421 research outputs found
Quantum process tomography of a controlled-NOT gate
We demonstrate complete characterization of a two-qubit entangling process -
a linear optics controlled-NOT gate operating with coincident detection - by
quantum process tomography. We use maximum-likelihood estimation to convert the
experimental data into a physical process matrix. The process matrix allows
accurate prediction of the operation of the gate for arbitrary input states,
and calculation of gate performance measures such as the average gate fidelity,
average purity and entangling capability of our gate, which are 0.90, 0.83 and
0.73, respectively.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. v2 contains new data corresponding to improved
gate operation. Figure quality slightly reduced for arXi
Weak measurement of photon polarization by back-action induced path interference
The essential feature of weak measurements on quantum systems is the
reduction of measurement back-action to negligible levels. To observe the
non-classical features of weak measurements, it is therefore more important to
avoid additional back-action errors than it is to avoid errors in the actual
measurement outcome. In this paper, it is shown how an optical weak measurement
of diagonal (PM) polarization can be realized by path interference between the
horizontal (H) and vertical (V) polarization components of the input beam. The
measurement strength can then be controlled by rotating the H and V
polarizations towards each other. This well-controlled operation effectively
generates the back-action without additional decoherence, while the visibility
of the interference between the two beams only limits the measurement
resolution. As the experimental results confirm, we can obtain extremely high
weak values, even at rather low visibilities. Our method therefore provides a
realization of weak measurements that is extremely robust against experimental
imperfections.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure
How to simulate a quantum computer using negative probabilities
The concept of negative probabilities can be used to decompose the
interaction of two qubits mediated by a quantum controlled-NOT into three
operations that require only classical interactions (that is, local operations
and classical communication) between the qubits. For a single gate, the
probabilities of the three operations are 1, 1, and -1. This decomposition can
be applied in a probabilistic simulation of quantum computation by randomly
choosing one of the three operations for each gate and assigning a negative
statistical weight to the outcomes of sequences with an odd number of negative
probability operations. The exponential speed-up of a quantum computer can then
be evaluated in terms of the increase in the number of sequences needed to
simulate a single operation of the quantum circuit.Comment: 11 pages, including one figure and one table. Full paper version for
publication in Journal of Physics A. Clarifications of basic concepts and
discussions of possible implications have been adde
Testing sequential quantum measurements: how can maximal knowledge be extracted?
The extraction of information from a quantum system unavoidably implies a
modification of the measured system itself. It has been demonstrated recently
that partial measurements can be carried out in order to extract only a portion
of the information encoded in a quantum system, at the cost of inducing a
limited amount of disturbance. Here we analyze experimentally the dynamics of
sequential partial measurements carried out on a quantum system, focusing on
the trade-off between the maximal information extractable and the disturbance.
In particular we consider two different regimes of measurement, demonstrating
that, by exploiting an adaptive strategy, an optimal trade-off between the two
quantities can be found, as observed in a single measurement process. Such
experimental result, achieved for two sequential measurements, can be extended
to N measurement processes.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Demonstration of Controllable Temporal Distinguishability in a Three-Photon State
Multi-photon interference is at the heart of the recently proposed linear
optical quantum computing scheme and plays an essential role in many protocols
in quantum information. Indistinguishability is what leads to the effect of
quantum interference. Optical interferometers such as Michaelson interferometer
provide a measure for second-order coherence at one-photon level and
Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer was widely employed to describe two-photon
entanglement and indistinguishability. However, there is not an effective way
for a system of more than two photons. Recently, a new interferometric scheme
was proposed to quantify the degree of multi-photon distinguishability. Here we
report an experiment to implement the scheme for three-photon case. We are able
to generate three photons with different degrees of temporal distinguishability
and demonstrate how to characterize them by the visibility of three-photon
interference. This method of quantitative description of multi-photon
indistinguishability will have practical implications in the implementation of
quantum information protocols
Heralded Noiseless Amplification of a Photon Polarization Qubit
Non-deterministic noiseless amplification of a single mode can circumvent the
unique challenges to amplifying a quantum signal, such as the no-cloning
theorem, and the minimum noise cost for deterministic quantum state
amplification. However, existing devices are not suitable for amplifying the
fundamental optical quantum information carrier, a qubit coherently encoded
across two optical modes. Here, we construct a coherent two-mode amplifier, to
demonstrate the first heralded noiseless linear amplification of a qubit
encoded in the polarization state of a single photon. In doing so, we increase
the transmission fidelity of a realistic qubit channel by up to a factor of
five. Qubit amplifiers promise to extend the range of secure quantum
communication and other quantum information science and technology protocols.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure
Noiseless Linear Amplification and Distillation of Entanglement
The idea of signal amplification is ubiquitous in the control of physical
systems, and the ultimate performance limit of amplifiers is set by quantum
physics. Increasing the amplitude of an unknown quantum optical field, or more
generally any harmonic oscillator state, must introduce noise. This linear
amplification noise prevents the perfect copying of the quantum state, enforces
quantum limits on communications and metrology, and is the physical mechanism
that prevents the increase of entanglement via local operations. It is known
that non-deterministic versions of ideal cloning and local entanglement
increase (distillation) are allowed, suggesting the possibility of
non-deterministic noiseless linear amplification. Here we introduce, and
experimentally demonstrate, such a noiseless linear amplifier for
continuous-variables states of the optical field, and use it to demonstrate
entanglement distillation of field-mode entanglement. This simple but powerful
circuit can form the basis of practical devices for enhancing quantum
technologies. The idea of noiseless amplification unifies approaches to cloning
and distillation, and will find applications in quantum metrology and
communications.Comment: Submitted 10 June 200
Differential effects of α4β7 and GPR15 on homing of effector and regulatory T cells from patients with UC to the inflamed gut in vivo
Objective: Gut homing of lymphocytes via adhesion molecules has recently emerged as new target for therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases. We aimed to analyze the in vivo homing of effector (Teff) and regulatory (Treg) T cells to the inflamed gut via α4β7 and GPR15. Design: We assessed the expression of homing receptors on T cells in peripheral blood and inflamed mucosa. We studied the migration pattern and homing of Teff and Treg cells to the inflamed gut using intravital confocal microscopy and FACS in a humanized mouse model in DSS-treated NSG (NOD.Cg-Prkdcscid-Il2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ) mice. Results: Expression of GPR15 and α4β7 was significantly increased on Treg rather than Teff cells in peripheral blood of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) as compared to Crohn´s disease and controls. In vivo analysis in a humanized mouse model showed augmented gut homing of UC Treg cells as compared to controls. Moreover, suppression of UC (but not control) Teff and Treg cell homing was noted upon treatment with the α4β7 antibody vedolizumab. In contrast, siRNA blockade of GPR15 had only effects on homing of Teff cells but did not affect Treg homing in UC. Clinical vedolizumab treatment was associated with marked expansion of UC Treg cells in peripheral blood. Conclusion: α4β7 rather than GPR15 is crucial for increased colonic homing of UC Treg cells in vivo, while both receptors control UC Teff homing. Vedolizumab treatment impairs homing of UC Treg cells leading to their accumulation in peripheral blood with subsequent suppression of systemic effector T cell expansion
Manipulating a qubit through the backaction of sequential partial measurements and real-time feedback
Quantum measurements not only extract information from a system but also
alter its state. Although the outcome of the measurement is probabilistic, the
backaction imparted on the measured system is accurately described by quantum
theory. Therefore, quantum measurements can be exploited for manipulating
quantum systems without the need for control fields. We demonstrate
measurement-only state manipulation on a nuclear spin qubit in diamond by
adaptive partial measurements. We implement the partial measurement via tunable
correlation with an electron ancilla qubit and subsequent ancilla readout. We
vary the measurement strength to observe controlled wavefunction collapse and
find post-selected quantum weak values. By combining a novel quantum
non-demolition readout on the ancilla with real-time adaption of the
measurement strength we realize steering of the nuclear spin to a target state
by measurements alone. Besides being of fundamental interest, adaptive
measurements can improve metrology applications and are key to
measurement-based quantum computing.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
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