Abstract Indefinite causal order has introduced novel procedures to improve the quality of quantum communication. The superposition of paths on a set of consecutive quantum channels has demonstrated enhancement in communication on some of them. This work models a generic quantum channel for single qubits in terms of Kraus operators in the form of Pauli operators. The output state going through the channel can be obtained analytically to then analyse the quality by means of the quantum fidelity.
Abstract Indefinite causal order has introduced novel procedures to improve the quality of quantum communication. The superposition of paths on a set of consecutive quantum channels has demonstrated enhancement in communication on some of them. This work models a generic quantum channel for single qubits in terms of Kraus operators in the form of Pauli operators. The output state going through the channel can be obtained analytically to then analyse the quality by means of the quantum fidelity.
Indefinite causal order has introduced disruptive procedures to improve the fidelity of quantum communication by introducing the superposition of { orders} on a set of quantum channels. It has been applied to several well characterized quantum channels as depolarizing, dephasing and teleportation. This work analyses the behavior of a parametric quantum channel for single qubits expressed in the form of Pauli channels. Combinatorics lets to obtain affordable formulas for the analysis of the output state of the channel when it goes through a certain imperfect quantum communication channel when it is deployed as a redundant application of it under indefinite causal order. In addition, the process exploits post-measurement on the associated control to select certain components of transmission. Then, the fidelity of such outputs is analysed to characterize the generic channel in terms of its parameters. As a result, we get notable enhancement in the transmission of information for well characterized channels due to the combined process: indefinite causal order plus post-measurement.
A completely depolarising quantum channel always outputs a fully mixed state and thus cannot transmit any information. In a recent Letter\cite{ebler18}, it was however shown that if a quantum state passes through two such channels in a quantum superposition of different orders---a setup known as the ``quantum switch''---then information can nevertheless be transmitted through the channels. Here, we show that a similar effect can be obtained when one coherently controls between sending a target system through one of two identical depolarising channels. Whereas it is tempting to attribute this effect in the quantum switch to the indefinite causal order between the channels, causal indefiniteness plays no role in this new scenario. This raises questions about its role in the corresponding effect in the quantum switch. We study this new scenario in detail and we see that, when quantum channels are controlled coherently, information about their specific implementation is accessible in the output state of the joint control-target system. This allows two different implementations of what is usually considered to be the same channel to therefore be differentiated. More generally, we find that to completely describe the action of a coherently controlled quantum channel, one needs to specify not only a description of the channel (e.g., in terms of Kraus operators), but an additional ``transformation matrix'' depending on its implementation.
A completely depolarising quantum channel always outputs a fully mixed state and thus cannot transmit any information. In a recent Letter\cite{ebler18}, it was however shown that if a quantum state passes through two such channels in a quantum superposition of different orders---a setup known as the ``quantum switch''---then information can nevertheless be transmitted through the channels. Here, we show that a similar effect can be obtained when one coherently controls between sending a target system through one of two identical depolarising channels. Whereas it is tempting to attribute this effect in the quantum switch to the indefinite causal order between the channels, causal indefiniteness plays no role in this new scenario. This raises questions about its role in the corresponding effect in the quantum switch. We study this new scenario in detail and we see that, when quantum channels are controlled coherently, information about their specific implementation is accessible in the output state of the joint control-target system. This allows two different implementations of what is usually considered to be the same channel to therefore be differentiated. More generally, we find that to completely describe the action of a coherently controlled quantum channel, one needs to specify not only a description of the channel (e.g., in terms of Kraus operators), but an additional ``transformation matrix'' depending on its implementation.
Quantum information transmission is subject to imperfections in communication processes and systems. These phenomena alter the original content due to decoherence and noise. However, suitable communication architectures incorporating quantum and classical redundancy can selectively remove these errors, boosting destructive interference. In this work, a selection of architectures based on path superposition or indefinite causal order were analyzed under appropriate configurations, alongside traditional methods such as classical redundancy, thus enhancing transmission. For that purpose, we examined a broad family of decoherent channels associated with the qubit chain transmission by passing through tailored arrangements or composite architectures of imperfect channels. The outcomes demonstrated that, when combined with traditional redundancy, these configurations could significantly improve the transmission across a substantial subset of the channels. For quantum key distribution purposes, two alternative bases were considered to encode the information chain. Because a control system must be introduced in the proposed architectures, two strategies for its disposal at the end of the communication process were compared: tracing and measurement. In addition, eavesdropping was also explored under a representative scenario, to quantify its impact on the most promising architecture analyzed. Thus, in terms of transmission quality and security, the analysis revealed significant advantages over direct transmission schemes.
Quantum Parameter Estimation (QPE) is commonly led using quantum probe states for the characterization of quantum systems. For these purposes, Quantum Fisher Information (QFI) plays a crucial role by imposing a lower bound for the parametric estimation of quantum channels. Several schemes for obtaining QFI lower bounds have been proposed, particularly for Pauli channels regarding qubits. Those schemes commonly employ either the individual channel, multiple copies of it, or arrangements including communication architectures. The present work aims to propose an architecture involving path superposition and causal indefinite order in superposition. Thus, by controlling the symmetry balance of this superposition, it reaches notable improvements in quantum parameter estimation. The proposed architecture has been tested to find the best possible QPE bounds for a representative and emblematic set of Pauli channels. Further, for the most reluctant channels, it was revisited testing the architecture again under a primary path superposition (using double teleportation) and also using entangled probe states to recombine their outputs with the original undisturbed state. Notable outcomes practically near zero were found for the QPE bounds, stating a hierarchy between the approaches, but anyway reaching a perfect theoretical QPE, particularly for the last path superposition including the proposed architecture.
Quantum Fisher Information is considered in Quantum Information literature as the main resource to determine a bound in the parametric characterization problem of a quantum channel by means of probe states. The parameters characterizing a quantum channel can be estimated until a limited precision settled by the Cramér–Rao bound established in estimation theory and statistics. The involved Quantum Fisher Information of the emerging quantum state provides such a bound. Quantum states with dimension d=2, the qubits, still comprise the main resources considered in Quantum Information and Quantum Processing theories. For them, Pauli channels are an important family of parametric quantum channels providing the most faithful deformation effects of imperfect quantum communication channels. Recently, Pauli channels have been characterized when they are arranged in an Indefinite Causal Order. Thus, their fidelity has been compared with single or sequential arrangements of identical channels to analyse their induced transparency under a joint behaviour. The most recent characterization has exhibited important features for quantum communication related with their parametric nature. In this work, a parallel analysis has been conducted to extended such a characterization, this time in terms of their emerging Quantum Fisher Information to pursue the advantages of each kind of arrangement for the parameter estimation problem. The objective is to reach the arrangement stating the best estimation bound for each type of Pauli channel. A complete map for such an effectivity is provided for each Pauli channel under the most affordable setups considering sequential and Indefinite Causal Order arrangements, as well as discussing their advantages and disadvantages.