Teleportation Criteria: Form and Significance

Our criteria for continuous variable quantum teleportation [T.C.Ralph and P.K.Lam, Phys.Rev.Lett. {\bf 81}, 5668 (1998)] take the form of sums, rather than products, of conjugate quadrature measurements of the signal transfer coefficients and the covariances between the input and output states. We discuss why they have this form. We also discuss the physical significance of the covariance inequality.Comment: 6 pages, to appear in Lecture Notes in Physics; Dan Walls Memorial Volume (Springer 2000

Unitary Solution to a Quantum Gravity Information Paradox

We consider a toy model of the interaction of a qubit with an exotic space-time containing a time-like curve. Consistency seems to require that the global evolution of the qubit be non-unitary. Given that quantum mechanics is globally unitary, this then is an example of a quantum gravity information paradox. However, we show that a careful analysis of the problem in the Heisenberg picture reveals an underlying unitarity, thus resolving the paradox.Comment: 5 page

Quantum communication in the presence of a horizon

Based on homodyne detection, we discuss how the presence of an event horizon affects quantum communication between an inertial partner, Alice, and a uniformly accelerated partner, Rob. We show that there exists a low frequency cutoff for Rob's homodyne detector that maximizes the signal to noise ratio and it approximately corresponds to the Unruh frequency. In addition, the low frequency cutoff which minimizes the conditional variance between Alice's input state and Rob's output state is also approximately equal to the Unruh frequency. Thus the Unruh frequency provides a natural low frequency cutoff in order to optimize quantum communication of both classical and quantum information between Alice and Rob.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Improving entanglement concentration of Gaussian states by local displacements

We investigate entanglement concentration of continuous-variable Gaussian states by local single-photon subtractions combined with local Gaussian operations. We first analyze the local squeezing-enhanced entanglement concentration protocol proposed very recently by Zhang and van Loock [e-print: arXiv:1103.4500 (2011)] and discuss the mechanism by which local squeezing before photon subtraction helps to increase the entanglement of the output state of the protocol. We next show that a similar entanglement improvement can be achieved by using local coherent displacements instead of single-mode squeezing.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, REVTeX4, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Entanglement decoherence in a gravitational well according to the event formalism

The event formalism is a non-linear extension of quantum field theory designed to be compatible with the closed time-like curves that appear in general relativity. Whilst reducing to standard quantum field theory in flat space-time the formalism leads to testably different predictions for entanglement distribution in curved space. In this paper we introduce a more general version of the formalism and use it to analyse the practicality of an experimental test of its predictions in the earth's gravitational well

Quantum Key Distribution without sending a Quantum Signal

Quantum Key Distribution is a quantum communication technique in which random numbers are encoded on quantum systems, usually photons, and sent from one party, Alice, to another, Bob. Using the data sent via the quantum signals, supplemented by classical communication, it is possible for Alice and Bob to share an unconditionally secure secret key. This is not possible if only classical signals are sent. Whilst this last statement is a long standing result from quantum information theory it turns out only to be true in a non-relativistic setting. If relativistic quantum field theory is considered we show it is possible to distribute an unconditionally secure secret key without sending a quantum signal, instead harnessing the intrinsic entanglement between different regions of space time. The protocol is practical in free space given horizon technology and might be testable in principle in the near term using microwave technology