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arXiv:1806.05665 · Physical Review Letters

Sensitivity Bounds for Multiparameter Quantum Metrology

Manuel Gessner, Luca Pezzè, Augusto Smerzi

Published Sep 27, 2018• 169 citations
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Abstract

We identify precision limits for the simultaneous estimation of multiple parameters in multimode interferometers. Quantum strategies to enhance the multiparameter sensitivity are based on entanglement among particles, modes, or combining both. The maximum attainable sensitivity of particle-separable states defines the multiparameter shot-noise limit, which can be surpassed without mode entanglement. Further enhancements up to the multiparameter Heisenberg limit are possible by adding mode entanglement. Optimal strategies that saturate the precision bounds are provided.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.121.130503

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We identify precision limits for the simultaneous estimation of multiple parameters in multimode interferometers. Quantum strategies to enhance the multiparameter sensitivity are based on entanglement among particles, modes, or combining both. The maximum attainable sensitivity of particle-separable states defines the multiparameter shot-noise limit, which can be surpassed without mode entanglement. Further enhancements up to the multiparameter Heisenberg limit are possible by adding mode entanglement. Optimal strategies that saturate the precision bounds are provided.
Quantum metrology aims to enhance measurement precision beyond the classical limit by leveraging quantum resources. Unlike multi-parameter dynamic quantum metrology, many questions regarding multiparameter quantum metrology at thermal equilibrium remain elusive. In particular, the ultimate precision limits achievable in this equilibrium setting are not yet well understood. In this work, we examine the fundamental limits of estimating multiple parameters with a quantum probe at thermal equilibrium. We first show that the Heisenberg limit with respect to the number of probes can be achieved, and our bound coincides with the known single-parameter bound when only one parameter is estimated. We then consider the low temperature limit, revealing a qualitatively different behavior compared to the finite temperature case. We give an example to illustrate the usage of our main results. Finally, we show the conditions under which the sensitivity bound can be attained and the optimal measurements to achieve it.
Quantum metrology is the state-of-the-art measurement technology. It uses quantum resources to enhance the sensitivity of phase estimation beyond what reachable within classical physics. While single parameter estimation theory has been widely investigated, much less is known about the simultaneous estimation of multiple phases, which finds key applications in imaging and sensing. In this manuscript we provide conditions of useful entanglement (among multimode particles, qudits) for multiphase estimation and adapt them to multiarm Mach-Zehnder interferometry. We discuss benchmark multimode Fock states containing useful qudit entanglement and overcoming the sensitivity of separable qudit states in three and four arm Mach-Zehnder-like interferometers - currently within the reach of integrated photonics technology.
Precise estimation of physical parameters underpins both scientific discovery and technological development. A central goal of quantum metrology and sensing is to exploit quantum resources like entanglement to devise optimal strategies for estimating physical parameters as precisely as possible. While substantial progress has been made in single-parameter quantum metrology, the multiparameter scenario remains significantly more challenging due to the issue of parameter incompatibility. In this work, we present a unified and computable approach for the simultaneous estimation of multiple parameters that attains the ultimate precision permitted by quantum mechanics. The core of our approach is to integrate the quantum tester formalism into the recently proposed tight Cramér-Rao type bound. This formulation enables us to figure out the highest achievable precision via upper and lower bounds that are computable via semidefinite programs. More importantly, within this formulation, diverse quantum resources, including entanglement, coherence, quantum control, and indefinite causal order, are treated on equal footing and systematically optimized for the purpose of achieving the ultimate precision in multiparameter estimation. As a result, our approach is applicable to various metrological strategies both in the presence and absence of noise. To demonstrate its utility, we revisit three-dimensional magnetic-field estimation, uncovering the strengths and limitations of existing analytical results and further establishing a strict hierarchy among different types of strategies.
Abstract Quantum multiparameter estimation involves estimating multiple parameters simultaneously and can be more precise than estimating them individually. Our interest here is to determine fundamental quantum limits to the achievable multiparameter estimation precision in the presence of noise. We first present a lower bound to the estimation error covariance for a noisy initial probe state evolving through a noiseless quantum channel. We then present a lower bound to the estimation error covariance in the most general form for a noisy initial probe state evolving through a noisy quantum channel. We show conditions and accordingly measurements to attain these estimation precision limits for noisy systems. We see that the Heisenberg precision scaling of 1/N can be achieved with a probe comprising N particles even in the presence of noise. In fact, some noise in the initial probe state or the quantum channel can serve as a feature rather than a bug, since the estimation precision scaling achievable in the presence of noise in the initial state or the channel in some situations is impossible in the absence of noise in the initial state or the channel. However, a lot of noise harms the quantum advantage achievable with N parallel resources, and allows for a best precision scaling of 1/N{\bf{1}}/\sqrt{{\boldsymbol{N}}}1/N​ 1 / N . Moreover, the Heisenberg precision limit can be beaten with noise in the channel, and we present a super-Heisenberg precision limit with scaling of 1/N2 for optimal amount of noise in the channel, characterized by one-particle evolution operators. Furthermore, using γ-particle evolution operators for the noisy channel, where γ > 1, the best precision scaling attainable is 1/N2γ, which is otherwise known to be only possible using 2γ-particle evolution operators for a noiseless channel.
Quantum metrology is the state-of-the-art measurement technology. It uses quantum resources to enhance the sensitivity of phase estimation over that achievable by classical physics. While single parameter estimation theory has been widely investigated, much less is known about the simultaneous estimation of multiple phases, which finds key applications in imaging and sensing. In this manuscript we provide conditions of useful particle (qudit) entanglement for multiphase estimation and adapt them to multiarm Mach-Zehnder interferometry. We theoretically discuss benchmark multimode Fock states containing useful qudit entanglement and overcoming the sensitivity of separable qudit states in three and four arm Mach-Zehnder-like interferometers - currently within the reach of integrated photonics technology.