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Chinese Physics

Linear optical implementation of optimal unambiguous discrimination among quantum states

Jing Lu, Zhou Lan, Kuang Le-Man

Published Aug 22, 2006• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In this paper, we present a linear optical scheme for optimal unambiguous discrimination among nonorthogonal quantum states in terms of the multiple-rail and polarization representation of a single photon. In our scheme, discriminated quantum states are expressed by using the spatial degree of freedom of a single photon while the polarization degree of freedom of the single photon is used to act as an auxiliary qubit. The optical components used in our scheme are only passive linear optical elements such as polarizing beam splitters, wave plates, polarizers, single photon detectors, and single photon source.

DOI
10.1088/1009-1963/15/9/007

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In this paper, we present a linear optical scheme for optimal unambiguous discrimination among nonorthogonal quantum states in terms of the multiple-rail and polarization representation of a single photon. In our scheme, discriminated quantum states are expressed by using the spatial degree of freedom of a single photon while the polarization degree of freedom of the single photon is used to act as an auxiliary qubit. The optical components used in our scheme are only passive linear optical elements such as polarizing beam splitters, wave plates, polarizers, single photon detectors, and single photon source.
Quantum information processing using linear optics is challenging due to the limited set of deterministic operations achievable without using complicated resource-intensive methods. While techniques such as the use of ancillary photons can enhance the information processing capabilities of linear optical systems, they are technologically demanding. Therefore, determining the constraints posed by linear optics and optimizing linear optical operations for specific tasks under those constraints, without the use of ancillae, can facilitate their potential implementation. Here, we consider the task of unambiguously discriminating between Bell-like states using linear optics and without the use of ancillary photons. This is a basic problem relevant in diverse settings, for example, in the measurement of the output of an entangling quantum circuit or for entanglement swapping at a quantum repeater station. While it is known that exact Bell states of two qubits can be discriminated with an optimal success probability of 50%, we find, surprisingly, that for Bell-like states the optimal probability can be only 25%. We analyze a set of Bell-like states in terms of their distinguishability, entanglement as measured by concurrence, and parameters of the beam-splitter network used for unambiguous discrimination. Further, we provide the linear optical configuration comprising single-photon detectors and beam splitters with input-state-dependent parameters that achieves optimal discrimination in the Bell-like case.
Abstract A linear optical unambiguous discrimination of hyperentangled Bell states is proposed for two‐photon systems entangled in both the polarization and momentum degrees of freedom (DOFs) assisted by time bin. This unambiguous discrimination scheme can completely identify 16 orthogonal hyperentangled Bell states using only linear optical elements, where the function of the auxiliary entangled Bell state is replaced by time bin. Moreover, the possibility of extending this scheme for distinguishing hyperentangled Bell states in n DOFs is discussed, and it shows that hyperentangled Bell states in n () DOFs can be distinguished with k () auxiliary entangled states of additional DOFs by introducing a time delay, which decreases the auxiliary entanglement resource required for unambiguous discrimination of hyperentangled Bell state. Therefore, this scheme provides a new way for distinguishing hyperentangled states with current technology, which will extend the application of discrimination of hyperentangled states via linear optics to other quantum information protocols besides hyperdense coding schemes in the future.
It is shown that generalized measurements, required for optimally discriminating between nonorthogonal joint polarization states of two indistinguishable photons, can be realized with the help of polarization-dependent two-photon absorption and by means of sum-frequency generation. Optimization schemes are investigated with respect to minimizing the error probability in inferring the states, as well as with respect to maximizing the probability of success for unambiguous discrimination. Moreover, an implementation of error-minimizing discrimination between N symmetric single-photon states is studied. The latter can be used to extract information from the inconclusive results occurring in unambiguous discrimination between three symmetric two-photon polarization states.