Super-Sensitive Ancilla-Based Adaptive Quantum Phase Estimation

TL;DR

This paper introduces an ancilla-based adaptive quantum phase estimation method that maintains super-sensitivity despite decoherence by using entangled states with adjustable parameters, validated through simulation of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer.

Contribution

It presents a novel ancilla-assisted approach with adaptive parameter optimization to achieve robust super-sensitive phase estimation under decoherence.

Findings

Achieves super-sensitive phase estimation without prior phase knowledge.

Maintains high Fisher information across various decoherence levels.

Uses adaptive polarization adjustments to optimize measurement outcomes.

Abstract

The super-sensitivity attained in quantum phase estimation is known to be compromised in the presence of decoherence. This is particularly patent at blind spots -- phase values at which sensitivity is totally lost. One remedy is to use a precisely known reference phase to shift the operation point of the sensor to a less vulnerable phase value. We present here an alternative approach based on combining the probe with an ancillary degree of freedom containing adjustable parameters to create an entangled quantum state of higher dimension. We validate this concept by simulating a configuration of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a two-photon probe and a polarization ancilla of adjustable parameters, entangled at a polarizing beam splitter. At the interferometer output, the photons are measured after an adjustable unitary transformation in the polarization subspace. Through calculation of the Fisher information and simulation of an adaptive estimation procedure, we show that optimizing the adjustable polarization parameters using an adaptive measurement process provides globally super-sensitive unbiased phase estimates for a range of decoherence levels, without prior information or a reference phase.