10 Phase Estimation from Atom Position Measurements

We study the measurement of the positions of atoms as a means of estimating the relative phase between two Bose–Einstein condensates. We consider N bosonic atoms released from a double-well trap, which form an interference pattern; we show that the measurement of the position of N atoms has a sensitivity that saturates the bound set by the quantum Fisher information, and allows for estimation at the Heisenberg limit of precision. Phase estimation through the measurement of the center of mass of the interference pattern can also provide sub-shot-noise sensitivity. Finally, we study the effect of an overlap of the two clouds on the estimation precision when Mach–Zehnder interferometry is performed in a double well. We find that a nonzero overlap of the clouds strongly reduces the phase sensitivity.We study the measurement of the positions of atoms as a means of estimating the relative phase between two Bose–Einstein condensates. We consider N bosonic atoms released from a double-well trap, which form an interference pattern; we show that the measurement of the position of N atoms has a sensitivity that saturates the bound set by the quantum Fisher information, and allows for estimation at the Heisenberg limit of precision. Phase estimation through the measurement of the center of mass of the interference pattern can also provide sub-shot-noise sensitivity. Finally, we study the effect of an overlap of the two clouds on the estimation precision when Mach–Zehnder interferometry is performed in a double well. We find that a nonzero overlap of the clouds strongly reduces the phase sensitivity.

arXiv:1012.3593New Journal of PhysicsJun 28, 20119 citations

Phase estimation with interfering Bose-Einstein-condensed atomic clouds

Jan Chwedeńczuk, Francesco Piazza, Augusto Smerzi

We investigate how to estimate from atom-position measurements the relative phase of two Bose-Einstein condensates released from a double-well potential. We demonstrate that the phase-estimation sensitivity via the fit of the average density to the interference pattern is fundamentally bounded by shot noise. The shot noise can be overcome by estimating the phase from the measurement of order $\sqrt{N}$ (or higher) correlation functions. The optimal estimation strategy, saturating the quantum Fisher information, requires the measurement of the $N$ th-order correlation function. We demonstrate that a different estimation method---based on the detection of the center of mass of the interference pattern---also provides sub-shot-noise sensitivity. The implementation of both protocols, however, might be experimentally challenging.We investigate how to estimate from atom-position measurements the relative phase of two Bose-Einstein condensates released from a double-well potential. We demonstrate that the phase-estimation sensitivity via the fit of the average density to the interference pattern is fundamentally bounded by shot noise. The shot noise can be overcome by estimating the phase from the measurement of order $\sqrt{N}$ (or higher) correlation functions. The optimal estimation strategy, saturating the quantum Fisher information, requires the measurement of the $N$th-order correlation function. We demonstrate that a different estimation method---based on the detection of the center of mass of the interference pattern---also provides sub-shot-noise sensitivity. The implementation of both protocols, however, might be experimentally challenging.

arXiv:1007.0703Physical Review ANov 4, 201011 citations

Sub-shot-noise interferometry from measurements of the one-body density

Jan Chwedeńczuk, P. Hyllus, Francesco Piazza +1 more

We derive the asymptotic maximum-likelihood phase estimation uncertainty for any interferometric protocol where the positions of the probe particles are measured to infer the phase, but where correlations between the particles are not accessible. First, we apply our formula to the estimation of the phase acquired in the Mach–Zehnder interferometer and recover the well-known momentum formula for the phase sensitivity. Then, we apply our results to interferometers with two spatially separated modes, which could be implemented with a Bose–Einstein condensate trapped in a double-well potential. We show that in a simple protocol which estimates the phase from an interference pattern, a sub-shot-noise phase uncertainty of up to Δ θ ∝ N −2/3 can be achieved. One important property of this estimation protocol is that its sensitivity does not depend on the value of the phase θ , contrary to the sensitivity given by the momentum formula for the Mach–Zehnder transformation. Finally, we study the experimental implementation of the above protocol in detail, by numerically simulating the full statistics as well as by considering the main sources of detection noise, and argue that the shot-noise limit could be surpassed with current technology.We derive the asymptotic maximum-likelihood phase estimation uncertainty for any interferometric protocol where the positions of the probe particles are measured to infer the phase, but where correlations between the particles are not accessible. First, we apply our formula to the estimation of the phase acquired in the Mach–Zehnder interferometer and recover the well-known momentum formula for the phase sensitivity. Then, we apply our results to interferometers with two spatially separated modes, which could be implemented with a Bose–Einstein condensate trapped in a double-well potential. We show that in a simple protocol which estimates the phase from an interference pattern, a sub-shot-noise phase uncertainty of up to Δ θ ∝ N −2/3 can be achieved. One important property of this estimation protocol is that its sensitivity does not depend on the value of the phase θ , contrary to the sensitivity given by the momentum formula for the Mach–Zehnder transformation. Finally, we study the experimental implementation of the above protocol in detail, by numerically simulating the full statistics as well as by considering the main sources of detection noise, and argue that the shot-noise limit could be surpassed with current technology.

arXiv:1108.2785New Journal of PhysicsSep 3, 201220 citations

Atom interferometer in a double-well potential

Karol Gietka, Jan Chwedeńczuk

We present a detailed study of an atom interferometer which can be realized in a double-well potential. We assume that the interferometric phase is imprinted in the presence of coherent tunneling between the wells. We calculate the ultimate bounds for the estimation sensitivity and show how they relate to the precision of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The interferometer presented here allows for sub-shot-noise sensitivity when fed with spin-squeezed states with either a reduced relative population imbalance or a reduced relative phase. We also calculate the precision of the estimation from the population imbalance and show that it overcomes the shot-noise limit when the entangled squeezed states are used at the input.We present a detailed study of an atom interferometer which can be realized in a double-well potential. We assume that the interferometric phase is imprinted in the presence of coherent tunneling between the wells. We calculate the ultimate bounds for the estimation sensitivity and show how they relate to the precision of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The interferometer presented here allows for sub-shot-noise sensitivity when fed with spin-squeezed states with either a reduced relative population imbalance or a reduced relative phase. We also calculate the precision of the estimation from the population imbalance and show that it overcomes the shot-noise limit when the entangled squeezed states are used at the input.

arXiv:1407.0858Physical Review ADec 1, 20146 citations

Phase estimation in an atom interferometer with finite-resolution single-atom position measurements

Katarzyna Kowalczyk-Murynka

We conduct a detailed analysis of a phase estimation experiment with a Bose-Einstein condensate in a double potential well. Our goal is to confront the theoretical considerations with the conditions of a real experiment. We present a typical experimental procedure and the theoretical model. We simulate the estimation of phase between two modes in two cases: based on the full correlation function measurement for two atoms and on the center of mass position measurement for 20 atoms. We show that a lossless atom detection lets us exceed the shot noise (that is purely classical) limit of phase estimation precision with the currently available spatial resolution, while a few times higher resolution will make it possible to approach the highest precision allowed by quantum physics.We conduct a detailed analysis of a phase estimation experiment with a Bose-Einstein condensate in a double potential well. Our goal is to confront the theoretical considerations with the conditions of a real experiment. We present a typical experimental procedure and the theoretical model. We simulate the estimation of phase between two modes in two cases: based on the full correlation function measurement for two atoms and on the center of mass position measurement for 20 atoms. We show that a lossless atom detection lets us exceed the shot noise (that is purely classical) limit of phase estimation precision with the currently available spatial resolution, while a few times higher resolution will make it possible to approach the highest precision allowed by quantum physics.

Physical Review AAug 27, 20150 citations

Atom Interferometry Beyond the Standard Quantum Limit

Tim Byrnes, Ebubechukwu O. Ilo-Okeke

This chapter describes the use of squeezed states to improve the sensitivity in the estimation of the relative phase accumulated in a Bose--Einstein condensate (BEC) beyond the standard quantum limit. We begin by examining the specific example of a two-component BEC, where atoms in two different hyperfine levels interact with each other. By evolving an initial superposition of states under an effective Hamiltonian, a squeezed state is realized. Next, the squeezing is visualized using the Q-function, giving the mean spin direction and shape of the BEC distribution. We discuss the basic operation of Ramsey interferometry, which is a classic example of two-slit atom diffraction. We then calculate the error in estimating the relative phase shift using the error propagation formula that allows us to define the squeezing parameter. This measures the amount of metrological gain using squeezed states over unsqueezed states. We give an example of the metrological gain in the estimation of the relative phase shift using a squeezed state of the two-component BEC as an input state to an atom Mach--Zehnder interferometer. The Fisher information is used to find which rotation axis gives the optimal information from a given initial state. Finally, we parameterize the nonlinear phase per atom responsible for squeezing and discuss how this parameter is controlled in different experiments.This chapter describes the use of squeezed states to improve the sensitivity in the estimation of the relative phase accumulated in a Bose--Einstein condensate (BEC) beyond the standard quantum limit. We begin by examining the specific example of a two-component BEC, where atoms in two different hyperfine levels interact with each other. By evolving an initial superposition of states under an effective Hamiltonian, a squeezed state is realized. Next, the squeezing is visualized using the Q-function, giving the mean spin direction and shape of the BEC distribution. We discuss the basic operation of Ramsey interferometry, which is a classic example of two-slit atom diffraction. We then calculate the error in estimating the relative phase shift using the error propagation formula that allows us to define the squeezing parameter. This measures the amount of metrological gain using squeezed states over unsqueezed states. We give an example of the metrological gain in the estimation of the relative phase shift using a squeezed state of the two-component BEC as an input state to an atom Mach--Zehnder interferometer. The Fisher information is used to find which rotation axis gives the optimal information from a given initial state. Finally, we parameterize the nonlinear phase per atom responsible for squeezing and discuss how this parameter is controlled in different experiments.

Cambridge University Press eBooksJul 23, 20210 citations

\sqrt{N}

(or higher) correlation functions. The optimal estimation strategy, saturating the quantum Fisher information, requires the measurement of the

N

th-order correlation function. We demonstrate that a different estimation method---based on the detection of the center of mass of the interference pattern---also provides sub-shot-noise sensitivity. The implementation of both protocols, however, might be experimentally challenging.