Approximate quantum error correction for generalized amplitude damping errors

We present analytic estimates of the performances of various approximate quantum error correction schemes for the generalized amplitude damping (GAD) qubit channel. Specifically, we consider both stabilizer and nonadditive quantum codes. The performance of such error-correcting schemes is quantified by means of the entanglement fidelity as a function of the damping probability and the non-zero environmental temperature. The recovery scheme employed throughout our work applies, in principle, to arbitrary quantum codes and is the analogue of the perfect Knill-Laflamme recovery scheme adapted to the approximate quantum error correction framework for the GAD error model. We also analytically recover and/or clarify some previously known numerical results in the limiting case of vanishing temperature of the environment, the well-known traditional amplitude damping channel. In addition, our study suggests that degenerate stabilizer codes and self-complementary nonadditive codes are especially suitable for the error correction of the GAD noise model. Finally, comparing the properly normalized entanglement fidelities of the best performant stabilizer and nonadditive codes characterized by the same length, we show that nonadditive codes outperform stabilizer codes not only in terms of encoded dimension but also in terms of entanglement fidelity.Comment: 44 pages, 8 figures, improved v

How to decompose arbitrary continuous-variable quantum operations

We present a general, systematic, and efficient method for decomposing any given exponential operator of bosonic mode operators, describing an arbitrary multi-mode Hamiltonian evolution, into a set of universal unitary gates. Although our approach is mainly oriented towards continuous-variable quantum computation, it may be used more generally whenever quantum states are to be transformed deterministically, e.g. in quantum control, discrete-variable quantum computation, or Hamiltonian simulation. We illustrate our scheme by presenting decompositions for various nonlinear Hamiltonians including quartic Kerr interactions. Finally, we conclude with two potential experiments utilizing offline-prepared optical cubic states and homodyne detections, in which quantum information is processed optically or in an atomic memory using quadratic light-atom interactions.Comment: Ver. 3: published version with supplementary materia

Near-unit fidelity entanglement distribution using Gaussian communication

We show how to distribute with percentage success probabilities almost perfectly entangled qubit memory pairs over repeater channel segments of the order of the optical attenuation distance. In addition to some weak, dispersive light-matter interactions, only Gaussian state transmissions and measurements are needed for this scheme, which even beats the coherent-state-benchmark for entanglement distribution based on error-free non-Gaussian measurements. This is achieved through two innovations: first, optical squeezed states are utilized instead of coherent states. Secondly, the amplitudes of the bright signal pulses are reamplified at each repeater station. This latter variation is a strategy reminiscent of classical repeaters and would be impossible in single-photon-based schemes.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

A simple comparative analysis of exact and approximate quantum error correction

We present a comparative analysis of exact and approximate quantum error correction by means of simple unabridged analytical computations. For the sake of clarity, using primitive quantum codes, we study the exact and approximate error correction of the two simplest unital (Pauli errors) and nonunital (non-Pauli errors) noise models, respectively. The similarities and differences between the two scenarios are stressed. In addition, the performances of quantum codes quantified by means of the entanglement fidelity for different recovery schemes are taken into consideration in the approximate case. Finally, the role of self-complementarity in approximate quantum error correction is briefly addressed.Comment: 29 pages, 1 figure, improved v2; accepted for publication in Open Systems and Information Dynamics (2014

Tripartite separability conditions exponentially violated by Gaussian states

Starting with a set of conditions for bipartite separability of arbitrary quantum states in any dimension and expressed in terms of arbitrary operators whose commutator is a $c$-number, we derive a hierarchy of conditions for tripartite separability of continuous-variable three-mode quantum states. These conditions have the form of inequalities for higher-order moments of linear combinations of the mode operators. They enable one to distinguish between all possible kinds of tripartite separability, while the strongest violation of these inequalities is a sufficient condition for genuine tripartite entanglement. We construct Gaussian states for which the violation of our conditions grows exponentially with the order of the moments of the mode operators. By going beyond second moments, our conditions are expected to be useful as well for the detection of tripartite entanglement of non-Gaussian states.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figur