Erika Andersson

Minimum-error discrimination between three mirror-symmetric states

We present the optimal measurement strategy for distinguishing between three quantum states exhibiting a mirror symmetry. The three states live in a two-dimensional Hilbert space, and are thus overcomplete. By mirror symmetry, we understand that the transformation {|+〉→|+〉,|-〉→-|-〉} leaves the set of states invariant. The obtained measurement strategy minimizes the error probability. An experimental realization for polarized photons, realizable with current technology, is suggested.

Maximum Confidence Quantum Measurements

We consider the problem of discriminating between states of a specified set with maximum confidence. For a set of linearly independent states unambiguous discrimination is possible if we allow for the possibility of an inconclusive result. For linearly dependent sets an analogous measurement is one which allows us to be as confident as possible that when a given state is identified on the basis of the measurement result, it is indeed the correct state.

Cavity-state preparation using adiabatic transfer

We show how to prepare a variety of cavity field states for multiple cavities. The state preparation technique used is related to the method of stimulated adiabatic Raman passage. The cavity modes are coupled by atoms, making it possible to transfer an arbitrary cavity field state from one cavity to another and also to prepare nontrivial cavity field states. In particular, we show how to prepare entangled states of two or more cavities, such as an Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen state and a W state, as well as various entangled superpositions of coherent states in different cavities, including Schrodinger cat states. The theoretical considerations are supported by numerical simulations.

Quantum statistics of atoms in microstructures

This paper proposes groove-like potential structures for the observation of quantum information processing by trapped particles. As an illustration the effect of quantum statistics at a 50-50 beam splitter is investigated. For non-interacting particles we regain the results known from photon experiments, but we have found that particle interactions destroy the perfect bosonic correlations. Fermions avoid each other due to the exclusion principle and hence they are far less sensitive to particle interactions. For bosons, the behavior can be explained with simple analytic considerations which predict a certain amount of universality. This is verified by detailed numerical calculations.

Comparing the states of many quantum systems

We investigate how to determine whether the states of a set of quantum systems are identical or not. This paper treats both error-free comparison, and comparison where errors in the result are allowed. Error-free comparison means that we aim to obtain definite answers, which are known to be correct, as often as possible. In general, we will also have to accept inconclusive results, giving no information. To obtain a definite answer that the states of the systems are not identical is always possible, whereas in the situation considered here, a definite answer that they are identical will not be possible. The optimal universal error-free comparison strategy is a projection onto the totally symmetric and the different non-symmetric subspaces, invariant under permutations and unitary transformations. We also show how to construct optimal comparison strategies when allowing for some errors in the result, minimizing either the error probability, or the average cost of making an error. We point out that it is possible to realize universal error-free comparison strategies using only linear elements and particle detectors, albeit with less than ideal efficiency. Also minimum-error and minimum-cost strategies may sometimes be realized in this way. This is of great significance for practical applications of quantum comparison.

Unambiguous comparison of the states of multiple quantum systems

We consider N quantum systems initially prepared in pure states and address the problem of unambiguously comparing them. One may ask whether or not all N systems are in the same state. Alternatively, one may ask whether or not the states of all N systems are different. We investigate the possibility of unambiguously obtaining this kind of information. It is found that some unambiguous comparison tasks are possible only when certain linear independence conditions are satisfied. We also obtain measurement strategies for certain comparison tasks which are optimal under a broad range of circumstances, in particular when the states are completely unknown. Such strategies, which we call universal comparison strategies, are found to have intriguing connections with the problem of quantifying the distinguishability of a set of quantum states and also with unresolved conjectures in linear algebra. We finally investigate a potential generalization of unambiguous state comparison, which we term unambiguous overlap filtering.

Quantum entanglement of nanocantilevers

We propose a scheme to entangle two mechanical nanocantilevers through indirect interactions mediated by a gas of ultracold atoms. We envisage a system of nanocantilevers magnetically coupled to a Bose-Einstein condensate of atoms and focus on studying the dark states of the system. These dark states are entangled states of the two nanocantilevers, with no coupling to the atomic condensate. In the absence of dissipation, the degree of entanglement is found to oscillate with time, while if dissipation is included, the system is found to relax to a statistical mixture of dark states which remains time independent until the inevitable thermal dephasing destroys the nanocantilever coherence. This opens up the possibility of achieving long-lived entangled nanocantilever states.

Cloning and joint measurements of incompatible components of spin

A joint measurement of two observables is a simultaneous measurement of both quantities upon the same quantum system. When two quantum-mechanical observables do not commute, then a joint measurement of these observables cannot be accomplished directly by projective measurements alone. In this paper we shall discuss the use of quantum cloning to perform a joint measurement of two components of spin associated with a qubit system. We introduce cloning schemes which are optimal with respect to this task. The cloning schemes may be thought to work by cloning two components of spin onto their outputs. We compare the proposed cloning machines to existing cloners.

Joint measurements and Bell inequalities

Joint quantum measurements of noncommuting observables are possible, if one accepts an increase in the measured variances. A necessary condition for a joint measurement to be possible is that a joint probability distribution exists for the measurement. This fact suggests that there may be a link with Bell inequalities, as these will be satisfied if and only if a joint probability distribution for all involved observables exists. We investigate the connections between Bell inequalities and conditions for joint quantum measurements to be possible. Mermins inequality for the three-particle Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger state turns out to be equivalent to the condition for a joint measurement on two out of the three quantum systems to exist. Gisins Bell inequality for three coplanar measurement directions, meanwhile, is shown to be less strict than the condition for the corresponding joint measurement.

Comparison of unitary transforms

We analyse the problem of comparing unitary transformations. The task is to decide, with minimal resources and maximal reliability, whether two given unitary transformations are identical or different. It is possible to make such comparisons without obtaining any information about the individual transformations. Different comparison strategies are presented and compared with respect to their efficiency. With an interferometric setup, it is possible to compare two unitary transforms using only one test particle. Another strategy makes use of a two-particle singlet state. This strategy is more efficient than using a non-entangled two-particle test state, thus demonstrating the benefit of entanglement. Generalizations to higher-dimensional transforms and to more than two transformations are made.