Quantum metrology promises measurement precision beyond classical limits by exploiting large-scale quantum states, yet realizing this advantage faces two fundamental challenges: the deterministic preparation of non-trivial quantum probes and the efficient extraction of metrological information in high-dimensional Hilbert spaces. Here, we introduce quantum confocal microscopy in Fock space that simultaneously resolves both challenges. Drawing a direct analogy between classical wave optics and quantum state evolution in a bosonic mode, we construct a confocal system with two Fock-space lenses. The first lens deterministically focuses a coherent state into a quantum probe with a tightly concentrated photon-number distribution, while the second lens maps the metrological information back to the vacuum state for efficient readout. Using a superconducting circuit QED platform, we prepare focused probe states with mean photon numbers up to ${N} = 500$ , achieving a 21.5$\pm$1.1 dB compression of the photon-number uncertainty relative to a coherent state, with a scalable quantum circuit of $\mathcal{O}(1)$ operational depth. We demonstrate a displacement sensitivity scaling as $N^{-0.416}$ , approaching the Heisenberg scaling ( $N^{-0.5}$ ), and achieve a record metrological gain of 19.06$\pm$0.13 dB beyond the standard quantum limit. This work establishes quantum confocal microscopy as a scalable and practical framework for quantum-enhanced precision measurement, readily extendable to other bosonic platforms and high-dimensional quantum many-body systems.Quantum metrology promises measurement precision beyond classical limits by exploiting large-scale quantum states, yet realizing this advantage faces two fundamental challenges: the deterministic preparation of non-trivial quantum probes and the efficient extraction of metrological information in high-dimensional Hilbert spaces. Here, we introduce quantum confocal microscopy in Fock space that simultaneously resolves both challenges. Drawing a direct analogy between classical wave optics and quantum state evolution in a bosonic mode, we construct a confocal system with two Fock-space lenses. The first lens deterministically focuses a coherent state into a quantum probe with a tightly concentrated photon-number distribution, while the second lens maps the metrological information back to the vacuum state for efficient readout. Using a superconducting circuit QED platform, we prepare focused probe states with mean photon numbers up to ${N} = 500$, achieving a 21.5$\pm$1.1 dB compression of the photon-number uncertainty relative to a coherent state, with a scalable quantum circuit of $\mathcal{O}(1)$ operational depth. We demonstrate a displacement sensitivity scaling as $N^{-0.416}$, approaching the Heisenberg scaling ($N^{-0.5}$), and achieve a record metrological gain of 19.06$\pm$0.13 dB beyond the standard quantum limit. This work establishes quantum confocal microscopy as a scalable and practical framework for quantum-enhanced precision measurement, readily extendable to other bosonic platforms and high-dimensional quantum many-body systems.

quant-pharXiv:2602.23254Feb 27, 20260 citations

Photons in Fock Space and Beyond

Reinhard Honegger, Alfred Rieckers

WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooksJul 10, 20144 citations

The Quantum Mechanics of Photons

Daniel J. Rogers

Synthesis lectures on quantum computingJan 1, 20105 citations

Generalized Fock space and contextuality

Sergey A. Rashkovskiy, Andrei Yu. Khrennikov

This paper is devoted to linear space representations of contextual probabilities-in generalized Fock space. This gives the possibility to use the calculus of creation and annihilation operators to express probabilistic dynamics in the Fock space (in particular, the wide class of classical kinetic equations). In this way, we reproduce the Doi-Peliti formalism. The context-dependence of probabilities can be quantified with the aid of the generalized formula of total probability-by the magnitude of the interference term. This article is part of the theme issue 'Contextuality and probability in quantum mechanics and beyond'.This paper is devoted to linear space representations of contextual probabilities-in generalized Fock space. This gives the possibility to use the calculus of creation and annihilation operators to express probabilistic dynamics in the Fock space (in particular, the wide class of classical kinetic equations). In this way, we reproduce the Doi-Peliti formalism. The context-dependence of probabilities can be quantified with the aid of the generalized formula of total probability-by the magnitude of the interference term. This article is part of the theme issue 'Contextuality and probability in quantum mechanics and beyond'.

arXiv:1903.12490Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering SciencesSep 16, 20193 citations

Coherent-State Integrals Beyond the Domain of Operator Products

Ghasem Asadi Cordshooli

Inserting a resolution of the identity between two operators turns a matrix element of their product into a phase-space integral. For unbounded operators the product need not exist on the vector at hand, while the integral may still converge. We follow this gap through the chain $e^{μa^2}e^{λa^{\dagger2}}$ of two-photon exponentials, where it can be traced completely. Five regions of parameter space appear: where the Bochner conditions of the strong formulation hold, where the product exists as a vector, where it exists as a sesquilinear form, where the coherent-state integral converges, and where the Fock-space series converges. The first three are strictly nested inside the intersection of the last two, and these two overlap without either containing the other. A single Hermite-type function agrees with the matrix element where it exists and with the integral and the series wherever they converge, so the integral carries the analytic continuation of the matrix element beyond the domain of the product and beyond the convergence of its Fock series. On the real slice of parameter space, an iterated form of the integral also reaches every point where the series converges. The analysis rests on a weak composition lemma whose hypotheses concern only the bra, the ket and the resolving family. For bounded chains the same identity is unconditional, and worked examples of that kind are given in a companion paper.Inserting a resolution of the identity between two operators turns a matrix element of their product into a phase-space integral. For unbounded operators the product need not exist on the vector at hand, while the integral may still converge. We follow this gap through the chain $e^{μa^2}e^{λa^{\dagger2}}$ of two-photon exponentials, where it can be traced completely. Five regions of parameter space appear: where the Bochner conditions of the strong formulation hold, where the product exists as a vector, where it exists as a sesquilinear form, where the coherent-state integral converges, and where the Fock-space series converges. The first three are strictly nested inside the intersection of the last two, and these two overlap without either containing the other. A single Hermite-type function agrees with the matrix element where it exists and with the integral and the series wherever they converge, so the integral carries the analytic continuation of the matrix element beyond the domain of the product and beyond the convergence of its Fock series. On the real slice of parameter space, an iterated form of the integral also reaches every point where the series converges. The analysis rests on a weak composition lemma whose hypotheses concern only the bra, the ket and the resolving family. For bounded chains the same identity is unconditional, and worked examples of that kind are given in a companion paper.

math-phCross-listedarXiv:2610.19702Oct 15, 20260 citations

{N} = 500

, achieving a 21.5$\pm$1.1 dB compression of the photon-number uncertainty relative to a coherent state, with a scalable quantum circuit of

\mathcal{O}(1)

operational depth. We demonstrate a displacement sensitivity scaling as

N^{-0.416}

, approaching the Heisenberg scaling (

N^{-0.5}

), and achieve a record metrological gain of 19.06$\pm$0.13 dB beyond the standard quantum limit. This work establishes quantum confocal microscopy as a scalable and practical framework for quantum-enhanced precision measurement, readily extendable to other bosonic platforms and high-dimensional quantum many-body systems.

e^{μa^2}e^{λa^{\dagger2}}

of two-photon exponentials, where it can be traced completely. Five regions of parameter space appear: where the Bochner conditions of the strong formulation hold, where the product exists as a vector, where it exists as a sesquilinear form, where the coherent-state integral converges, and where the Fock-space series converges. The first three are strictly nested inside the intersection of the last two, and these two overlap without either containing the other. A single Hermite-type function agrees with the matrix element where it exists and with the integral and the series wherever they converge, so the integral carries the analytic continuation of the matrix element beyond the domain of the product and beyond the convergence of its Fock series. On the real slice of parameter space, an iterated form of the integral also reaches every point where the series converges. The analysis rests on a weak composition lemma whose hypotheses concern only the bra, the ket and the resolving family. For bounded chains the same identity is unconditional, and worked examples of that kind are given in a companion paper.