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Title: Real-World Quantum Sensors: Evaluating Resources for Precision Measurement

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters
; ; ; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, OX1 3PU (United Kingdom)
  2. Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 2, 117543 Singapore (Singapore)

Quantum phenomena present in many experiments signify nonclassical behavior, but do not always imply superior performance. Quantifying the enhancement achieved from quantum behavior needs careful analysis of the resources involved. We analyze the case of parameter estimation using an optical interferometer, where increased precision can in principle be achieved using quantum probe states. Common performance measures are examined and some are shown to overestimate the improvement. For the simplest experimental case we compare the different measures and exhibit this overestimation explicitly. We give the preferred analysis of these experiments and calculate benchmark values for experimental parameters necessary to realize a precision enhancement. Our analysis shows that unambiguous real-world enhancements in optical quantum metrology with fixed photon number are yet to be attained.

OSTI ID:
21611765
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters, Vol. 107, Issue 11; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.113603; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0031-9007
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English