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arXiv:2506.15352

Quantum Parameter Estimation Uncertainty Relation

Bambi Hu, Xiao-Ming Lu

Published Jun 18, 2025• 0 citations
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Abstract

Quantum multiparameter estimation focuses on the simultaneous inference of multiple parameters in quantum systems through measurement and data processing. Its complexity stems from two key factors: measurement incompatibility and parameter correlation. By strategically manipulating the multidimensional parameter space, we derive an estimation uncertainty relation that quantifies how these factors jointly limit estimation precision in the two-parameter case. This uncertainty relation is tight for pure states and thus completely describes the quantum limit of two-parameter estimation precision in a simple inequality. To intuitively illustrate the impact of the uncertainty relation, we develop an error-ellipse method and demonstrate its utility in phase-space displacement estimation. Our results reveal that a geometric perspective of the parameter space offers a powerful approach for addressing multiparameter estimation challenges.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2506.15352

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Quantum multiparameter estimation focuses on the simultaneous inference of multiple parameters in quantum systems through measurement and data processing. Its complexity stems from two key factors: measurement incompatibility and parameter correlation. By strategically manipulating the multidimensional parameter space, we derive an estimation uncertainty relation that quantifies how these factors jointly limit estimation precision in the two-parameter case. This uncertainty relation is tight for pure states and thus completely describes the quantum limit of two-parameter estimation precision in a simple inequality. To intuitively illustrate the impact of the uncertainty relation, we develop an error-ellipse method and demonstrate its utility in phase-space displacement estimation. Our results reveal that a geometric perspective of the parameter space offers a powerful approach for addressing multiparameter estimation challenges.
The quantum multiparameter estimation is very different from the classical multiparameter estimation due to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics. When the optimal measurements for different parameters are incompatible, they cannot be jointly performed. We find a correspondence relationship between the inaccuracy of a measurement for estimating the unknown parameter with the measurement error in the context of measurement uncertainty relations. Taking this correspondence relationship as a bridge, we incorporate Heisenberg's uncertainty principle into quantum multiparameter estimation by giving a trade-off relation between the measurement inaccuracies for estimating different parameters. For pure quantum states, this trade-off relation is tight, so it can reveal the true quantum limits on individual estimation errors in such cases. We apply our approach to derive the trade-off between attainable errors of estimating the real and imaginary parts of a complex signal encoded in coherent states and obtain the joint measurements attaining the trade-off relation. We also show that our approach can be readily used to derive the trade-off between the errors of jointly estimating the phase shift and phase diffusion without explicitly parametrizing quantum measurements.
Abstract Uncertainty relations in quantum mechanics express bounds on our ability to simultaneously obtain knowledge about expectation values of non-commuting observables of a quantum system. They quantify trade-offs in accuracy between complementary pieces of information about the system. In quantum multiparameter estimation, such trade-offs occur for the precision achievable for different parameters characterizing a density matrix: an uncertainty relation emerges between the achievable variances of the different estimators. This is in contrast to classical multiparameter estimation, where simultaneous optimal precision is attainable in the asymptotic limit. We study trade-off relations that follow from known tight bounds in quantum multiparameter estimation. We compute trade-off curves and surfaces from Cramér–Rao type bounds which provide a compelling graphical representation of the information encoded in such bounds, and argue that bounds on simultaneously achievable precision in quantum multiparameter estimation should be regarded as measurement uncertainty relations. From the state-dependent bounds on the expected cost in parameter estimation, we derive a state-independent uncertainty relation between the parameters of a qubit system.
A fundamental challenge in multiparameter quantum estimation arises from the incompatibility of optimal measurements for different parameters, leading to intricate precision trade-offs that obscure the understanding of ultimate quantum limits. Here, we present an approach that precisely quantifies these trade-offs for an arbitrary number of parameters encoded in pure quantum states. Our approach not only derives tight analytical bounds for the trade-offs induced by measurement incompatibility but also provides a systematic methodology to design optimal measurement strategies that saturate these limits. To demonstrate the practical significance of our findings, we apply our framework to quantum radar and obtain a refined Arthurs-Kelly relation that characterizes the ultimate performance for the simultaneous estimation of range and velocity with any given amount of entanglement. This showcases the transformative potential of our findings for a wide range of applications in quantum metrology, sensing, and beyond.
Achieving the ultimate precisions for multiple parameters simultaneously is an outstanding challenge in quantum physics, because the optimal measurements for incompatible parameters cannot be performed jointly due to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. In this work, a criterion proposed for multiparameter estimation provides a possible way to beat this curse. According to this criterion, it is possible to mitigate the influence of incompatibility meanwhile improve the ultimate precisions by increasing the variances of the parameter generators simultaneously. For demonstration, a scheme involving high-order Hermite-Gaussian states as probes is proposed for estimating the spatial displacement and angular tilt of light at the same time, and precisions up to 1.45 nm and 4.08 nrad are achieved in experiment simultaneously. Consequently, our findings provide a deeper insight into the role of Heisenberg uncertainty principle in multiparameter estimation, and contribute in several ways to the applications of quantum metrology.
Optimal measurements for quantum multiparameter estimation are complicated by the uncertainty principle. Generally, there is a trade-off between the precision with which different parameters can be simultaneously estimated. The task of determining the minimum achievable estimation error is a central task of multiparameter quantum metrology. For estimating parameters encoded in pure quantum states, the ultimate limit is known, but is given by the solution of a non-trivial minimisation problem. We present a new expression for the achievable bound for two-parameter estimation with pure states that is considerably simpler. We also determine the optimal measurements, completing the problem of two-parameter estimation with pure state probes. To demonstrate the utility of our result, we determine the precision limit for estimating displacements using grid states.
In multiparameter quantum estimation, the optimal measurements for different parameters encoded in a quantum state are in general incompatible, giving rise to nontrivial tradeoffs between their attainable precisions. Understanding and characterizing such tradeoffs is essential for determining the ultimate precision limits in multiparameter quantum estimation and is therefore a central topic in quantum metrology. In this article, we present an approach that precisely quantifies the tradeoff resulting from incompatible optimal measurements in multiparameter estimation. We derive a tight analytical tradeoff relation that determines the ultimate precision limits for estimating an arbitrary number of parameters encoded in pure quantum states. Additionally, we provide a systematic methodology for constructing optimal measurements that saturate this tight bound in an analytical and structured manner. To demonstrate the power of our findings, we apply our methodology to quantum radar, resulting in a refined Arthurs-Kelly relation that characterizes the ultimate performance for the simultaneous estimation of range and velocity.