Quantum Reading of a Classical Digital Memory

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that quantum light sources can retrieve more information from digital memory cells than classical sources, especially in low-photon regimes, with potential applications in optical storage technologies.

Contribution

It introduces a quantum reading model showing enhanced information retrieval from classical memory using non-classical light in specific regimes.

Findings

Quantum sources outperform classical ones in low-photon regimes.

Significant information gain in high reflectivity and few-photon conditions.

Potential applications in optical disks and barcode technologies.

Abstract

We consider a basic model of digital memory where each cell is composed of a reflecting medium with two possible reflectivities. By fixing the mean number of photons irradiated over each memory cell, we show that a non-classical source of light can retrieve more information than any classical source. This improvement is shown in the regime of few photons and high reflectivities, where the gain of information can be surprising. As a result, the use of quantum light can have non-trivial applications in the technology of digital memories, such as optical disks and barcodes.