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arXiv:0803.0613 · Physical Review A

Channel estimation theory of low-noise multiple parameters: Attainability problem of the Cramér-Rao bounds

Masahiro Hotta, Tokishiro Karasawa

Published Jul 18, 2008• 3 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We consider the achievability problem of the Cram\'er-Rao bound for multiparameter estimations. In general, it is not achievable due to the noncommutativity of optimal measurements for the corresponding parameters. However, we show that, under certain conditions, it can always be attained up to the leading order in the parameters as long as $D\ensuremath{\leqslant}N\ensuremath{-}1$, where $D$ and $N$ denote the number of parameters and the dimension of the system, respectively. After proving that, we discuss the achievability in the context of channel estimation for a general channel called a low-noise channel, which is very useful for investigating parameter estimation in the leading order. This allows us to find an ancilla-assisted enhancement effect: if entangled input states with an ancilla system are utilized for the channel estimation together with collective measurements on those output states, the bound becomes achievable for $D\ensuremath{\leqslant}{N}^{2}\ensuremath{-}1$.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.78.012332

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We consider the achievability problem of the Cram'er-Rao bound for multiparameter estimations. In general, it is not achievable due to the noncommutativity of optimal measurements for the corresponding parameters. However, we show that, under certain conditions, it can always be attained up to the leading order in the parameters as long as D\ensuremath⩽N\ensuremath−1D\ensuremath{\leqslant}N\ensuremath{-}1D\ensuremath⩽N\ensuremath−1, where DDD and NNN denote the number of parameters and the dimension of the system, respectively. After proving that, we discuss the achievability in the context of channel estimation for a general channel called a low-noise channel, which is very useful for investigating parameter estimation in the leading order. This allows us to find an ancilla-assisted enhancement effect: if entangled input states with an ancilla system are utilized for the channel estimation together with collective measurements on those output states, the bound becomes achievable for D\ensuremath⩽N2\ensuremath−1D\ensuremath{\leqslant}{N}^{2}\ensuremath{-}1D\ensuremath⩽N2\ensuremath−1.
In order to make a unified treatment for estimation problems of a very small noise or a very weak signal in a quantum process, we introduce the notion of a low-noise quantum channel with one noise parameter. It is known in several examples that prior entanglement together with nonlocal output measurement improves the performance of the channel estimation. In this paper, we study this ``ancilla-assisted enhancement'' for estimation of the noise parameter in a general low-noise channel. For channels on two level systems we prove that the enhancement factor, the ratio of the Fisher information of the ancilla-assisted estimation to that of the original one, is always upper bounded by 3∕23∕23∕2. Some conditions for the attainability are also given with illustrative examples.
The estimation of more than one parameter in quantum mechanics is a fundamental problem with relevant practical applications. In fact, the ultimate limits in the achievable estimation precision are ultimately linked with the non-commutativity of different observables, a peculiar property of quantum mechanics. We here consider several estimation problems for qubit systems and evaluate the corresponding quantumnessR, a measure that has been recently introduced in order to quantify how incompatible the parameters to be estimated are. In particular, R is an upper bound for the renormalized difference between the (asymptotically achievable) Holevo bound and the SLD Cramér-Rao bound (i.e., the matrix generalization of the single-parameter quantum Cramér-Rao bound). For all the estimation problems considered, we evaluate the quantumness R and, in order to better understand its usefulness in characterizing a multiparameter quantum statistical model, we compare it with the renormalized difference between the Holevo and the SLD-bound. Our results give evidence that R is a useful quantity to characterize multiparameter estimation problems, as for several quantum statistical model, it is equal to the difference between the bounds and, in general, their behavior qualitatively coincide. On the other hand, we also find evidence that, for certain quantum statistical models, the bound is not in tight, and thus R may overestimate the degree of quantum incompatibility between parameters.
Abstract In quantum metrology, it is widely believed that the quantum Cramér–Rao bound is an attainable bound. However, this is not always true. In order to clarify this point, we explain why the quantum Cramér–Rao bound cannot be attained. Here, we investigate noiseless channel estimation under energy constraint for states, using a physically reasonable error function, and present a state achieving the optimal rate as well as the attainable bound. We propose an experimental generation of the optimal states for enhanced metrology using squeezing transformations. This makes phase/unitary estimation physically implementable.
Measurement estimation bounds for local quantum multiparameter estimation, which provide lower bounds on possible measurement uncertainties, have so far been formulated in two ways: by extending the classical Cramér-Rao bound (e.g., the quantum Cramér-Rao bound and the Nagaoka Cramér-Rao bound) and by incorporating the parameter estimation framework with the uncertainty principle, as in the Lu-Wang uncertainty relation. In this work, we present a general framework that allows a direct comparison between these different types of estimation limits. Specifically, we compare the attainability of the Nagaoka Cramér-Rao bound and the Lu-Wang uncertainty relation, using analytical and numerical techniques. We show that these two limits can provide different information about the physically attainable precision. We present an example where both limits provide the same attainable precision and an example where the Lu-Wang uncertainty relation is not attainable even for pure states. We further demonstrate that the unattainability in the latter case arises because the figure of merit underpinning the Lu-Wang uncertainty relation (the difference between the quantum and classical Fisher information matrices) does not necessarily agree with the conventionally used figure of merit (mean-squared error). The results offer insights into the general attainability and applicability of the Lu-Wang uncertainty relation. Furthermore, our proposed framework for comparing bounds of different types may prove useful in other settings. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
Optimal measurements for quantum multiparameter estimation are complicated by the uncertainty principle. Generally, there is a trade-off between the precision with which different parameters can be simultaneously estimated. The task of determining the minimum achievable estimation error is a central task of multiparameter quantum metrology. For estimating parameters encoded in pure quantum states, the ultimate limit is known, but is given by the solution of a non-trivial minimisation problem. We present a new expression for the achievable bound for two-parameter estimation with pure states that is considerably simpler. We also determine the optimal measurements, completing the problem of two-parameter estimation with pure state probes. To demonstrate the utility of our result, we determine the precision limit for estimating displacements using grid states.
One key aspect of quantum metrology, measurement incompatibility, is evident only through the simultaneous estimation of multiple parameters. The symmetric logarithmic derivative Cramér-Rao bound (SLDCRB), gives the attainable precision, if the optimal measurements for estimating each individual parameter commute. When the optimal measurements do not commute, the SLDCRB is not necessarily attainable. In this regard, the Holevo Cramér-Rao bound (HCRB) plays a fundamental role, providing the ultimate attainable precisions when one allows simultaneous measurements on infinitely many copies of a quantum state. For practical purposes, the Nagaoka Cramér-Rao bound (NCRB) is more relevant, applying when restricted to measuring quantum states individually. The interplay between these three bounds dictates how rapidly the ultimate metrological precisions can be approached through collective measurements on finite copies of the probe state. We first consider two parameter estimation and prove that if the HCRB cannot be saturated with a single copy of the probe state, then it cannot be saturated for any finite number of copies of the probe state. With this, we show that it is impossible to saturate the HCRB for several physically motivated problems. For estimating any number of parameters, we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the attainability of the SLDCRB with separable measurements. We further prove that if the SLDCRB cannot be reached with a single copy of the probe state, it cannot be reached with collective measurements on any finite number of copies of the probe state. These results together provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the attainability of the SLDCRB for any finite number of copies of the probe state. This solves a significant generalisation of one of the five problems recently highlighted by [P.Horodecki et al, Phys. Rev. X Quantum 3, 010101 (2022)].