Quantum Relative States

We study quantum state estimation problems where the reference system with respect to which the state is measured should itself be treated quantum mechanically. In this situation, the difference between the system and the reference tends to fade. We investigate how the overlap between two pure quantum states can be optimally estimated, in several scenarios, and we re-visit homodyne detection.Comment: 10 page

Quantum relative states

Abstract.: We study quantum state estimation problems where the reference system with respect to which the state is measured should itself be treated quantum mechanically. In this situation, the difference between the system and the reference tends to fade. We investigate how the overlap between two pure quantum states can be optimally estimated, in several scenarios, and we re-visit homodyne detection. uantum informatio

Cloning and Cryptography with Quantum Continuous Variables

The cloning of quantum variables with continuous spectra is investigated. We define a Gaussian 1-to-2 cloning machine, which copies equally well two conjugate variables such as position and momentum or the two quadrature components of a light mode. The resulting cloning fidelity for coherent states, namely $F=2/3$, is shown to be optimal. An asymmetric version of this Gaussian cloner is then used to assess the security of a continuous-variable quantum key distribution scheme that allows two remote parties to share a Gaussian key. The information versus disturbance tradeoff underlying this continuous quantum cryptographic scheme is then analyzed for the optimal individual attack. Methods to convert the resulting Gaussian keys into secret key bits are also studied. The extension of the Gaussian cloner to optimal $N$-to-$M$ continuous cloners is then discussed, and it is shown how to implement these cloners for light modes, using a phase-insensitive optical amplifier and beam splitters. Finally, a phase-conjugated inputs $(N,N')$-to-$(M,M')$ continuous cloner is defined, yielding $M$ clones and $M'$ anticlones from $N$ replicas of a coherent state and $N'$ replicas of its phase-conjugate (with $M'-M=N'-N$). This novel kind of cloners is shown to outperform the standard $N$-to-$M$ cloners in some situations.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, submitted to the special issue of the European Physical Journal D on "Quantum interference and cryptographic keys: novel physics and advancing technologies", proceedings of the conference QUICK 2001, Corsica, April 7-13 2001. Minor correction, references adde

Relative states, quantum axes and quantum references

We address the problem of measuring the relative angle between two "quantum axes" made out of N1 and N2 spins. Closed forms of our fidelity-like figure of merit are obtained for an arbitrary number of parallel spins. The asymptotic regimes of large N1 and/or N2 are discussed in detail. The extension of the concept "quantum axis" to more general situations is addressed. We give optimal strategies when the first quantum axis is made out of parallel spins whereas the second is a general state made out of two spins.Comment: 6 pages, no figure

Entanglement entropy in fermionic Laughlin states

We present analytic and numerical calculations on the bipartite entanglement entropy in fractional quantum Hall states of the fermionic Laughlin sequence. The partitioning of the system is done both by dividing Landau level orbitals and by grouping the fermions themselves. For the case of orbital partitioning, our results can be related to spatial partitioning, enabling us to extract a topological quantity (the `total quantum dimension') characterizing the Laughlin states. For particle partitioning we prove a very close upper bound for the entanglement entropy of a subset of the particles with the rest, and provide an interpretation in terms of exclusion statistics.Comment: 4+ pages, 3 figures. Minor changes in v