We propose a practical receiver scheme for discriminating coherent signals with the error rate unconditionally below the standard quantum limit (or shot noise). For BPSK signals the error rate goes down to the Helstrom bound.
A core problem in communications is the optimal discrimination of binary-phase-shift-keyed (BPSK) signals. A longstanding goal has been to reach the fundamental quantum limit, known as the Helstrom bound, for BPSK signals encoded in coherent states. However, due to technical constraints, proposals for reaching the bound remain impractical. In this letter we take an alternative approach: using only Gaussian optics - displaced squeezed states and homodyne detection - we achieve discrimination of BPSK signals with error rates below what can be achieved using coherent states and any quantum measurement.
The impossibility of perfectly discriminating non-orthogonal quantum states imposes far-reaching consequences both on quantum and classical communication schemes.Wepropose and numerically analyze an optimized quantum receiver for the discrimination of phase encoded signals. Our scheme outperforms the standard quantum limit and approaches the Helstrom bound for any signal power. The discrimination is performed via an optimized, feedback-mediated displacement prior to a photon counting detector.Weprovide a detailed analysis of the influence of excess noise and technical imperfections on the average error probability. The results demonstrate the receiver’s robustness and show that it can outperform any classical receiver over a wide range of realistic parameters.