A general framework of quantum state amplification using the language of quantum state transformation is given systematically for the first time. The concept of amplification of quantum states is defined specifically and the amplification of a set of quantum states is formulated generally as the transformation of quantum states. Three different kinds of important quantum amplifications, i.e., deterministic noisy quantum amplification, probabilistic noiseless quantum amplification, and deterministic noiseless quantum amplification are identified and discussed. For deterministic quan- tum amplification, the linearity of amplification is proven to be incompatible with the noiseless amplification while it is not true for probabilistic quantum amplification. However, deterministic noiseless quantum amplification is shown physically attainable if the linearity of amplification is given up. The connection between the gain of amplification and the successful probability is discussed for probabilistic quantum amplification. Assuming that successful probability is the same for all quantum states to be amplified, we obtain a generally valid relation between the gain of amplication and the successful probability. Particular interest is given to phase-preserving quantum amplication of Gaussian states which has been shown of theoretical interest and of practical importance in quantum information and quantum communication recently. Our results of quantum state amplification not only enrich the research of quantum amplification but also can be helpful for further practical applications.
A general framework of quantum state amplification using the language of quantum state transformation is given systematically for the first time. The concept of amplification of quantum states is defined specifically and the amplification of a set of quantum states is formulated generally as the transformation of quantum states. Three different kinds of important quantum amplifications, i.e., deterministic noisy quantum amplification, probabilistic noiseless quantum amplification, and deterministic noiseless quantum amplification are identified and discussed. For deterministic quan- tum amplification, the linearity of amplification is proven to be incompatible with the noiseless amplification while it is not true for probabilistic quantum amplification. However, deterministic noiseless quantum amplification is shown physically attainable if the linearity of amplification is given up. The connection between the gain of amplification and the successful probability is discussed for probabilistic quantum amplification. Assuming that successful probability is the same for all quantum states to be amplified, we obtain a generally valid relation between the gain of amplication and the successful probability. Particular interest is given to phase-preserving quantum amplication of Gaussian states which has been shown of theoretical interest and of practical importance in quantum information and quantum communication recently. Our results of quantum state amplification not only enrich the research of quantum amplification but also can be helpful for further practical applications.
A universal deterministic noiseless quantum amplifier has been shown to be impossible. However, probabilistic noiseless amplification of a certain set of states is physically permissible. Regarding quantum state amplification as quantum state transformation, we show that deterministic noiseless amplification of coherent states chosen from a proper set is attainable. The relation between input coherent states and gain of amplification for deterministic noiseless amplification is thus derived. Furthermore, we extend our result to more general situation and show that deterministic noiseless amplification of Gaussian states is also possible. As an example of application, we find that our amplification model can obtain better performance in homodyne detection to measure the phase of state selected from a certain set. Besides, other possible applications are also discussed.
Most of the schemes for ``noiseless'' amplification of coherent states, which have recently been attracting theoretical and experimental interest, share a common trait: The amplification is not truly noiseless, or perfect, for nonzero success probability. While this must hold true for all phase-independent amplification schemes, in this work we point out that truly noiseless amplification is indeed possible, provided that the states which we wish to amplify come from a finite set. Perfect amplification with unlimited average gain is then possible with finite success probability, for example, using techniques for unambiguously distinguishing between quantum states. Such realizations require only linear optics, no single-photon sources, and no photon counting. We also investigate the optimal success probability of perfect amplification of a symmetric set of coherent states. There are two regimes: low-amplitude amplification, where the target amplitude is below one, and general amplification. For the low-amplitude regime, analytic results for the optimal amplification success probabilities can be obtained. In this case a natural bound imposed by the ratio of success probabilities of optimal unambiguous discrimination of the source and amplified states can always be reached. We also show that for general amplification this bound cannot always be satisfied.
According to the fundamental laws of quantum optics, noise is necessarily added to the system when one tries to clone or amplify a quantum state. However, it has recently been shown that the quantum noise related to the operation of a linear phase-insensitive amplifier can be avoided when the requirement of a deterministic operation is relaxed. Nondeterministic noiseless linear amplifiers are therefore realizable. Usually nondeterministic amplifiers rely on using single photon sources. We have, in contrast, recently proposed an amplification scheme in which no external energy is added to the signal, but the energy required to amplify the signal originates from the stochastic fluctuations in the field itself. Applying our amplification scheme, we examine the amplifier gain and the success rate as well as the properties of the output states after successful and failed amplification processes. We also optimize the setup to find the maximum success rates in terms of the reflectivities of the beam splitters used in the setup. In addition, we discuss the nonidealities related to the operation of our setup and the relation of our setup with the previous setups.
Quantum communication can realize secure information transmission based on the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics. Photon is a crucial information carrier in quantum communication. The photonic quantum communication protocols require the transmission of photons or photonic entanglement between communicating parties. However, in this process, photon transmission loss inevitably occurs due to environmental noise. Photon transmission loss significantly reduces the efficiency of quantum communication and even threatens its security, so that it becomes a major obstacle for practical long-distance quantum communication. Quantum noiseless linear amplification (NLA) is a promising method for mitigating photon transmission loss. Through local operations and post-selection, NLA can effectively increase the fidelity of the target state or the average photon number in the output state while perfectly preserving the encoded information of the target state. As a result, employing NLA technology can effectively overcome photon transmission loss and extend the secure communication distance. In this paper, the existing NLA protocols are categorized into two types, i.e. the NLA protocols in DV quantum systems and CV quantum systems. A detailed introduction is given to the quantum scissor (QS)-based NLA protocols for single photons, single-photon polarization qubits, and single-photon spatial entanglement in the DV quantum systems. The QS-based NLA can effectively increase the fidelity of the target states while perfectly preserving its encodings. In recent years, researchers have made efforts to study various improvements to the QS-based NLA protocols. In the CV quantum systems, researchers have adopted parallel multiple QS structure and generalized QS to increase the average photon numbers of the Fock states, coherent states and two-mode squeezed vacuum states. In addition to theoretical advancements, significant progress has also been made in the experimental implementations of NLA. The representative experimental demonstrations of QS-based NLA protocols are summarized. Finally, the future development directions for NLA to facilitate its practical applications are presented. This review can provide theoretical support for practically developing NLA in the future.
Traditionally, quantum amplification limit refers to the property of inevitable noise addition on canonical variables when the field amplitude of an unknown state is linearly transformed through a quantum channel. Recent theoretical studies have determined amplification limits for cases of probabilistic quantum channels or general quantum operations by specifying a set of input states or a state ensemble. However, it remains open how much excess noise on canonical variables is unavoidable and whether there exists a fundamental trade-off relation between the canonical pair in a general amplification process. In this paper we present an uncertainty-product form of amplification limits for general quantum operations by assuming an input ensemble of Gaussian-distributed coherent states. It can be derived as a straightforward consequence of canonical uncertainty relations and retrieves basic properties of the traditional amplification limit. In addition, our amplification limit turns out to give a physical limitation on probabilistic reduction of an Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen uncertainty. In this regard, we find a condition that probabilistic amplifiers can be regarded as local filtering operations to distill entanglement. This condition establishes a clear benchmark to verify an advantage of non-Gaussian operations beyond Gaussian operations with a feasible input set of coherent states and standard homodyne measurements.
According to the fundamental laws of quantum optics, noise is necessarily added to the system when one tries to clone or amplify a quantum state. However, it has recently been shown that the quantum noise related to the operation of a linear phase-insensitive amplifier can be avoided when the requirement of a deterministic op-eration is relaxed. Nondeterministic noiseless linear amplifiers are therefore realizable. Usually nondeterministic amplifiers rely on using single photon sources. We have, in contrast, recently proposed an amplification scheme in which no external energy is added to the signal, but the energy required to amplify the signal originates from the stochastic fluctuations in the field itself. Applying our amplification scheme, we examine the amplifier gain and the success rate as well as the properties of the output states after successful and failed amplification processes. We also optimize the setup to find the maximum success rates in terms of the reflectivities of the beam splitters used in the setup. In addition, we discuss the nonidealities related to the operation of our setup and the relation of our setup with the previous setups.