derived.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
Creation of NOON states by double Fock-state/Bose-Einstein condensates
NOON states (states of the form where and
are single particle states) have been used for predicting violations of
hidden-variable theories (Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger violations) and are
valuable in metrology for precision measurements of phase at the Heisenberg
limit. We show theoretically how the use of two Fock state/Bose-Einstein
condensates as sources in a modified Mach Zender interferometer can lead to the
creation of the NOON state in which and refer to arms of the
interferometer and is the total number of particles in the two condensates.
The modification of the interferometer involves making conditional ``side''
measurements of a few particles near the sources. These measurements put the
remaining particles in a superposition of two phase states, which are converted
into NOON states by a beam splitter. The result is equivalent to the quantum
experiment in which a large molecule passes through two slits. The NOON states
are combined in a final beam splitter and show interference. Attempts to detect
through which ``slit'' the condensates passed destroys the interference.Comment: 8 pages 5 figure
Sympathetic Cooling of Trapped Cd+ Isotopes
We sympathetically cool a trapped 112Cd+ ion by directly Doppler-cooling a
114Cd+ ion in the same trap. This is the first demonstration of optically
addressing a single trapped ion being sympathetically cooled by a different
species ion. Notably, the experiment uses a single laser source, and does not
require strong focusing. This paves the way toward reducing decoherence in an
ion trap quantum computer based on Cd+ isotopes.Comment: 4 figure
Entangled Quantum Clocks for Measuring Proper-Time Difference
We report that entangled pairs of quantum clocks (non-degenerate quantum
bits) can be used as a specialized detector for precisely measuring difference
of proper-times that each constituent quantum clock experiences. We describe
why the proposed scheme would be more precise in the measurement of proper-time
difference than a scheme of two-separate-quantum-clocks. We consider
possibilities that the proposed scheme can be used in precision test of the
relativity theory.Comment: no correction, 4 pages, RevTe
Robust entanglement
It is common belief among physicists that entangled states of quantum systems
loose their coherence rather quickly. The reason is that any interaction with
the environment which distinguishes between the entangled sub-systems collapses
the quantum state. Here we investigate entangled states of two trapped Ca
ions and observe robust entanglement lasting for more than 20 seconds
Quantum limits on phase-shift detection using multimode interferometers
Fundamental phase-shift detection properties of optical multimode
interferometers are analyzed. Limits on perfectly distinguishable phase shifts
are derived for general quantum states of a given average energy. In contrast
to earlier work, the limits are found to be independent of the number of
interfering modes. However, the reported bounds are consistent with the
Heisenberg limit. A short discussion on the concept of well-defined relative
phase is also included.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, REVTeX, uses epsf.st
On the application of radio frequency voltages to ion traps via helical resonators
Ions confined using a Paul trap require a stable, high voltage and low noise
radio frequency (RF) potential. We present a guide for the design and
construction of a helical coil resonator for a desired frequency that maximises
the quality factor for a set of experimental constraints. We provide an
in-depth analysis of the system formed from a shielded helical coil and an ion
trap by treating the system as a lumped element model. This allows us to
predict the resonant frequency and quality factor in terms of the physical
parameters of the resonator and the properties of the ion trap. We also compare
theoretical predictions with experimental data for different resonators, and
predict the voltage applied to the ion trap as a function of the Q-factor,
input power and the properties of the resonant circuit
Creation of maximally entangled photon-number states using optical fiber multiports
We theoretically demonstrate a method for producing the maximally
path-entangled state (1/Sqrt[2]) (|N,0> + exp[iN phi] |0,N>) using
intensity-symmetric multiport beamsplitters, single photon inputs, and either
photon-counting postselection or conditional measurement. The use of
postselection enables successful implementation with non-unit efficiency
detectors. We also demonstrate how to make the same state more conveniently by
replacing one of the single photon inputs by a coherent state.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure. REVTeX4. Replaced with published versio
Precision spectroscopy with two correlated atoms
We discuss techniques that allow for long coherence times in laser
spectroscopy experiments with two trapped ions. We show that for this purpose
not only entangled ions prepared in decoherence-free subspaces can be used but
also a pair of ions that are not entangled but subject to the same kind of
phase noise. We apply this technique to a measurement of the electric
quadrupole moment of the 3d D5/2 state of 40Ca+ and to a measurement of the
linewidth of an ultrastable laser exciting a pair of 40Ca+ ions
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