Linear-optical processing cannot increase photon efficiency

We answer the question whether linear-optical processing of the states produced by one or multiple imperfect single-photon sources can improve the single-photon fidelity. This processing can include arbitrary interferometers, coherent states, feedforward, and conditioning on results of detections. We show that without introducing multiphoton components, the single-photon fraction in any of the single-mode states resulting from such processing cannot be made to exceed the efficiency of the best available photon source. If multiphoton components are allowed, the single-photon fidelity cannot be increased beyond 1/2. We propose a natural general definition of the quantum-optical state efficiency, and show that it cannot increase under linear-optical processing.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Semiclassical Analysis of the Supershell Effect in Reflection-Asymmetric Superdeformed Oscillator

An oscillatory pattern in the smoothed quantum spectrum, which is unique for single-particle motions in a reflection-asymmetric superdeformed oscillator potential, is investigated by means of the semiclassical theory of shell structure. Clear correspondence between the oscillating components of the smoothed level density and the classical periodic orbits is found. It is shown that an interference effect between two families of the short periodic orbits, called supershell effect, develops with increasing reflection-asymmetric deformations. Possible origins of this enhancement phenomena as well as quantum signatures of period-multipling bifurcations are discussed in connection with stabilities of the classical periodic orbits.Comment: 27 pages, REVTeX, 12 postscript figures are available from the author upon reques

Efficiency limits for linear optical processing of single photons and single-rail qubits

We analyze the problem of increasing the efficiency of single-photon sources or single-rail photonic qubits via linear optical processing and destructive conditional measurements. In contrast to previous work we allow for the use of coherent states and do not limit to photon-counting measurements. We conjecture that it is not possible to increase the efficiency, prove this conjecture for several important special cases, and provide extensive numerical results for the general case.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Interconvertibility of single-rail optical qubits

We show how to convert between partially coherent superpositions of a single photon with the vacuum using linear optics and postselection based on homodyne measurements. We introduce a generalized quantum efficiency for such states and show that any conversion that decreases this quantity is possible. We also prove that our scheme is optimal by showing that no linear optical scheme with generalized conditional measurements, and with one single-rail qubit input can improve the generalized efficiency.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figure

Efficiencies of Quantum Optical Detectors

We propose a definition for the efficiency that can be universally applied to all classes of quantum optical detectors. This definition is based on the maximum amount of optical loss that a physically plausible device can experience while still replicating the properties of a given detector. We prove that detector efficiency cannot be increased using linear optical processing. That is, given a set of detectors, as well as arbitrary linear optical elements and ancillary light sources, it is impossible to construct detection devices that would exhibit higher efficiencies than the initial set.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Modified Reconstruction of Standard Model in Non-Commutative Differential Geometry

Sogami recently proposed the new idea to express Higgs particle as a kind of gauge particle by prescribing the generalized covariant derivative with gauge and Higgs fields operating on quark and lepton fields. The field strengths for both the gauge and Higgs fields are defined by the commutators of the covariant derivative by which he could obtain the Yang-Mills Higgs Lagrangian in the standard model. Inspired by Sogami's work, we present a modification of our previous scheme to formulate the spontaneously broken gauge theory in non-commutative geometry on the discrete space; Minkowski space multiplied by two points space by introducing the generation mixing matrix in operation of the generalized derivative on the more fundamental fields a_i(x,y) which compose the gauge and Higgs fields. The standard model is reconstructed according to the modified scheme, which does not yields not only any special relations between the particle masses but also the special restriction on the Higgs potential.Comment: 21 page

Phase Space Evolution and Discontinuous Schr\"odinger Waves

The problem of Schr\"odinger propagation of a discontinuous wavefunction -diffraction in time- is studied under a new light. It is shown that the evolution map in phase space induces a set of affine transformations on discontinuous wavepackets, generating expansions similar to those of wavelet analysis. Such transformations are identified as the cause for the infinitesimal details in diffraction patterns. A simple case of an evolution map, such as SL(2) in a two-dimensional phase space, is shown to produce an infinite set of space-time trajectories of constant probability. The trajectories emerge from a breaking point of the initial wave.Comment: Presented at the conference QTS7, Prague 2011. 12 pages, 7 figure

Periodic-Orbit Bifurcation and Shell Structure in Reflection-Asymmetric Deformed Cavity

Shell structure of the single-particle spectrum for reflection-asymmetric deformed cavity is investigated. Remarkable shell structure emerges for certain combinations of quadrupole and octupole deformations. Semiclassical periodic-orbit analysis indicates that bifurcation of equatorial orbits plays an important role in the formation of this new shell structure.Comment: 5 pages, latex including 5 postscript figures, submitted to Physics Letters

Vector Potential and Berry phase-induced Force

We present a general theoretical framework for the exact treatment of a hybrid system that is composed of a quantum subsystem and a classical subsystem. When the quantum subsystem is dynamically fast and the classical subsystem is slow, a vector potential is generated with a simple canonical transformation. This vector potential, on one hand, gives rise to the familiar Berry phase in the fast quantum dynamics; on the other hand, it yields a Lorentz-like force in the slow classical dynamics. In this way, the pure phase (Berry phase) of a wavefunction is linked to a physical force.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

Gravitational wave energy spectrum of a parabolic encounter

We derive an analytic expression for the energy spectrum of gravitational waves from a parabolic Keplerian binary by taking the limit of the Peters and Matthews spectrum for eccentric orbits. This demonstrates that the location of the peak of the energy spectrum depends primarily on the orbital periapse rather than the eccentricity. We compare this weak-field result to strong-field calculations and find it is reasonably accurate (~10%) provided that the azimuthal and radial orbital frequencies do not differ by more than ~10%. For equatorial orbits in the Kerr spacetime, this corresponds to periapse radii of rp > 20M. These results can be used to model radiation bursts from compact objects on highly eccentric orbits about massive black holes in the local Universe, which could be detected by LISA.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. Minor changes to match published version; figure 1 corrected; references adde