We consider the effect of loss on quantum-optical communication channels. The channel based on direct detection of number states, which for a lossless transmission line would achieve the ultimate quantum channel capacity, is easily degraded by loss. The same holds true for the channel based on homodyne detection of squeezed states, which also is very fragile to loss. On the contrary, the ``classical'' channel based on heterodyne detection of coherent states is loss-invariant. We optimize the a priori probability for the squeezed-state and the number-state channels, taking the effect of loss into account. In the low power regime we achieve a sizeable improvement of the mutual information, and both the squeezed-state and the number-state channels overcome the capacity of the coherent-state channel. In particular, the squeezed-state channel beats the classical channel for total average number of photons $N<8$ . However, for sufficiently high power the classical channel always performs as the best one. For the number-state channel we show that with a loss $\\eta\\lesssim .6$ the optimized a priori probability departs from the usual thermal-like behavior, and develops gaps of zero probability, with a considerable improvement of the mutual information (up to 70 % of improvement at low power for attenuation $\\eta=.15$ ).We consider the effect of loss on quantum-optical communication channels. The channel based on direct detection of number states, which for a lossless transmission line would achieve the ultimate quantum channel capacity, is easily degraded by loss. The same holds true for the channel based on homodyne detection of squeezed states, which also is very fragile to loss. On the contrary, the ``classical'' channel based on heterodyne detection of coherent states is loss-invariant. We optimize the a priori probability for the squeezed-state and the number-state channels, taking the effect of loss into account. In the low power regime we achieve a sizeable improvement of the mutual information, and both the squeezed-state and the number-state channels overcome the capacity of the coherent-state channel. In particular, the squeezed-state channel beats the classical channel for total average number of photons $N<8$. However, for sufficiently high power the classical channel always performs as the best one. For the number-state channel we show that with a loss $\\eta\\lesssim .6$ the optimized a priori probability departs from the usual thermal-like behavior, and develops gaps of zero probability, with a considerable improvement of the mutual information (up to 70 % of improvement at low power for attenuation $\\eta=.15$).

Jan 1, 19983 citations

Quantum Aspects of Optical Communications

C. Bendjaballah, Osamu Hirota, Serge Reynaud

Lecture notes in physicsJan 1, 199192 citations

Multiplexed CV quantum teleportation for high rates in quantum communication

Andreas Christ, Cosmo Lupo, Christine Silberhorn

A major challenge of today's quantum communication systems lies in the transmission of quantum information with high rates over long distances in the presence of unavoidable losses. Thereby the achievable quantum communication rate is fundamentally limited by the amount of energy that can be transmitted per use of the channel. It is hence vital to develop quantum communication protocols which encode quantum information as energy efficiently as possible. To this aim we investigate continuous-variable quantum teleportation as a method of distributing quantum information. We explore the possibility to encode information on multiple optical modes and derive upper and lower bounds on the achievable quantum channel capacities. This analysis enables us to benchmark single-mode vs. multi-mode entanglement resources. Our research reveals that multiplexing does not only feature an enhanced energy efficiency, significantly increasing the achievable quantum communication rates in comparison to single- mode coding, but also yields an improved loss resilience. However as quantum information transfer is only achieved for entanglement values above a certain threshold a careful optimization of the number of coding modes is needed to obtain the optimal quantum channel capacity.A major challenge of today's quantum communication systems lies in the transmission of quantum information with high rates over long distances in the presence of unavoidable losses. Thereby the achievable quantum communication rate is fundamentally limited by the amount of energy that can be transmitted per use of the channel. It is hence vital to develop quantum communication protocols which encode quantum information as energy efficiently as possible. To this aim we investigate continuous-variable quantum teleportation as a method of distributing quantum information. We explore the possibility to encode information on multiple optical modes and derive upper and lower bounds on the achievable quantum channel capacities. This analysis enables us to benchmark single-mode vs. multi-mode entanglement resources. Our research reveals that multiplexing does not only feature an enhanced energy efficiency, significantly increasing the achievable quantum communication rates in comparison to single- mode coding, but also yields an improved loss resilience. However as quantum information transfer is only achieved for entanglement values above a certain threshold a careful optimization of the number of coding modes is needed to obtain the optimal quantum channel capacity.

Jan 20, 20120 citations

Optimization of quantum interferometric metrological sensors in the presence of photon loss

Tae‐Woo Lee, Sean D. Huver, Hwang Lee +7 more

We optimize two-mode entangled number states of light in the presence of loss in order to maximize the extraction of the available phase information in an interferometer. Our approach optimizes over the entire available input Hilbert space with no constraints, other than fixed total initial photon number. We optimize to maximize the Fisher information, which is equivalent to minimizing the phase uncertainty. We find that in the limit of zero loss, the optimal state is the maximally path-entangled (so-called N00N) state, for small loss, the optimal state gradually deviates from the N00N state, and in the limit of large loss, the optimal state converges to a generalized two-mode coherent state, with a finite total number of photons. The results provide a general protocol for optimizing the performance of a quantum optical interferometer in the presence of photon loss, with applications to quantum imaging, metrology, sensing, and information processing.We optimize two-mode entangled number states of light in the presence of loss in order to maximize the extraction of the available phase information in an interferometer. Our approach optimizes over the entire available input Hilbert space with no constraints, other than fixed total initial photon number. We optimize to maximize the Fisher information, which is equivalent to minimizing the phase uncertainty. We find that in the limit of zero loss, the optimal state is the maximally path-entangled (so-called N00N) state, for small loss, the optimal state gradually deviates from the N00N state, and in the limit of large loss, the optimal state converges to a generalized two-mode coherent state, with a finite total number of photons. The results provide a general protocol for optimizing the performance of a quantum optical interferometer in the presence of photon loss, with applications to quantum imaging, metrology, sensing, and information processing.

arXiv:0908.3008Physical Review ADec 2, 200992 citations

Quantum Optical Communication

Daniel F. Walls, Gerard J Milburn

Graduate texts in physicsJan 1, 20250 citations

N<8

. However, for sufficiently high power the classical channel always performs as the best one. For the number-state channel we show that with a loss

\\eta\\lesssim .6

the optimized a priori probability departs from the usual thermal-like behavior, and develops gaps of zero probability, with a considerable improvement of the mutual information (up to 70 % of improvement at low power for attenuation

\\eta=.15