Anyonic statistics with continuous variables

We describe a continuous-variable scheme for simulating the Kitaev lattice model and for detecting statistics of abelian anyons. The corresponding quantum optical implementation is solely based upon Gaussian resource states and Gaussian operations, hence allowing for a highly efficient creation, manipulation, and detection of anyons. This approach extends our understanding of the control and application of anyons and it leads to the possibility for experimental proof-of-principle demonstrations of anyonic statistics using continuous-variable systems.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, appear in Phys. Rev.

Unitarily localizable entanglement of Gaussian states

We consider generic $m\times n$-mode bipartitions of continuous variable systems, and study the associated bisymmetric multimode Gaussian states. They are defined as $(m+n)$-mode Gaussian states invariant under local mode permutations on the $m$-mode and $n$-mode subsystems. We prove that such states are equivalent, under local unitary transformations, to the tensor product of a two-mode state and of $m+n-2$ uncorrelated single-mode states. The entanglement between the $m$-mode and the $n$-mode blocks can then be completely concentrated on a single pair of modes by means of local unitary operations alone. This result allows to prove that the PPT (positivity of the partial transpose) condition is necessary and sufficient for the separability of $(m + n)$-mode bisymmetric Gaussian states. We determine exactly their negativity and identify a subset of bisymmetric states whose multimode entanglement of formation can be computed analytically. We consider explicit examples of pure and mixed bisymmetric states and study their entanglement scaling with the number of modes.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure

Experiment towards continuous-variable entanglement swapping: Highly correlated four-partite quantum state

We present a protocol for performing entanglement swapping with intense pulsed beams. In a first step, the generation of amplitude correlations between two systems that have never interacted directly is demonstrated. This is verified in direct detection with electronic modulation of the detected photocurrents. The measured correlations are better than expected from a classical reconstruction scheme. In the entanglement swapping process, a four--partite entangled state is generated. We prove experimentally that the amplitudes of the four optical modes are quantum correlated 3 dB below shot noise, which is due to the potential four--party entanglement.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figures, update of references 9 and 10; minor inconsistency in notation removed; format for units in the figures change

Detecting genuine multipartite continuous-variable entanglement

We derive necessary conditions in terms of the variances of position and momentum linear combinations for all kinds of separability of a multi-party multi-mode continuous-variable state. Their violations can be sufficient for genuine multipartite entanglement, provided the combinations contain both conjugate variables of all modes. Hence a complete state determination, for example by detecting the entire correlation matrix of a Gaussian state, is not needed.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figure

Teleportation of entangled states without Bell-state measurement

In a recent paper [Phys. Rev. A 70, 025803 (2004)] we presented a scheme to teleport an entanglement of zero- and one-photon states from a bimodal cavity to another one, with 100% success probability. Here, inspired on recent results in the literature, we have modified our previous proposal to teleport the same entangled state without using Bell-state measurements. For comparison, the time spent, the fidelity, and the success probability for this teleportation are considered.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, published in Phys. Rev. A 72, 045802 (2005

Full characterization of Gaussian bipartite entangled states by a single homodyne detector

We present the full experimental reconstruction of Gaussian entangled states generated by a type--II optical parametric oscillator (OPO) below threshold. Our scheme provides the entire covariance matrix using a single homodyne detector and allows for the complete characterization of bipartite Gaussian states, including the evaluation of purity, entanglement and nonclassical photon correlations, without a priori assumptions on the state under investigation. Our results show that single homodyne schemes are convenient and robust setups for the full characterization of OPO signals and represent a tool for quantum technology based on continuous variable entanglement.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, slightly longer version of published PR

Role of many-body entanglement in decoherence processes

A pure state decoheres into a mixed state as it entangles with an environment. When an entangled two-mode system is embedded in a thermal environment, however, each mode may not be entangled with its environment by their simple linear interaction. We consider an exactly solvable model to study the dynamics of a total system, which is composed of an entangled two-mode system and a thermal environment, and also an array of infinite beam splitters. It is shown that many-body entanglement of the system and the environment plays a crucial role in the process of disentangling the system.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

Quantum information with continuous variables

Quantum information is a rapidly advancing area of interdisciplinary research. It may lead to real-world applications for communication and computation unavailable without the exploitation of quantum properties such as nonorthogonality or entanglement. We review the progress in quantum information based on continuous quantum variables, with emphasis on quantum optical implementations in terms of the quadrature amplitudes of the electromagnetic field.Comment: accepted for publication in Reviews of Modern Physic

Multipartite entanglement in three-mode Gaussian states of continuous variable systems: Quantification, sharing structure and decoherence

We present a complete analysis of multipartite entanglement of three-mode Gaussian states of continuous variable systems. We derive standard forms which characterize the covariance matrix of pure and mixed three-mode Gaussian states up to local unitary operations, showing that the local entropies of pure Gaussian states are bound to fulfill a relationship which is stricter than the general Araki-Lieb inequality. Quantum correlations will be quantified by a proper convex roof extension of the squared logarithmic negativity (the contangle), satisfying a monogamy relation for multimode Gaussian states, whose proof will be reviewed and elucidated. The residual contangle, emerging from the monogamy inequality, is an entanglement monotone under Gaussian local operations and classical communication and defines a measure of genuine tripartite entanglement. We analytically determine the residual contangle for arbitrary pure three-mode Gaussian states and study the distribution of quantum correlations for such states. This will lead us to show that pure, symmetric states allow for a promiscuous entanglement sharing, having both maximum tripartite residual entanglement and maximum couplewise entanglement between any pair of modes. We thus name these states GHZ/$W$ states of continuous variable systems because they are simultaneous continuous-variable counterparts of both the GHZ and the $W$ states of three qubits. We finally consider the action of decoherence on tripartite entangled Gaussian states, studying the decay of the residual contangle. The GHZ/$W$ states are shown to be maximally robust under both losses and thermal noise.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures. (v2) References updated, published versio