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Optica

Experimental full calibration of quantum devices in a semi-device-independent way

Gong-Chu Li, Zhen−Qiang Yin, Wen-Hao Zhang, Lei Chen, Peng Yin, Xing-Xiang Peng, Xue-Song Hong, Geng Chen, Chuan‐Feng Li, Guang‐Can Guo

Published Oct 30, 2023• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Semi-device-independent (SDI) methods offer a credible way to calibrate preparation and measurement devices simultaneously in quantum information processing, using only prior knowledge such as the Hilbert space dimension. To date, the SDI method is restricted to a few state paradigms, which impedes its broader applications. Recently, Tavakoli [ Phys. Rev. Lett. 125 , 150503 ( 2020 ) PRLTAO 0031-9007 10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.150503 ] proposed an SDI scheme to certify t-designs with discrete and symmetric structures. In this work, we bridge the gap between discrete and continuous structures with a concept termed “covering angle,” while maintaining the SDI feature. This concept enables us to evaluate a quantum device’s ability to generate arbitrary quantum states in a Hilbert space via calibrating a certain t-design. This so-called full calibration method is further tailored to be tolerant of errors in realistic state production. We demonstrate this full calibration scheme for a qubit system with various t-designs and show that it renders SDI certificates for quantum key distribution, quantum random number generation, and magic state distillability.

DOI
10.1364/optica.502274

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Semi-device-independent (SDI) methods offer a credible way to calibrate preparation and measurement devices simultaneously in quantum information processing, using only prior knowledge such as the Hilbert space dimension. To date, the SDI method is restricted to a few state paradigms, which impedes its broader applications. Recently, Tavakoli [ Phys. Rev. Lett. 125 , 150503 ( 2020 ) PRLTAO 0031-9007 10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.150503 ] proposed an SDI scheme to certify t-designs with discrete and symmetric structures. In this work, we bridge the gap between discrete and continuous structures with a concept termed “covering angle,” while maintaining the SDI feature. This concept enables us to evaluate a quantum device’s ability to generate arbitrary quantum states in a Hilbert space via calibrating a certain t-design. This so-called full calibration method is further tailored to be tolerant of errors in realistic state production. We demonstrate this full calibration scheme for a qubit system with various t-designs and show that it renders SDI certificates for quantum key distribution, quantum random number generation, and magic state distillability.
Certifying that quantum devices behave as intended is crucial for quantum information science. Here, methods are developed for certification of both state preparation devices and measurement devices based on prepare-and-measure experiments with independent devices. The experimenter assumes the independence of the devices and knowledge of the Hilbert space dimension. Thus no precise characterization of any part of the experiment is required. The certification is based on a randomized version of unambiguous state discrimination and targets the class of state ensembles corresponding to quantum t designs of any size and any dimension. These quantum designs are sets of states over which the average of any t-degree polynomial equals its average over all pure states, and they accommodate many of the most useful discrete structures in quantum information processing. Furthermore, it is shown that the same experiments also certify the detection efficiency of the measurement devices, as well as their nonprojective nature. The presented methods can readily be implemented in experiments.
Semi-device-independent (SDI) methods provide a convenient way to characterize quantum systems under additional physical assumptions, and these methods have wide applications in quantum information processing, such as quantum key distribution, quantum random number generation and quantum certification. Recently, Tavakoli proposed an SDI scheme to investigate quantum correlations based on the assumption of restricted distrust. Here, we experimentally investigate quantum correlations in an SDI framework with restricted distrust, where the preparer emits states with a bounded fidelity with respect to a set of target states and the measurer operates an uncharacterized measurement device. In our work, we experimentally realize quantum state discrimination with bounded distrust and apply it to the certification of detection efficiency. Moreover, we demonstrate the advantages of quantum systems over classical counterparts even at substantial degrees of distrust. Finally, we investigate SDI random number generation with restricted distrust and show that high rates of randomness can also be generated at experimentally realistic levels of distrust. Our work opens new avenues for SDI quantum information processing.
A key aspect in quantum information is to understand the advantage offered by quantum systems over classical ones in communication tasks. In recent years, a fundamental approach to this problem has been developed, focusing on quantum correlations in prepare-and-measure scenarios. Inspired by the developments in Bell nonlocality and device-independent information processing, this line of research aims to characterize the possibilities and limits of quantum systems for communication, in particular to precisely capture the advantage they offer over classical systems. In addition to fundamental insights, these ideas also underpin the concept of semi-device-independent quantum information processing. Exploring trade-offs between security, performance and ease-of-implementation, this approach opens promising directions for novel quantum information processing technologies and devices. A number of protocols and proof-of-principle demonstrations have been reported in recent years, in particular for quantum randomness certification and key distribution. Here, we provide a comprehensive introduction to quantum prepare-and-measure correlations and semi-device independent applications.
The randomness expansion capabilities of semi-device-independent (SDI) prepare and measure protocols are analyzed under the sole assumption that the Hilbert state dimension is known. It is explicitly proved that the maximum certifiable entropy that can be obtained through this set of protocols is $\ensuremath{-}{log}_{2}[\frac{1}{2}(1+\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}})]$ and the same is independent of the dimension witnesses used to certify the protocol. The minimum number of preparation and measurement settings required to achieve this entropy is also proven. An SDI protocol that generates the maximum output entropy with the least amount of input setting is provided. An analytical relationship between the entropy generated and the witness value is obtained. It is also established that certifiable entropy can be generated as soon as the dimension witness crosses the classical bound, making the protocol noise-robust and useful in practical applications.
The semi-device-independent approach provides a framework for prepare-and-measure quantum protocols using devices whose behavior must not be characterized nor trusted, except for a single assumption on the dimension of the Hilbert space characterizing the quantum carriers. Here, we propose instead to constrain the quantum carriers through a bound on the mean value of a well-chosen observable. This modified assumption is physically better motivated than a dimension bound and closer to the description of actual experiments. In particular, we consider quantum optical schemes where the source emits quantum states described in an infinite-dimensional Fock space and model our assumption as an upper bound on the average photon number in the emitted states. We characterize the set of correlations that may be exhibited in the simplest possible scenario compatible with our new framework, based on two energy-constrained state preparations and a two-outcome measurement. Interestingly, we uncover the existence of quantum correlations exceeding the set of classical correlations that can be produced by devices behaving in a purely pre-determined fashion (possibly including shared randomness). This feature suggests immediate applications to certified randomness generation. Along this line, we analyze the achievable correlations in several prepare-and-measure optical schemes with a mean photon number constraint and demonstrate that they allow for the generation of certified randomness. Our simplest optical scheme works by the on-off keying of an attenuated laser source followed by photocounting. It opens the path to more sophisticated energy-constrained semi-device-independent quantum cryptography protocols, such as quantum key distribution.
Certifying high-dimensional quantum channels is essential for ensuring the reliability of quantum communication protocols. Existing certification schemes often rely on fully trusted internal devices, which is difficult to achieve in realistic scenarios. Here, we propose a semi-device-independent framework for certifying channel properties directly from observed statistics, assuming only that the system dimension is known. By explicitly incorporating the full set of structural constraints inherent to Choi states, our approach exploits the Choi-Jamiołkowski isomorphism for rigorous certification of quantum channels. The entanglement dimensionality of quantum channels is first certified by introducing a witness and numerically determining its Schmidt-number-dependent bounds. This certification method reproduces known analytical benchmarks and is applied to dephasing and depolarizing noise channels, thereby confirming its validity. To provide a more complete assessment of channel performance, the entanglement fidelity of quantum channels is also certified using a hierarchy of semidefinite programming relaxations based on localizing matrices. Lower bounds on the entanglement fidelity are obtained that are compatible with either the full set of observed statistics or a single witness value.