Gradient Scan Gibbs Sampler: an efficient algorithm for high-dimensional Gaussian distributions

This paper deals with Gibbs samplers that include high dimensional conditional Gaussian distributions. It proposes an efficient algorithm that avoids the high dimensional Gaussian sampling and relies on a random excursion along a small set of directions. The algorithm is proved to converge, i.e. the drawn samples are asymptotically distributed according to the target distribution. Our main motivation is in inverse problems related to general linear observation models and their solution in a hierarchical Bayesian framework implemented through sampling algorithms. It finds direct applications in semi-blind/unsupervised methods as well as in some non-Gaussian methods. The paper provides an illustration focused on the unsupervised estimation for super-resolution methods.Comment: 18 page

Estimating hyperparameters and instrument parameters in regularized inversion. Illustration for SPIRE/Herschel map making

We describe regularized methods for image reconstruction and focus on the question of hyperparameter and instrument parameter estimation, i.e. unsupervised and myopic problems. We developed a Bayesian framework that is based on the \post density for all unknown quantities, given the observations. This density is explored by a Markov Chain Monte-Carlo sampling technique based on a Gibbs loop and including a Metropolis-Hastings step. The numerical evaluation relies on the SPIRE instrument of the Herschel observatory. Using simulated and real observations, we show that the hyperparameters and instrument parameters are correctly estimated, which opens up many perspectives for imaging in astrophysics

Tras las rejas: mamíferos en los parques zoológicos y su bienestar

Treball presentat a l'assignatura de Deontologia i Veterinària Legal (21223

Experimental detection of steerability in Bell local states with two measurement settings

Steering, a quantum property stronger than entanglement but weaker than non-locality in the quantum correlation hierarchy, is a key resource for one-sided device-independent quantum key distribution applications, in which only one of the communicating parties is trusted. A fine-grained steering inequality was introduced in [PRA 90 050305(R) (2014)], enabling for the first time the detection of steering in all steerable two-qubit Werner states using only two measurement settings. Here we numerically and experimentally investigate this inequality for generalized Werner states and successfully detect steerability in a wide range of two-photon polarization-entangled Bell local states generated by a parametric down-conversion source.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures (including Appendix

Experimental Detection of Quantum Channels

We demonstrate experimentally the possibility of efficiently detecting properties of quantum channels and quantum gates. The optimal detection scheme is first achieved for non entanglement breaking channels of the depolarizing form and is based on the generation and detection of polarized entangled photons. We then demonstrate channel detection for non separable maps by considering the CNOT gate and employing two-photon hyperentangled states.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figure

Experimental investigation of practical unforgeable quantum money

Wiesner's unforgeable quantum money scheme is widely celebrated as the first quantum information application. Based on the no-cloning property of quantum mechanics, this scheme allows for the creation of credit cards used in authenticated transactions offering security guarantees impossible to achieve by classical means. However, despite its central role in quantum cryptography, its experimental implementation has remained elusive because of the lack of quantum memories and of practical verification techniques. Here, we experimentally implement a quantum money protocol relying on classical verification that rigorously satisfies the security condition for unforgeability. Our system exploits polarization encoding of weak coherent states of light and operates under conditions that ensure compatibility with state-of-the-art quantum memories. We derive working regimes for our system using a security analysis taking into account all practical imperfections. Our results constitute a major step towards a real-world realization of this milestone protocol.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

Experimental generation of entanglement from classical correlations via non-unital local noise

We experimentally show how classical correlations can be turned into quantum entanglement, via the presence of non-unital local noise and the action of a CNOT gate. We first implement a simple two-qubit protocol in which entanglement production is not possible in the absence of local non-unital noise, while entanglement arises with the introduction of noise, and is proportional to the degree of noisiness. We then perform a more elaborate four-qubit experiment, by employing two hyperentangled photons initially carrying only classical correlations. We demonstrate a scheme where the entanglement is generated via local non-unital noise, with the advantage to be robust against local unitaries performed by an adversary.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure