Quantum algorithms enable Heisenberg-limited scaling across many tasks in sensing and learning, achieving precision $\varepsilon$ using $O(1/\varepsilon)$ total evolution time. However, in Hamiltonian property testing, the best known algorithms have $O(1/\varepsilon^2)$ total evolution time, unless it is possible to $\textit{reverse}$ the flow of time under the Hamiltonian. In this work, we prove that time reversal is necessary to close this gap. We establish evolution time lower bounds for Hamiltonian certification and locality testing, for a continuous family of error metrics ranging from average- to worst-case. We also prove matching upper bounds for Hamiltonian certification in all cases, both with and without time reversal, showing that the advantage from time reversal persists. Our results follow from a new Fourier-analytic approach to quantum lower bounds in continuous time, which is sensitive to time reversal and applicable beyond Hamiltonian property testing. This gives an alternative proof that inverses are required for amplitude amplification and estimation, improving the lower bounds of Tang and Wright and extending to fractional queries. We also show that, for unstructured search, uncertainty in the phase of the oracle destroys the quantum speedup without inverse queries, even when the oracle is fixed and coherent. Our work rigorously establishes time reversal as a resource governing both the precision of quantum measurement and the robustness of quantum algorithms.Quantum algorithms enable Heisenberg-limited scaling across many tasks in sensing and learning, achieving precision $\varepsilon$ using $O(1/\varepsilon)$ total evolution time. However, in Hamiltonian property testing, the best known algorithms have $O(1/\varepsilon^2)$ total evolution time, unless it is possible to $\textit{reverse}$ the flow of time under the Hamiltonian. In this work, we prove that time reversal is necessary to close this gap. We establish evolution time lower bounds for Hamiltonian certification and locality testing, for a continuous family of error metrics ranging from average- to worst-case. We also prove matching upper bounds for Hamiltonian certification in all cases, both with and without time reversal, showing that the advantage from time reversal persists. Our results follow from a new Fourier-analytic approach to quantum lower bounds in continuous time, which is sensitive to time reversal and applicable beyond Hamiltonian property testing. This gives an alternative proof that inverses are required for amplitude amplification and estimation, improving the lower bounds of Tang and Wright and extending to fractional queries. We also show that, for unstructured search, uncertainty in the phase of the oracle destroys the quantum speedup without inverse queries, even when the oracle is fixed and coherent. Our work rigorously establishes time reversal as a resource governing both the precision of quantum measurement and the robustness of quantum algorithms.

quant-pharXiv:2610.04996Oct 6, 20260 citations

Approaching the Heisenberg Limit Without Single-Particle Detection

Gregory S. Bentsen, Emily J. Davis, Monika Schleier-Smith

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMay 25, 20160 citations

On the spectrum of the Heisenberg Hamiltonian

Claudio Albanese

Journal of Statistical PhysicsApr 1, 198919 citations

Heisenberg Hamiltonian

Marek S. Wartak, Ching-Yao Fong

SPIE eBooksJan 4, 20191 citation

Phase amplification via synthetic two-axis-twisting echo from interaction-fixed one-axis twisting

Jihao Ma, Jungeng Zhou, Jiahao Huang +1 more

One-axis twisting (OAT) and two-axis twisting (TAT) are well-known methods for achieving entanglement-enhanced quantum metrology, and their time-reversal echo offers a potent tool for approaching the Heisenberg limit even with detection noise. However, flipping the sign of interaction to implement the time-reversal echo is generally challenging. Here, we propose an echo protocol based on synthetic TAT from interaction-fixed OAT in a pseudospin-1/2 ensemble to achieve time-reversal quantum metrology. By applying modulation pulses around two different orthogonal directions, the effective TAT and its echo can be realized without changing the interaction. We demonstrate that this protocol not only outperforms the OAT echo scheme in both metrological gain and evolution time but is also robust against detection noise. Our protocol presents a TAT echo scheme that effectively avoids flipping the sign of interaction, providing a viable method for improving precision and robustness of quantum metrology.One-axis twisting (OAT) and two-axis twisting (TAT) are well-known methods for achieving entanglement-enhanced quantum metrology, and their time-reversal echo offers a potent tool for approaching the Heisenberg limit even with detection noise. However, flipping the sign of interaction to implement the time-reversal echo is generally challenging. Here, we propose an echo protocol based on synthetic TAT from interaction-fixed OAT in a pseudospin-1/2 ensemble to achieve time-reversal quantum metrology. By applying modulation pulses around two different orthogonal directions, the effective TAT and its echo can be realized without changing the interaction. We demonstrate that this protocol not only outperforms the OAT echo scheme in both metrological gain and evolution time but is also robust against detection noise. Our protocol presents a TAT echo scheme that effectively avoids flipping the sign of interaction, providing a viable method for improving precision and robustness of quantum metrology.

Physical Review AAug 5, 20244 citations

Quantum replication at the Heisenberg limit

Giulio Chiribella, Yuxiang Yang, Andrew Chi-Chih Yao

arXiv:1304.2910Nature CommunicationsDec 5, 201343 citations

Quantum algorithms enable Heisenberg-limited scaling across many tasks in sensing and learning, achieving precision

\varepsilon

using

O(1/\varepsilon)

total evolution time. However, in Hamiltonian property testing, the best known algorithms have

O(1/\varepsilon^2)

total evolution time, unless it is possible to

\textit{reverse}

the flow of time under the Hamiltonian. In this work, we prove that time reversal is necessary to close this gap. We establish evolution time lower bounds for Hamiltonian certification and locality testing, for a continuous family of error metrics ranging from average- to worst-case. We also prove matching upper bounds for Hamiltonian certification in all cases, both with and without time reversal, showing that the advantage from time reversal persists. Our results follow from a new Fourier-analytic approach to quantum lower bounds in continuous time, which is sensitive to time reversal and applicable beyond Hamiltonian property testing. This gives an alternative proof that inverses are required for amplitude amplification and estimation, improving the lower bounds of Tang and Wright and extending to fractional queries. We also show that, for unstructured search, uncertainty in the phase of the oracle destroys the quantum speedup without inverse queries, even when the oracle is fixed and coherent. Our work rigorously establishes time reversal as a resource governing both the precision of quantum measurement and the robustness of quantum algorithms.