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arXiv:2107.04503 · npj Quantum Information

Critical parametric quantum sensing

Roberto Di Candia, Fabrizio Minganti, Kirill Viktorovich Petrovnin, Gheorghe Sorin Paraoanu, Simone Felicetti

Published Mar 14, 2023• 106 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Abstract Critical quantum systems are a promising resource for quantum metrology applications, due to the diverging susceptibility developed in proximity of phase transitions. Here, we assess the metrological power of parametric Kerr resonators undergoing driven-dissipative phase transitions. We fully characterize the quantum Fisher information for frequency estimation, and the Helstrom bound for frequency discrimination. By going beyond the asymptotic regime, we show that the Heisenberg precision can be achieved with experimentally reachable parameters. We design protocols that exploit the critical behavior of nonlinear resonators to enhance the precision of quantum magnetometers and the fidelity of superconducting qubit readout.

DOI
10.1038/s41534-023-00690-z

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Abstract Critical quantum systems are a promising resource for quantum metrology applications, due to the diverging susceptibility developed in proximity of phase transitions. Here, we assess the metrological power of parametric Kerr resonators undergoing driven-dissipative phase transitions. We fully characterize the quantum Fisher information for frequency estimation, and the Helstrom bound for frequency discrimination. By going beyond the asymptotic regime, we show that the Heisenberg precision can be achieved with experimentally reachable parameters. We design protocols that exploit the critical behavior of nonlinear resonators to enhance the precision of quantum magnetometers and the fidelity of superconducting qubit readout.
Quantum metrology, a cornerstone of quantum technologies, exploits entanglement and superposition to achieve higher precision than classical protocols in parameter-estimation tasks. When combined with critical phenomena such as phase transitions, the divergence of quantum fluctuations is predicted to enhance the performance of quantum sensors. Here, we implement a critical quantum sensor using a superconducting parametric (i.e., two-photon driven) Kerr resonator. The sensor, a linear resonator terminated by a superconducting quantum interference device, operates near the critical point of a finite-component second-order dissipative phase transition obtained by scaling the system parameters. We analyze the performance of a frequency-estimation protocol and show that quadratic precision scaling with respect to the system size can be achieved with finite values of the Kerr nonlinearity. Since each photon emitted from the cavity carries more information about the parameter to be estimated compared to its classical counterpart, our protocol opens up perspectives for faster or more precise metrological protocols. Our results demonstrate that quantum advantage in a sensing protocol can be achieved by exploiting a phase transition.
Quantum metrology and quantum sensing aim to use quantum properties to enhance measurement precision beyond what could be classically achieved. Here, we demonstrate how the analysis of the phase space structure of the classical limit of Kerr parametric oscillators can be used for determining control parameters values that lead to the squeezing of the uncertainty in position and the amplification of the quantum Fisher information. We also explore how quantum sensing can benefit from excited-state quantum phase transitions, even in the absence of a conventional quantum phase transition. The system that we consider models exciton-polariton condensates and superconducting circuits, making our study relevant for potential experimental applications.
Critical systems near quantum phase transitions were predicted to be useful for improvement of metrological precision, thanks to their ultrasensitive response to tiny variations of the control Hamiltonian. However, realizing criticality enhanced quantum metrology is experimentally challenging, mainly owing to decoherence and critical slowing down associated with the corresponding quantum state preparation. We circumvent these problems by making use of the critical behaviors in the Jaynes-Cummings model, to which the signal field is coupled. The information is encoded in the qubit's excitation number, which displays a divergent changing rate at the critical point, and is extremely robust against decoherence and nonadiabatic effects. We demonstrate such a metrological protocol in a superconducting circuit, where an Xmon qubit, interacting with a resonator, is used as a probe for estimating the amplitude of a microwave field. The measured quantum Fisher information exhibits a critical quantum enhancement, confirming the potential for quantum metrology.
Abstract Critical systems represent a valuable resource in quantum sensing and metrology. Critical quantum sensing (CQS) protocols can be realized using finite-component phase transitions, where criticality arises from the rescaling of system parameters rather than the thermodynamic limit. Here, we show that a collective quantum advantage can be achieved in a multipartite CQS protocol using a chain of parametrically coupled critical resonators in the weak-nonlinearity limit. We derive analytical solutions for the low-energy spectrum of this unconventional quantum many-body system, which is composed of locally critical elements. We then assess the scaling of the quantum Fisher information with respect to fundamental resources. We demonstrate that the coupled chain outperforms an equivalent ensemble of independent critical sensors, achieving quadratic scaling in the number of resonators. Finally, we show that even with finite Kerr nonlinearity or Markovian dissipation, the critical chain retains its advantage, making it relevant for implementing quantum sensors with current microwave superconducting technologies.
Quantum phenomena offer the possibility of measuring physical quantities with precision beyond classical limits. However, current progress is constrained by scalability, environmental noise, and challenges in practical integration. This highlights the necessity for novel approaches. An emerging paradigm in this direction is , which harnesses the enhanced susceptibility and nonclassical correlations that naturally occur near quantum phase transitions as resources for quantum-enhanced precision. This tutorial provides a pedagogical introduction to key concepts and a detailed overview of prominent quantum sensing strategies that exploit critical phenomena in metrology. Through examples of increasing complexity, the reader is guided through various critical quantum sensing protocols applied to different critical systems. Special emphasis is placed on the optimal scaling of estimation precision with respect to fundamental resources. Finally, we discuss how critical quantum metrology extends from idealized models to realistic open-system, dissipative regimes, and strongly correlated fermionic systems, outlining both the challenges and opportunities for future quantum technologies.
We investigate critical quantum metrology in a system where a qubit is dispersively coupled to a parametrically driven bosonic field. By engineering a counterdiabatic driving Hamiltonian under realistic physical constraints, we demonstrate a high-fidelity preparation of quantum states near a quantum phase transition. Our protocol extends the application of criticality-enhanced metrology to the short-time regime, offering a significant advantage over nonassisted protocols. The metrological precision is quantified by the quantum Fisher information (QFI) and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Even with a constrained driving strength, numerical simulations reveal a QFI enhancement factor exceeding 10 3 and an SNR enhancement of over 10 6 in this regime. This work opens a promising avenue for critical quantum metrology.