Quantum illumination takes advantage of quantum entanglement to achieve low error probability for detecting a low reflective object embedded in a noisy thermal bath. The two-mode squeezed state (TMSS), which is a Gaussian state, has been applied to quantum illumination as the detecting states in experiment. The photon-subtracted TMSS has also been proposed to achieve even lower error probability. Here we study quantum illumination with non-Gaussian states generated by photon subtraction and photon addition. Helstrom limit and quantum Chernoff bound are evaluated for comparison between performance of states with the same squeezing strength and with the same signal strength, respectively. Particularly, states generated by asymmetrical coherent superposition of photon subtraction and addition are studied, which are shown by us to have better performance than symmetrical ones. We show that non-Gaussian operations enhance the quantum illumination by introducing both stronger entanglement and signal strength. We then give a strategy on how to choose the optimal states for the best performance in different scenarios.Quantum illumination takes advantage of quantum entanglement to achieve low error probability for detecting a low reflective object embedded in a noisy thermal bath. The two-mode squeezed state (TMSS), which is a Gaussian state, has been applied to quantum illumination as the detecting states in experiment. The photon-subtracted TMSS has also been proposed to achieve even lower error probability. Here we study quantum illumination with non-Gaussian states generated by photon subtraction and photon addition. Helstrom limit and quantum Chernoff bound are evaluated for comparison between performance of states with the same squeezing strength and with the same signal strength, respectively. Particularly, states generated by asymmetrical coherent superposition of photon subtraction and addition are studied, which are shown by us to have better performance than symmetrical ones. We show that non-Gaussian operations enhance the quantum illumination by introducing both stronger entanglement and signal strength. We then give a strategy on how to choose the optimal states for the best performance in different scenarios.

Physical Review AJul 17, 201862 citations

Quantum Illumination with Non-Gaussian Three Photons States

Ricardo Gallego Torromé

It is shown that quantum illumination with three photons non-Gaussian states, where the signal is described by a two photons state and the idler is described by a one photon state, can outperform in sensitivity standard Gaussian quantum illumination in a high noisy background. In particular, there is a reduction in the probability due to an increase in the probability of error exponent by a factor $1/{N_S}$ , where $N_S$ is the average number of photons per mode of the signal state.It is shown that quantum illumination with three photons non-Gaussian states, where the signal is described by a two photons state and the idler is described by a one photon state, can outperform in sensitivity standard Gaussian quantum illumination in a high noisy background. In particular, there is a reduction in the probability due to an increase in the probability of error exponent by a factor $1/{N_S}$, where $N_S$ is the average number of photons per mode of the signal state.

arXiv:2305.10458May 17, 20230 citations

Unveiling distinguishable non-Gaussian quantum states

Andrea Giani, Moe Z. Win, Peter Falb +1 more

Physical Review AJan 9, 20262 citations

Quantum illumination using non-Gaussian states with conditional measurements

Huan Zhang, Ying Xia, Wei Ye +2 more

Quantum illumination is a quantum sensing protocol primarily used for object detection, which aims to detect the presence of a target with low reflectivity in the free space using quantum light fields. Here we investigate a quantum illumination scheme using an entangled light source by performing non-Gaussian operations on the two-mode squeezed vacuum (TMSV) state in order to reduce the detection error probability and meanwhile improve the signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio. We demonstrate that under the same squeezing parameter, the non-Gaussian operations can significantly reduce the detection error rate compared with the original TMSV state. Under the same average signal photon number, both the TMSV states with and without non-Gaussian operations can provide smaller error rate than that of the coherent state. In addition, we consider the balanced homodyne detection on idler and return signal photons as joint measurement and find that non-Gaussian operations can enhance the SNR of target detection by about 6--9 dB compared with that using TMSV. These results here demonstrate the advantage of the non-Gaussian entangled source in quantum illumination protocol and can find potential applications in target detection in noisy environment.Quantum illumination is a quantum sensing protocol primarily used for object detection, which aims to detect the presence of a target with low reflectivity in the free space using quantum light fields. Here we investigate a quantum illumination scheme using an entangled light source by performing non-Gaussian operations on the two-mode squeezed vacuum (TMSV) state in order to reduce the detection error probability and meanwhile improve the signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio. We demonstrate that under the same squeezing parameter, the non-Gaussian operations can significantly reduce the detection error rate compared with the original TMSV state. Under the same average signal photon number, both the TMSV states with and without non-Gaussian operations can provide smaller error rate than that of the coherent state. In addition, we consider the balanced homodyne detection on idler and return signal photons as joint measurement and find that non-Gaussian operations can enhance the SNR of target detection by about 6--9 dB compared with that using TMSV. These results here demonstrate the advantage of the non-Gaussian entangled source in quantum illumination protocol and can find potential applications in target detection in noisy environment.

Physical Review AJun 28, 202412 citations

1/{N_S}

, where

N_S

is the average number of photons per mode of the signal state.