Universal quantum computing with continuous variables requires non-Gaussian resources, in addition to a Gaussian set of operations.A known resource enabling universal quantum computation is the cubic phase state, a non-Gaussian state whose experimental implementation has so far remained elusive.In this paper, we introduce two Gaussian conversion protocols that allow for the conversion of a non-Gaussian state that has been achieved experimentally, namely the trisqueezed state [Chang et al., Phys.Rev. X 10, 011011 (2020)], to a cubic phase state.The first protocol is deterministic and it involves active (inline) squeezing, achieving large fidelities that saturate the bound for deterministic Gaussian protocols.The second protocol is probabilistic and it involves an auxiliary squeezed state, thus removing the necessity of inline squeezing but still maintaining significant success probabilities and fidelities even larger than for the deterministic case.The success of these protocols provides strong evidence for using trisqueezed states as resources for universal quantum computation.
Universal quantum computing with continuous variables requires non-Gaussian resources, in addition to a Gaussian set of operations.A known resource enabling universal quantum computation is the cubic phase state, a non-Gaussian state whose experimental implementation has so far remained elusive.In this paper, we introduce two Gaussian conversion protocols that allow for the conversion of a non-Gaussian state that has been achieved experimentally, namely the trisqueezed state [Chang et al., Phys.Rev. X 10, 011011 (2020)], to a cubic phase state.The first protocol is deterministic and it involves active (inline) squeezing, achieving large fidelities that saturate the bound for deterministic Gaussian protocols.The second protocol is probabilistic and it involves an auxiliary squeezed state, thus removing the necessity of inline squeezing but still maintaining significant success probabilities and fidelities even larger than for the deterministic case.The success of these protocols provides strong evidence for using trisqueezed states as resources for universal quantum computation.
In the context of quantum technologies over continuous variables, Gaussian states and operations are typically regarded as freely available, as they are relatively easily accessible experimentally. In contrast, the generation of non-Gaussian states, as well as the implementation of non-Gaussian operations, pose significant challenges. This divide has motivated the introduction of resource theories of non-Gaussianity. As for any resource theory, it is of practical relevance to identify free conversion protocols between resources, namely, Gaussian conversion protocols between non-Gaussian states. Via systematic numerical investigations, we address the approximate conversion between experimentally relevant single-mode non-Gaussian states via arbitrary deterministic one-to-one mode Gaussian maps. First we show that cat and binomial states are approximately equivalent for finite energy, while this equivalence was previously known only in the infinite-energy limit. Then we consider the generation of cat states from photon-added and photon-subtracted squeezed states, improving over known schemes by introducing additional squeezing operations. The numerical tools that we develop also allow one to devise conversions of trisqueezed into cubic-phase states beyond previously reported performances. Finally, we identify various other conversions which instead are not viable.
In continuous-variable systems, non-Gaussian resources are essential for achieving universal quantum computation that lies beyond classical simulation. Among the candidate states, the cubic phase state stands out as the simplest form of single-mode non-Gaussian resource, yet its experimental preparation still remains a great challenge. Although a variety of approximate schemes have been proposed to simulate the cubic phase state, they often fall short when deployed in concrete quantum tasks. In this work, we present a Gaussian optimization protocol that systematically refines the non-Gaussian resources, which significantly improves the performance of both magic-state-based and measurement-based quantum computation. Leveraging task-specific Gaussian operations on approximate cubic phase states, our protocol offers an experimentally feasible approach to enhance gate fidelity in magic-state-based quantum computation and reduce the variance of nonlinear quadrature measurement in measurement-based quantum computation. Building on this framework, we further propose a task-oriented non-Gaussian state preparation scheme based on superpositions in the Fock basis followed by squeezing and displacement. This strategy enables direct tailoring of resource states to specific task goals. Owing to its flexibility and generality, our framework provides a powerful and broadly applicable tool for enhancing performance across a wide range of continuous-variable quantum information protocols.
Cubic phase states provide the essential non-Gaussian resource for continuous-variable quantum computing. We show that they also offer significant potential for quantum metrology, surpassing the phase-sensing sensitivity of all Gaussian states at equal average photon number. Optimal sensitivity requires only moderate initial squeezing, and the non-Gaussian advantage remains robust against loss and detection noise. We identify optimal measurement strategies and show that several experimentally relevant preparation schemes surpass Gaussian limits, in some cases reaching the sensitivity of cubic phase states. Our results establish cubic phase states as a promising resource for quantum-enhanced precision measurements beyond Gaussian limits.
The generation of non-Gaussian states of bosonic systems described by continuous quantum degrees of freedom is of interest in a variety of contexts, ranging from quantum foundations to computation and communication. A crucial feature of genuine non-Gaussian states is that they cannot be described in general with a non-negative Wignerquasi-probability distribution. In particular, this feature is equivalent to contextuality and it underpins all attempts at attaining quantum computational advantage in a universal setting. In this thesis, the generation of Wigner-negative states is addressed, pursuing two approaches. First, in an optomechanical-like setting, we develop schemes to generate Wigner-negative states of two massive mechanical systems, in turn correlated such that they also feature entanglement, another genuine quantum hallmark. These schemes are based on driven-dissipative systems where dissipation is properly engineered by taking advantage of linear-and-quadratic optomechanical interactions. We address the robustness of these schemes when uncontrollable noisy channels are included in the dynamics, proving that their resilience is comparable to Gaussian schemes that have already been implemented experimentally. Second, considering in particular circuit QED systems and trapped ions, we propose a method to engineer a set of Hamiltonian evolutions that are universal in terms of single-mode state preparation. This method is based on a driven quantum Rabi model, where the desired evolution is effectively imprinted on a continuous-variable degree of freedom by its interaction with a properly driven two-level system. We demonstrate the universality of such approach by simulating the generation of multi-squeezed and other states, including the celebrated cubic-phase state. We also consider the effect of noise in realistic settings, showing in particular that in systems involving superconducting qubits, the generation of tri-squeezed states --- a universal resource for continuous-variable quantum computation which we prove to display larger Wigner negativities with respect to Fock and cubic-phase states for the same energy --- is within experimental reach.
Abstract The cubic phase state constitutes a nonlinear resource that is essential for universal quantum computing protocols. However, constructing such non-classical states faces many challenges. In this work, we present a protocol for generating a cubic phase state with high fidelity. The protocol is based on a set of Gaussian operations assisted by a detection operation. To find the proper set of parameters that results in both high fidelity and high detection probability, we provide a numerical multiparameter optimization. We investigate a broad range of target states and study how parameter imperfections influence fidelity.
A near-deterministic source of non-Gaussianity is the missing piece to reach universal and fault-tolerant quantum computing with continuous-variable optics. Due to a lack of strong non-linearities, the probabilistic photon-subtracted Gaussian states remain the most promising contender. In combination with Gaussian measurements and single-mode feed-forward operations, they have been shown to provide sufficient non-Gaussianity at high rates. However, these existing breeding protocols lack the necessary loss tolerance to be experimentally feasible. In this work, we introduce a mathematical formalism based on the application of a Gaussian blur and filter on the measured Fock Wigner function to describe general photon-subtracted Gaussian states. Within our representation, the initial squeezing, Gaussian measurements, and photon loss can all be understood as contributions to the total blurring and interchanged accordingly. We find that this intuitive approach can be used to find improvements to cat, cubic phase, and GKP state generation by compromising between success rates, feed-forward compatibility, and loss tolerance. In the case of multiple photon subtractions, this is achieved by introducing a hybrid setup variant bridging the gap between protocols based on breeding and post-selection. Finally, we establish a general lower bound on the resources needed to generate a given target state near-deterministically by introducing the expected Wigner logarithmic negativity as an additive monotone of non-Gaussianity.