Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review A

Continuous-variable entanglement swapping with photon subtraction

Na Wang, Meihong Wang, Xiaolong Su

Published Jul 3, 2024• 9 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Entanglement swapping, which establishes entanglement between two independent and distant entangled states, is a key element of a quantum repeater in an entanglement-based quantum network. In continuous-variable (CV) entanglement swapping, it is essential to enhance the entanglement of entanglement swapping because it decreases with loss and noise in the quantum channel. Here, we propose a scheme of enhancing entanglement of CV entanglement swapping by a photon subtraction (PS) operation in noisy channels. We apply both one- and two-sided PS operations in CV entanglement swapping through lossy single- and dual-channel transmission schemes, respectively. In the lossy channel, we show that the two-sided PS operation enables one to obtain higher entanglement and longer transmission distance compared to the one-sided PS operation. Furthermore, we show that the two-sided PS operation can enhance the entanglement of the entanglement swapping in the noisy single-channel CV entanglement swapping. Our results provide a feasible solution to enhance entanglement of CV entanglement swapping, and they have potential applications in building quantum repeaters.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.110.012416

Related papers

Loss-resilient photonic entanglement swapping using optical hybrid states

Youngrong Lim, Jaewoo Joo, Timothy P. Spiller +1 more

We propose a scheme of loss-resilient entanglement swapping between two distant parties via an imperfect optical channel. In this scheme, two copies of hybrid entangled states are prepared and the continuous-variable parts propagate through lossy media. In order to perform successful entanglement swapping, several different measurement schemes are considered for the continuous-variable parts such as single-photon detection for ideal cases and a homodyne detection for practical cases. We find that the entanglement swapping using hybrid states with small amplitudes offers larger entanglement than the discrete-variable entanglement swapping in the presence of large losses. Remarkably, this hybrid scheme still offers excellent robustness of entanglement to the detection inefficiency. Thus, the proposed scheme could be used for the practical quantum key distribution in hybrid optical states under photon losses.

arXiv:1608.04882•Physical Review A•Dec 27, 2016•32 citations

Performance improvement of continuous-variable quantum key distribution with an entangled source in the middle via photon subtraction

Ying Guo, Qin Liao, Yijun Wang +3 more

A suitable photon-subtraction operation can be exploited to improve the maximal transmission of continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) in point-to-point quantum communication. Unfortunately, the photon-subtraction operation faces solving the improvement transmission problem of practical quantum networks, where the entangled source is located in the third part, which may be controlled by a malicious eavesdropper, instead of in one of the trusted parts, controlled by Alice or Bob. In this paper, we show that a solution can come from using a non-Gaussian operation, in particular, the photon-subtraction operation, which provides a method to enhance the performance of entanglement-based (EB) CVQKD. Photon subtraction not only can lengthen the maximal transmission distance by increasing the signal-to-noise rate but also can be easily implemented with existing technologies. Security analysis shows that CVQKD with an entangled source in the middle (ESIM) from applying photon subtraction can well increase the secure transmission distance in both direct and reverse reconciliations of the EB-CVQKD scheme, even if the entangled source originates from an untrusted part. Moreover, it can defend against the inner-source attack, which is a specific attack by an untrusted entangled source in the framework of ESIM.

Physical Review A•Mar 3, 2017•85 citations

Continuous-variable quantum key distribution based on photon addition operation*

Xiaoting Chen, Lu-Ping Zhang, Shoukang Chang +2 more

It is shown that the non-Gaussian operations can not only be used to prepare the nonclassical states, but also to improve the entanglement degree between Gaussian states. Thus these operations are naturally considered to enhance the performance of continuous variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD), in which the non-Gaussian operations are usually placed on the right-side of the entangled source. Here we propose another scheme for further improving the performance of CVQKD with the entangled-based scheme by operating photon-addition operation on the left-side of the entangled source. It is found that the photon-addition operation on the left-side presents both higher success probability and better secure key rate and transmission distance than the photon subtraction on the right-side, although they share the same maximal tolerable noise. In addition, compared to both photon subtraction and photon addition on the right-side, our scheme shows the best performance and the photon addition on the right-side is the worst.

Chinese Physics B•Jan 8, 2021•12 citations

Quantum repeater for continuous-variable entanglement distribution

Josephine Dias, Matthew S. Winnel, Nedasadat Hosseinidehaj +1 more

Quantum repeaters have been proposed as a way of extending the reach of quantum communication. First-generation approaches use entanglement swapping to connect entangled links along a long-distance channel. Recently, there have been proposals for first-generation quantum repeaters for continuous variables. In this paper, we present an improved continuous-variable (CV) repeater scheme using optimal Gaussian entanglement swapping. Our scheme uses the noiseless linear amplifier for entanglement distillation. We show that with the simplest configuration of the noiseless linear amplifier and under the assumption of good quantum memories and perfect sources and detectors, our scheme beats the direct transmission upper limit for shorter distances and can offer advantages over previous CV repeater schemes.

arXiv:2004.06345•Physical Review A•Nov 30, 2020•55 citations

Entanglement swapping via lossy channels using photon-number-encoded states

Wan Zo, Bohdan Bilash, Donghwa Lee +5 more

Entanglement between distant parties is a key resource in quantum networks. However, photon losses in quantum channels significantly reduce the success probability of entanglement sharing, which scales quadratically with the channel transmittivity. Quantum repeaters using entanglement swapping can mitigate this effect, but usually require high-performance photonic quantum memories to synchronize photonic qubits. In this work, we theoretically and experimentally investigate an entanglement swapping protocol using photon-number-encoded states that can effectively alleviate quantum channel losses without requiring photonic quantum memories. We demonstrate that the protocol exhibits a success probability scaling linearly with the channel transmittivity. Furthermore, we show that while unbalanced channel losses can degrade the shared entanglement, this effect can be compensated by optimally adjusting the initial entangled states. Our results highlight the potential of photon-number encoding for realizing robust entanglement distribution in lossy quantum networks.

arXiv:2405.03951•Physical Review A•Nov 5, 2024•8 citations

Improving Eight-State Continuous Variable Quantum Key Distribution by Applying Photon Subtraction

Qingquan Peng, Xiaodong Wu, Ying Guo

We propose a new method to effectively improve the performance of a quantum key distribution with eight-state continuous variables by the photon subtraction method. This operation is effective in increasing and distilling Gaussian entanglement between quantum states, and can be easily realized by existing technology. Simulation results show that the channel-loss tolerance of the eight-state continuous variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) protocol can be extended by the appropriate photon subtraction algorithm; namely, single-photon subtraction.

Applied Sciences•Mar 29, 2019•4 citations
Entanglement swapping, which establishes entanglement between two independent and distant entangled states, is a key element of a quantum repeater in an entanglement-based quantum network. In continuous-variable (CV) entanglement swapping, it is essential to enhance the entanglement of entanglement swapping because it decreases with loss and noise in the quantum channel. Here, we propose a scheme of enhancing entanglement of CV entanglement swapping by a photon subtraction (PS) operation in noisy channels. We apply both one- and two-sided PS operations in CV entanglement swapping through lossy single- and dual-channel transmission schemes, respectively. In the lossy channel, we show that the two-sided PS operation enables one to obtain higher entanglement and longer transmission distance compared to the one-sided PS operation. Furthermore, we show that the two-sided PS operation can enhance the entanglement of the entanglement swapping in the noisy single-channel CV entanglement swapping. Our results provide a feasible solution to enhance entanglement of CV entanglement swapping, and they have potential applications in building quantum repeaters.
We propose a scheme of loss-resilient entanglement swapping between two distant parties via an imperfect optical channel. In this scheme, two copies of hybrid entangled states are prepared and the continuous-variable parts propagate through lossy media. In order to perform successful entanglement swapping, several different measurement schemes are considered for the continuous-variable parts such as single-photon detection for ideal cases and a homodyne detection for practical cases. We find that the entanglement swapping using hybrid states with small amplitudes offers larger entanglement than the discrete-variable entanglement swapping in the presence of large losses. Remarkably, this hybrid scheme still offers excellent robustness of entanglement to the detection inefficiency. Thus, the proposed scheme could be used for the practical quantum key distribution in hybrid optical states under photon losses.
A suitable photon-subtraction operation can be exploited to improve the maximal transmission of continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) in point-to-point quantum communication. Unfortunately, the photon-subtraction operation faces solving the improvement transmission problem of practical quantum networks, where the entangled source is located in the third part, which may be controlled by a malicious eavesdropper, instead of in one of the trusted parts, controlled by Alice or Bob. In this paper, we show that a solution can come from using a non-Gaussian operation, in particular, the photon-subtraction operation, which provides a method to enhance the performance of entanglement-based (EB) CVQKD. Photon subtraction not only can lengthen the maximal transmission distance by increasing the signal-to-noise rate but also can be easily implemented with existing technologies. Security analysis shows that CVQKD with an entangled source in the middle (ESIM) from applying photon subtraction can well increase the secure transmission distance in both direct and reverse reconciliations of the EB-CVQKD scheme, even if the entangled source originates from an untrusted part. Moreover, it can defend against the inner-source attack, which is a specific attack by an untrusted entangled source in the framework of ESIM.
It is shown that the non-Gaussian operations can not only be used to prepare the nonclassical states, but also to improve the entanglement degree between Gaussian states. Thus these operations are naturally considered to enhance the performance of continuous variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD), in which the non-Gaussian operations are usually placed on the right-side of the entangled source. Here we propose another scheme for further improving the performance of CVQKD with the entangled-based scheme by operating photon-addition operation on the left-side of the entangled source. It is found that the photon-addition operation on the left-side presents both higher success probability and better secure key rate and transmission distance than the photon subtraction on the right-side, although they share the same maximal tolerable noise. In addition, compared to both photon subtraction and photon addition on the right-side, our scheme shows the best performance and the photon addition on the right-side is the worst.
Quantum repeaters have been proposed as a way of extending the reach of quantum communication. First-generation approaches use entanglement swapping to connect entangled links along a long-distance channel. Recently, there have been proposals for first-generation quantum repeaters for continuous variables. In this paper, we present an improved continuous-variable (CV) repeater scheme using optimal Gaussian entanglement swapping. Our scheme uses the noiseless linear amplifier for entanglement distillation. We show that with the simplest configuration of the noiseless linear amplifier and under the assumption of good quantum memories and perfect sources and detectors, our scheme beats the direct transmission upper limit for shorter distances and can offer advantages over previous CV repeater schemes.
Entanglement between distant parties is a key resource in quantum networks. However, photon losses in quantum channels significantly reduce the success probability of entanglement sharing, which scales quadratically with the channel transmittivity. Quantum repeaters using entanglement swapping can mitigate this effect, but usually require high-performance photonic quantum memories to synchronize photonic qubits. In this work, we theoretically and experimentally investigate an entanglement swapping protocol using photon-number-encoded states that can effectively alleviate quantum channel losses without requiring photonic quantum memories. We demonstrate that the protocol exhibits a success probability scaling linearly with the channel transmittivity. Furthermore, we show that while unbalanced channel losses can degrade the shared entanglement, this effect can be compensated by optimally adjusting the initial entangled states. Our results highlight the potential of photon-number encoding for realizing robust entanglement distribution in lossy quantum networks.
We propose a new method to effectively improve the performance of a quantum key distribution with eight-state continuous variables by the photon subtraction method. This operation is effective in increasing and distilling Gaussian entanglement between quantum states, and can be easily realized by existing technology. Simulation results show that the channel-loss tolerance of the eight-state continuous variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) protocol can be extended by the appropriate photon subtraction algorithm; namely, single-photon subtraction.