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arXiv:1307.3876 · Physica Scripta

A detailed description of the experimental realization of a quantum illumination protocol

E. D. Lopaeva, Ivano Ruo Berchera, Stefano Olivares, G. Brida, Ivo Pietro Degiovanni, Marco Genovese

Published Apr 1, 2014• 31 citations
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Abstract

In this paper we propose and realise a practical quantum enhanced sensing protocol aimed at the detection of a partially reflecting object in a lossy and noisy environment. Our scheme is inspired by the theoretical quantum illumination protocol elaborated by Lloyd (2008 Science 321 , 1463) and Tan et al (2008 Phys. Rev. Lett. 101 , 253601). We demonstrate that when only photon counting is allowed our quantum protocol performs astonishingly better than the best classical counterpart.

DOI
10.1088/0031-8949/2014/t160/014026

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In this paper we propose and realise a practical quantum enhanced sensing protocol aimed at the detection of a partially reflecting object in a lossy and noisy environment. Our scheme is inspired by the theoretical quantum illumination protocol elaborated by Lloyd (2008 Science 321 , 1463) and Tan et al (2008 Phys. Rev. Lett. 101 , 253601). We demonstrate that when only photon counting is allowed our quantum protocol performs astonishingly better than the best classical counterpart.
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The paper [Opt. Express32, 40150 (2024)10.1364/OE.531674] investigates quantum illumination using polarization-entangled photon pairs for object detection in noisy environments. In this comment, we identify errors in the mathematical model for photon loss, particularly in the treatment of quantum entanglement under lossy channels. We show that the claimed robustness of polarization entanglement to photon loss contradicts established principles in quantum information theory, rendering the conclusions on detecting low-reflectivity objects unsupported.
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Quantum illumination consists in shining quantum light on a target region immersed in a bright thermal bath with the aim of detecting the presence of a possible low-reflective object. If the signal is entangled with the receiver, then a suitable choice of the measurement offers a gain with respect to the optimal classical protocol employing coherent states. Here, we tackle this detection problem by using quantum estimation techniques to measure the reflectivity parameter of the object, showing an enhancement in the signal-to-noise ratio up to 3 dB with respect to the classical case when implementing only local measurements. Our approach employs the quantum Fisher information to provide an upper bound for the error probability, supplies the concrete estimator saturating the bound, and extends the quantum illumination protocol to non-Gaussian states. As an example, we show how Schrödinger's cat states may be used for quantum illumination.
[EN] Quantum Illumination is a novel technique which exploits quantum entanglement as a resource to detect the presence of an object with higher accuracy or smaller number of photons. The applications go from detection of trapped molecules to quantum radars, detection of cloaked objets and better weather forecasts. Here we will present Gaussian states, a paradigmatic family of quantum states in quantum optics. We will study the best classical and quantum Gaussian illumination protocols and compare them. Finally, we will introduce the photon subtraction operation, which de-Gaussianizes quantum states, and compare the performance of the new non-Gaussian protocol with the aforementioned ones.