Developing new paradigms for quantum measurements

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Optimal estimation of entanglement and discord in two-qubit states

Recently, the fast development of quantum technologies led to the need for tools allowing the characterization of quantum resources. In particular, the ability to estimate non-classical aspects, e.g. entanglement and quantum discord, in two-qubit systems, is relevant to optimise the performance of quantum information processes. Here we present an experiment in which the amount of entanglement and discord are measured exploiting different estimators. Among them, some will prove to be optimal, i.e., able to reach the ultimate precision bound allowed by quantum mechanics. These estimation techniques have been tested with a specific family of states ranging from nearly pure Bell states to completely mixed states. This work represents a significant step in the development of reliable metrological tools for quantum technologies

Emergence of Constructor-based Irreversibility in Quantum Systems: Theory and Experiment

The issue of irreversibility in a universe with time-reversal-symmetric laws is a central problem in physics. % , and, in particular, to statistical mechanics, information theory and quantum thermodynamics. In this letter, we discuss for the first time how irreversibility can emerge within the recently proposed constructor theory framework. Here irreversibility is expressed as the requirement that a task is possible, while its inverse is not. In particular, we demonstrate that this irreversibility is compatible with quantum theory's time reversal symmetric laws, by exploiting a specific model, based on the universal quantum homogeniser, realised experimentally with high-quality single-photon qubits.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Experimental realization of robust weak measurements

Despite being very infuential on both foundations and applications of quantum mechanics, weak values are still somewhat controversial. Although there are some indications that weak values are physical properties of a single quantum system, the common way weak values are presented is statistical: it is commonly believed that for measuring weak values one has to perform many weak measurements over a large ensemble of pre- and postselected particles. Other debates surround the anomalous nature of weak value and even their quantumness. To address these issues, we present some preliminary data showing that anomalous weak values can be measured using just a single detection, i.e. with no statistics. In our experiment, a single click of a detector indicates the weak value as a single photon property, which moreover lies well beyond the range of eigenvelues of the measured operator. Importantly, the uncertainty with which the weak values is measured is smaller than the difference between the weak value and the closet eigenvalue. This is the first experimental realization of robust weak measurements

Anomalous weak values via a single photon detection

open10Is it possible that a measurement of a spin component of a spin-1/2 particle yields the value 100? In 1988 Aharonov, Albert and Vaidman argued that upon pre- and postselection of particular spin states, weakening the coupling of a standard measurement procedure ensures this paradoxical result(1). This theoretical prediction, called weak value, was realised in numerous experiments(2-9), but its meaning remains very controversial(10-19), since its "anomalous" nature, i.e., the possibility to exceed the eigenvalue spectrum, as well as its "quantumness" are debated(20-22). We address these questions by presenting the first experiment measuring anomalous weak values with just a single click, without the need for statistical averaging. The measurement uncertainty is significantly smaller than the gap between the measured weak value and the nearest eigenvalue. Beyond clarifying the meaning of weak values, demonstrating their non-statistical, single-particle nature, this result represents a breakthrough in understanding the foundations of quantum measurement, showing unprecedented measurement capability for further applications of weak values to quantum photonics.openRebufello, E; Piacentini, F; Avella, A; de Souza, MA; Gramegna, M; Dziewior, J; Cohen, E; Vaidman, L; Degiovanni, IP; Genovese, MRebufello, E; Piacentini, F; Avella, A; de Souza, Ma; Gramegna, M; Dziewior, J; Cohen, E; Vaidman, L; Degiovanni, Ip; Genovese,

Determining the Quantum Expectation Value by Measuring a Single Photon

Quantum mechanics, one of the keystones of modern physics, exhibits several peculiar properties, differentiating it from classical mechanics. One of the most intriguing is that variables might not have definite values. A complete quantum description provides only probabilities for obtaining various eigenvalues of a quantum variable. These and corresponding probabilities specify the expectation value of a physical observable, which is known to be a statistical property of an ensemble of quantum systems. In contrast to this paradigm, we demonstrate a unique method allowing to measure the expectation value of a physical variable on a single particle, namely, the polarisation of a single protected photon. This is the first realisation of quantum protective measurements.Comment: Nature Physics, in press (this version corresponds to the one initially submitted to Nature Physics

Una società incredibile

Alcuni politologi stanno avanzando ipotesi sulla possibilità di una nuova Neocybernetic Governance che, affidando la gestione della cosa pubblica alle macchine – intese come quegli insiemi di artefatti che modificano la natura e lo stato dei sistemi –, decreterebbe la morte definitiva della politica. Di fronte a questa profezia bisogna riflettere, e, a questo proposito, i ricercatori del Politecnico di Torino hanno accettato la sfida. Cavalcando i modelli di un futuro prossimo venturo sulle ali delle più sfrenate congetture, senza dimenticare la concretezza dei saperi politecnici, sono sorti modelli e quadri per una società che, dal gioco all’alimentazione, dall’urbanistica alla divinazione, sempre più si trova a convivere con i propri artefatti

Theoretical description and experimental simulation of quantum entanglement near open time-like curves via pseudo-density operators

Closed timelike curves are striking predictions of general relativity allowing for time-travel. They are afflicted by notorious causality issues (e.g. grandfather's paradox). Quantum models where a qubit travels back in time solve these problems, at the cost of violating quantum theory's linearity-leading e.g. to universal quantum cloning. Interestingly, linearity is violated even by open timelike curves (OTCs), where the qubit does not interact with its past copy, but is initially entangled with another qubit. Non-linear dynamics is needed to avoid violating entanglement monogamy. Here we propose an alternative approach to OTCs, allowing for monogamy violations. Specifically, we describe the qubit in the OTC via a pseudo-density operator-a unified descriptor of both temporal and spatial correlations. We also simulate the monogamy violation with polarization-entangled photons, providing a pseudo-density operator quantum tomography. Remarkably, our proposal applies to any space-time correlations violating entanglement monogamy, such as those arising in black holes