Adaptive phase estimation is more accurate than nonadaptive phase estimation for continuous beams of light

We consider the task of estimating the randomly fluctuating phase of a continuous-wave beam of light. Using the theory of quantum parameter estimation, we show that this can be done more accurately when feedback is used (adaptive phase estimation) than by any scheme not involving feedback (nonadapti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review. A, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics Atomic, molecular, and optical physics, 2004-10, Vol.70 (4), Article 043812
Main Authors: Pope, D. T., Wiseman, H. M., Langford, N. K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ACCURACY
ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
DETECTION
FEEDBACK
FLUCTUATIONS
OPTICS
PHOTON BEAMS
QUANTUM MECHANICS
VISIBLE RADIATION
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Summary:We consider the task of estimating the randomly fluctuating phase of a continuous-wave beam of light. Using the theory of quantum parameter estimation, we show that this can be done more accurately when feedback is used (adaptive phase estimation) than by any scheme not involving feedback (nonadaptive phase estimation) in which the beam is measured as it arrives at the detector. Such schemes not involving feedback include all those based on heterodyne detection or instantaneous canonical phase measurements. We also demonstrate that the superior accuracy of adaptive phase estimation is present in a regime conducive to observing it experimentally.
ISSN:1050-2947
1094-1622
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevA.70.043812