Brida, G., Genovese, M., & Ruo Berchera, I. (2010). Experimental realization of sub-shot-noise quantum imaging. Nat. Photon., 4(4), 227–230.
Abstract: The properties of quantum states have led to the development of new technologies, ranging from quantum information to quantum metrology. A recent field of research to emerge is quantum imaging, which aims to overcome the limits of classical imaging by making use of the spatial properties of quantum states of light . In particular, quantum correlations between twin beams represent a fundamental resource for these studies. One of the most interesting proposed schemes takes advantage of the spatial quantum correlations between parametric down-conversion light beams to realize sub-shot-noise imaging of weak absorbing objects, leading ideally to noise-free imaging. Here, we present the first experimental realization of this scheme, showing its potential to achieve a larger signal-to-noise ratio than classical imaging methods. This work represents the starting point for this quantum technology, which we anticipate will have applications when there is a requirement for low-photon-flux illumination (for example for use with biological samples).
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Kok, P. (2010). Quantum optics: Entangled photons report for duty. Nat. Photon., 4(8), 504–505.
Abstract: Entangled photons are a key ingredient in optical quantum technologies, but researchers have so far been unable to produce a single pair of entangled photons. Now, two groups from China and Austria independently report just that, with a technique that avoids the need to infer entanglement from detection signatures.
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Hanneke, D., Home, J. P., Jost, J. D., Amini, J. M., Leibfried, D., & Wineland, D. J. (2010). Realization of a programmable two-qubit quantum processor. Nat. Phys., 6(1), 13–16.
Abstract: The universal quantum computer is a device capable of simulating any physical system and represents a major goal for the field of quantum information science. In the context of quantum information, `universal' refers to the ability to carry out arbitrary unitary transformations in the system's computational space. Combining arbitrary single-quantum-bit (qubit) gates with an entangling two-qubit gate provides a set of gates capable of achieving universal control of any number of qubits, provided that these gates can be carried out repeatedly and between arbitrary pairs of qubits. Although gate sets have been demonstrated in several technologies, they have so far been tailored towards specific tasks, forming a small subset of all unitary operators. Here we demonstrate a quantum processor that can be programmed with 15 classical inputs to realize arbitrary unitary transformations on two qubits, which are stored in trapped atomic ions. Using quantum state and process tomography, we characterize the fidelity of our implementation for 160 randomly chosen operations. This universal control is equivalent to simulating any pairwise interaction between spin-1/2 systems. A programmable multiqubit register could form a core component of a large-scale quantum processor, and the methods used here are suitable for such a device.
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Bialczak, R. C., Ansmann, M., Hofheinz, M., Lucero, E., Neeley, M., O'Connell, A. D., et al. (2010). Quantum process tomography of a universal entangling gate implemented with Josephson phase qubits. Nat. Phys., 6(6), 409–413.
Abstract: Quantum gates must perform reliably when operating on standard input basis states and on complex superpositions thereof. Experiments using superconducting qubits have validated truth tables for particular implementations of, for example, the controlled-NOT gate, but have not fully characterized gate operation for arbitrary superpositions of input states. Here we demonstrate the use of quantum process tomography (QPT) to fully characterize the performance of a universal entangling gate between two superconducting qubits. Process tomography permits complete gate analysis, but requires precise preparation of arbitrary input states, control over the subsequent qubit interaction and ideally simultaneous single-shot measurement of output states. In recent work, it has been proposed to use QPT to probe noise properties and time dynamics of qubit systems and to apply techniques from control theory to create scalable qubit benchmarking protocols. We use QPT to measure the fidelity and noise properties of an entangling gate. In addition to demonstrating a promising fidelity, our entangling gate has an on-to-off ratio of 300, a level of adjustable coupling that will become a requirement for future high-fidelity devices. This is the first solid-state demonstration of QPT in a two-qubit system, as QPT has previously been demonstrated only with single solid-state qubits.
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Perseguers, S., Lewenstein, M., Acín, A., & Cirac, J. I. (2010). Quantum random networks. Nat. Phys., 6(7), 539–543.
Abstract: Quantum mechanics offers new possibilities to process and transmit information. In recent years, algorithms and cryptographic protocols exploiting the superposition principle and the existence of entangled states have been designed. They should allow us to realize communication and computational tasks that outperform any classical strategy. Here we show that quantum mechanics also provides fresh perspectives in the field of random networks. Already the simplest model of a classical random graph changes markedly when extended to the quantum case, where we obtain a distinct behaviour of the critical probabilities at which different subgraphs appear. In particular, in a network of N nodes, any quantum subgraph can be generated by local operations and classical communication if the entanglement between pairs of nodes scales as N-2. This result also opens up new vistas in the domain of quantum networks and their applications.
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Feofanov, A. K., Oboznov, V. A., Bol'Ginov, V. V., Lisenfeld, J., Poletto, S., Ryazanov, V. V., et al. (2010). Implementation of superconductor/ferromagnet/ superconductor. Nat. Phys., 6(8), 593–597.
Abstract: High operation speed and low energy consumption may allow the superconducting digital single-flux-quantum circuits to outperform traditional complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor logic. The remaining major obstacle towards high element densities on-chip is a relatively large cell size necessary to hold a magnetic flux quantum Φ0. Inserting a π-type Josephson junction in the cell is equivalent to applying flux Φ0/2 and thus makes it possible to solve this problem. Moreover, using π-junctions in superconducting qubits may help to protect them from noise. Here we demonstrate the operation of three superconducting circuits-two of them are classical and one quantum-that all utilize such π-phase shifters realized using superconductor/ferromagnet/superconductor sandwich technology. The classical circuits are based on single-flux-quantum cells, which are shown to be scalable and compatible with conventional niobium-based superconducting electronics. The quantum circuit is a π-biased phase qubit, for which we observe coherent Rabi oscillations. We find no degradation of the measured coherence time compared to that of a reference qubit without a π-junction.
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Johnson, B. R., Reed, M. D., Houck, A. A., Schuster, D. I., Bishop, L. S., Ginossar, E., et al. (2010). Quantum non-demolition detection of single microwave photons in a circuit. Nat. Phys., 6(9), 663–667.
Abstract: Thorough control of quantum measurement is key to the development of quantum information technologies. Many measurements are destructive, removing more information from the system than they obtain. Quantum non-demolition (QND) measurements allow repeated measurements that give the same eigenvalue. They could be used for several quantum information processing tasks such as error correction, preparation by measurement and one-way quantum computing. Achieving QND measurements of photons is especially challenging because the detector must be completely transparent to the photons while still acquiring information about them. Recent progress in manipulating microwave photons in superconducting circuits has increased demand for a QND detector that operates in the gigahertz frequency range. Here we demonstrate a QND detection scheme that measures the number of photons inside a high-quality-factor microwave cavity on a chip. This scheme maps a photon number, n, onto a qubit state in a single-shot by means of qubit-photon logic gates. We verify the operation of the device for n=0 and 1 by analysing the average correlations of repeated measurements, and show that it is 90% QND. It differs from previously reported detectors because its sensitivity is strongly selective to chosen photon number states. This scheme could be used to monitor the state of a photon-based memory in a quantum computer.
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Haviland, D. (2010). Superconducting circuits: Quantum phase slips. Nat. Phys., 6, 565–566.
Abstract: Coulomb interactions can cause a rapid change in the phase of the wavefunction along a very narrow superconducting system. Such a phase slip at the quantum level is now measured in a chain of Josephson junctions.
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Saunders, D. J., Jones, S. J., Wiseman, H. M., & Pryde, G. J. (2010). Experimental EPR-steering using Bell-local states. Nat. Phys., 6(11), 845–849.
Abstract: The concept of `steering' was introduced in 1935 by Schrödinger as a generalization of the EPR (Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen) paradox. It has recently been formalized as a quantum-information task with arbitrary bipartite states and measurements, for which the existence of entanglement is necessary but not sufficient. Previous experiments in this area have been restricted to an approach that followed the original EPR argument in considering only two different measurement settings per side. Here we demonstrate experimentally that EPR-steering occurs for mixed entangled states that are Bell local (that is, that cannot possibly demonstrate Bell non-locality). Unlike the case of Bell inequalities, increasing the number of measurement settings beyond two-we use up to six-significantly increases the robustness of the EPR-steering phenomenon to noise.
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Toyabe, S., Sagawa, T., Ueda, M., Muneyuki, E., & Sano, M. (2010). Experimental demonstration of information-to-energy conversion and validation of the generalized Jarzynski equality. Nat. Phys., 6(12), 988–992.
Abstract: In 1929, Leo Szilard invented a feedback protocol in which a hypothetical intelligence called Maxwell's demon pumps heat from an isothermal environment and transduces it to work. After an intense controversy that lasted over eighty years; it was finally clarified that the demon's role does not contradict the second law of thermodynamics, implying that we can convert information to free energy in principle. Nevertheless, experimental demonstration of this information-to-energy conversion has been elusive. Here, we demonstrate that a nonequilibrium feedback manipulation of a Brownian particle based on information about its location achieves a Szilard-type information-energy conversion. Under real-time feedback control, the particle climbs up a spiral-stairs-like potential exerted by an electric field and obtains free energy larger than the amount of work performed on it. This enables us to verify the generalized Jarzynski equality, or a new fundamental principle of “information-heat engine” which converts information to energy by feedback control.
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