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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Weak Value Amplification For Nonunitary Evolution, Wei-Tao Liu, Julián Martínez-Rincón, John C. Howell Jul 2019

Weak Value Amplification For Nonunitary Evolution, Wei-Tao Liu, Julián Martínez-Rincón, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We discuss interferometric parameter estimation of the amplitude, instead of the phase, via weak value amplification. The considered weak interaction introduces modulation on the amplitude of the wave function; therefore, the two-party state experiences a nonunitary evolution. With the same pre- and postselection states as those of original weak value amplification, a much larger anomalous amplification factor can be attained. The shift in the intensity profile at the dark port and the signal-to-noise ratio for the parameter of interest get further amplified by the weak value, compared to phase-based weak value amplification. Although the nonunitary evolution introduces loss, more information …


Compressive Direct Imaging Of A Billion-Dimensional Optical Phase Space, Samuel H. Knarr, Daniel J. Lum, James Schneeloch, John C. Howell Aug 2018

Compressive Direct Imaging Of A Billion-Dimensional Optical Phase Space, Samuel H. Knarr, Daniel J. Lum, James Schneeloch, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Optical phase spaces represent fields of any spatial coherence and are typically measured through phase-retrieval methods involving a computational inversion, optical interference, or a resolution-limiting lenslet array. Recently, a weak-values technique demonstrated that a beam's Dirac phase space is proportional to the measurable complex weak value, regardless of coherence. These direct measurements require raster scanning through all position-polarization couplings, limiting their dimensionality to less than 100 000 [C. Bamber and J. S. Lundeen, Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 070405 (2014)]. We circumvent these limitations using compressive sensing, a numerical protocol that allows us to undersample, yet efficiently measure, high-dimensional phase spaces. …


Short-Wave Infrared Compressive Imaging Of Single Photons, Thomas Gerrits, Daniel J. Lum, Varun B. Verma, John C. Howell, Richard P. Mirin, Sae Woo Nam Jun 2018

Short-Wave Infrared Compressive Imaging Of Single Photons, Thomas Gerrits, Daniel J. Lum, Varun B. Verma, John C. Howell, Richard P. Mirin, Sae Woo Nam

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We present a short-wave infrared (SWIR) single photon camera based on a single superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPD) and compressive imaging. We show SWIR single photon imaging at a megapixel resolution with a low signal-to-background ratio around 0.6, show SWIR video acquisition at 20 frames per second and 64x64 pixel video resolution, and demonstrate sub-nanosecond resolution time-of-flight imaging. All scenes were sampled by detecting only a small number of photons for each compressive sampling matrix. In principle, our technique can be used for imaging faint objects in the mid-IR regime.


Frequency-Modulated Continuous-Wave Lidar Compressive Depth-Mapping, Daniel J. Lum, Samuel H. Knarr, John C. Howell Jun 2018

Frequency-Modulated Continuous-Wave Lidar Compressive Depth-Mapping, Daniel J. Lum, Samuel H. Knarr, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We present an inexpensive architecture for converting a frequency-modulated continuous-wave LiDAR system into a compressive-sensing based depth-mapping camera. Instead of raster scanning to obtain depth-maps, compressive sensing is used to significantly reduce the number of measurements. Ideally, our approach requires two difference detectors. Due to the large flux entering the detectors, the signal amplification from heterodyne detection, and the effects of background subtraction from compressive sensing, the system can obtain higher signal-to-noise ratios over detector-array based schemes while scanning a scene faster than is possible through raster-scanning. Moreover, by efficiently storing only 2m data points from m < n measurements of an n pixel scene, we can easily extract depths by solving only two linear equations with efficient convex-optimization methods.


Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave Compressive Depth Mapping, Daniel J. Lum, Samuel H. Knarr, John C. Howell Jun 2018

Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave Compressive Depth Mapping, Daniel J. Lum, Samuel H. Knarr, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We present an inexpensive architecture for converting a frequency-modulated continuous-wave LiDAR system into a compressive-sensing based depth-mapping camera. Instead of raster scanning to obtain depth-maps, compressive sensing is used to significantly reduce the number of measurements. Ideally, our approach requires two difference detectors. Due to the large flux entering the detectors, the signal amplification from heterodyne detection, and the effects of background subtraction from compressive sensing, the system can obtain higher signal-to-noise ratios over detector-array based schemes while scanning a scene faster than is possible through raster-scanning. Moreover, by efficiently storing only 2m data points from m < n measurements of an n pixel scene, we can easily extract depths by solving only two linear equations with efficient convex-optimization methods.


Ultrasensitive Inverse Weak-Value Tilt Meter, Julián Martínez-Rincón, Christopher A. Mullarkey, Gerardo I. Viza, Wei-Tao Liu, John C. Howell Jun 2017

Ultrasensitive Inverse Weak-Value Tilt Meter, Julián Martínez-Rincón, Christopher A. Mullarkey, Gerardo I. Viza, Wei-Tao Liu, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We present an interferometric technique for measuring ultrasmall tilts. The information of a tilt in one of the mirrors of a modified Sagnac interferometer is carried by the phase difference between the counter-propagating laser beams. Using a small misalignment of the interferometer, orthogonal to the plane of the tilt, a bimodal (or two-fringe) pattern is induced in the beam’s transverse power distribution. By tracking the mean of such a distribution, using a split detector, a sensitive measurement of the phase is performed. With 1.2 mW of continuous-wave laser power, the technique has a shot noise limited sensitivity of 56 frad/Hz−−−√ …


Practical Advantages Of Almost-Balanced-Weak-Value Metrological Techniques, Julián Martínez-Rincón, Zekai Chen, John C. Howell Jun 2017

Practical Advantages Of Almost-Balanced-Weak-Value Metrological Techniques, Julián Martínez-Rincón, Zekai Chen, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Precision measurements of ultrasmall linear velocities of one of the mirrors in a Michelson interferometer are performed using two different weak-value techniques. We show that the technique of almost-balanced weak values (ABWV) offers practical advantages over the technique of weak-value amplification, resulting in larger signal-to-noise ratios and the possibility of longer integration times due to robustness to slow drifts. As an example of the performance of the ABWV protocol we report a velocity sensitivity of 60 fm/s after 40 h of integration time. The sensitivity of the Doppler shift due to the moving mirror is 150 nHz.


Slow Light In Flight Imaging, Kali Wilson, Bethany Little, Genevieve Gariepy, Robert Henderson, John C. Howell, Daniele Faccio Feb 2017

Slow Light In Flight Imaging, Kali Wilson, Bethany Little, Genevieve Gariepy, Robert Henderson, John C. Howell, Daniele Faccio

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Slow-light media are of interest in the context of quantum computing and enhanced measurement of quantum effects, with particular emphasis on using slow light with single photons. We use light-in-flight imaging with a single-photon avalanche diode camera array to image in situ pulse propagation through a slow-light medium consisting of heated rubidium vapor. Light-in-flight imaging of slow-light propagation enables direct visualization of a series of physical effects, including simultaneous observation of spatial pulse compression and temporal pulse dispersion. Additionally, the single-photon nature of the camera allows for observation of the group velocity of single photons with measured single-photon fractional delays …


Complementary Weak-Value Amplification With Concatenated Postselections, Gerardo I. Viza, Julián Martínez-Rincón, Wei-Tao Liu, John C. Howell Oct 2016

Complementary Weak-Value Amplification With Concatenated Postselections, Gerardo I. Viza, Julián Martínez-Rincón, Wei-Tao Liu, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We measure a transverse momentum kick in a Sagnac interferometer using weak-value amplification with two postselections. The first postselection is controlled by a polarization-dependent phase mismatch between both paths of the interferometer, and the second postselection is controlled by a polarizer at the exit port. By monitoring the dark port of the interferometer, we study the complementary amplification of the concatenated postselections, where the polarization extinction ratio is greater than the contrast of the spatial interference. In this case, we find an improvement in the amplification of the signal of interest by introducing a second postselection to the system.


Quantum Enigma Machine: Experimentally Demonstrating Quantum Data Locking, Daniel J. Lum, John C. Howell, M. S. Allman, Thomas Gerrits, Varun B. Verma, Sae Woo Nam, Cosmo Lupo, Seth Lloyd Aug 2016

Quantum Enigma Machine: Experimentally Demonstrating Quantum Data Locking, Daniel J. Lum, John C. Howell, M. S. Allman, Thomas Gerrits, Varun B. Verma, Sae Woo Nam, Cosmo Lupo, Seth Lloyd

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Shannon proved in 1949 that information-theoretic-secure encryption is possible if the encryption key is used only once, is random, and is at least as long as the message itself. Notwithstanding, when information is encoded in a quantum system, the phenomenon of quantum data locking allows one to encrypt a message with a shorter key and still provide information-theoretic security. We present one of the first feasible experimental demonstrations of quantum data locking for direct communication and propose a scheme for a quantum enigma machine that encrypts 6 bits per photon (containing messages, new encryption keys, and forward error correction bits) …


Weak-Value Amplification Of The Fast-Light Effect In Rubidium Vapor, Mohammad Mirhosseini, Gerardo I. Viza, Omar S. Magaña-Loaiza, Mehul Malik, John C. Howell, Robert W. Boyd May 2016

Weak-Value Amplification Of The Fast-Light Effect In Rubidium Vapor, Mohammad Mirhosseini, Gerardo I. Viza, Omar S. Magaña-Loaiza, Mehul Malik, John C. Howell, Robert W. Boyd

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We use weak-value amplification to enhance the polarization-sensitive fast-light effect from induced Raman absorption in hot rubidium vapor. We experimentally demonstrate that projecting the output signal into an appropriate polarization state enables a pulse advancement of 4.2μs, which is more than 15 times larger than that naturally caused by dispersion. More significantly, we show that combining weak-value amplification with the dispersive response of an atomic system provides a clear advantage in terms of the maximum pulse advance achievable for a given value of loss. This technique has potential applications for designing novel quantum-information-processing gates and optical buffers for telecommunication systems.


Cross-Phase Modulation Enhancement Via A Resonating Cavity: Semiclassical Description, Julián Martínez-Rincón, John C. Howell May 2016

Cross-Phase Modulation Enhancement Via A Resonating Cavity: Semiclassical Description, Julián Martínez-Rincón, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We evaluate the advantages of performing cross-phase modulation (XPM) on a very-far-off-resonance atomic system. We consider a ladder system with a weak (few-photon level) control coherent field imparting a conditional nonlinear phase shift on a probe beam. We find that by coupling to an optical resonator, the optimal XPM is enhanced proportional to the finesse of the resonator by a factor of ��/4��. We present a semiclassical description of the system and show that the phenomenon is optimal in the self-defined condition of off-resonance effective cooperativity equal to one.


Digital Integral Cloaking, Joseph S. Choi, John C. Howell May 2016

Digital Integral Cloaking, Joseph S. Choi, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Toward the goal of achieving broadband and omnidirectional invisibility, we propose a method for practical invisibility cloaking. We call this “digital cloaking,” where space, angle, spectrum, and phase are discretized. Experimentally, we demonstrate a two-dimensional (2D) planar, ray optics, digital cloak by using lenticular lenses, similar to “integral imaging” for three-dimensional (3D) displays. Theoretically, this can be extended to a good approximation of an “ideal” 3D cloak. With continuing improvements in commercial digital technology, the resolution limitations of a digital cloak can be minimized.


Compressively Characterizing High-Dimensional Entangled States With Complementary, Random Filtering, Gregory A. Howland, Samuel H. Knarr, James Schneeloch, Daniel J. Lum, John C. Howell May 2016

Compressively Characterizing High-Dimensional Entangled States With Complementary, Random Filtering, Gregory A. Howland, Samuel H. Knarr, James Schneeloch, Daniel J. Lum, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The resources needed to conventionally characterize a quantum system are overwhelmingly large for high-dimensional systems. This obstacle may be overcome by abandoning traditional cornerstones of quantum measurement, such as general quantum states, strong projective measurement, and assumption-free characterization. Following this reasoning, we demonstrate an efficient technique for characterizing high-dimensional, spatial entanglement with one set of measurements. We recover sharp distributions with local, random filtering of the same ensemble in momentum followed by position—something the uncertainty principle forbids for projective measurements. Exploiting the expectation that entangled signals are highly correlated, we use fewer than 5000 measurements to characterize a 65,536-dimensional state. …


Quantum And Classical Optics–Emerging Links, Joseph H. Eberly, Xiao-Feng Qian, Asma Al Qasimi, Hazrat Ali, M. A. Alonso, R Gutiérrez-Cuevas, Bethany Little, John C. Howell, Tanya Malhotra, A. N. Vamivakas May 2016

Quantum And Classical Optics–Emerging Links, Joseph H. Eberly, Xiao-Feng Qian, Asma Al Qasimi, Hazrat Ali, M. A. Alonso, R Gutiérrez-Cuevas, Bethany Little, John C. Howell, Tanya Malhotra, A. N. Vamivakas

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Quantum optics and classical optics are linked in ways that are becoming apparent as a result of numerous recent detailed examinations of the relationships that elementary notions of optics have with each other. These elementary notions include interference, polarization, coherence, complementarity and entanglement. All of them are present in both quantum and classical optics. They have historic origins, and at least partly for this reason not all of them have quantitative definitions that are universally accepted. This makes further investigation into their engagement in optics very desirable. We pay particular attention to effects that arise from the mere co-existence of …


Introduction To The Transverse Spatial Correlations In Spontaneous Parametric Down-Conversion Through The Biphoton Birth Zone, James Schneeloch, John C. Howell Apr 2016

Introduction To The Transverse Spatial Correlations In Spontaneous Parametric Down-Conversion Through The Biphoton Birth Zone, James Schneeloch, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

As a tutorial to the spatial aspects of spontaneous parametric downconversion (SPDC), we present a detailed first-principles derivation of the transverse correlation width of photon pairs in degenerate collinear SPDC. This width defines the size of a biphoton birth zone, the region where the signal and idler photons are likely to be found when conditioning on the position of the destroyed pump photon. Along the way, we discuss the quantum-optical calculation of the amplitude for the SPDC process, as well as its simplified form for nearly collinear degenerate phase matching. Following this, we show how this biphoton amplitude can be …


Can Anomalous Amplification Be Attained Without Postselection?, Julián Martínez-Rincón, Wei-Tao Liu, Gerardo I. Viza, John C. Howell Mar 2016

Can Anomalous Amplification Be Attained Without Postselection?, Julián Martínez-Rincón, Wei-Tao Liu, Gerardo I. Viza, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We present a parameter estimation technique based on performing joint measurements of a weak interaction away from the weak-value-amplification approximation. Two detectors are used to collect full statistics of the correlations between two weakly entangled degrees of freedom. Without discarding of data, the protocol resembles the anomalous amplification of an imaginary-weak-value-like response. The amplification is induced in the difference signal of both detectors allowing robustness to different sources of technical noise, and offering in addition the advantages of balanced signals for precision metrology. All of the Fisher information about the parameter of interest is collected. A tunable phase controls the …


Position-Momentum Bell Nonlocality With Entangled Photon Pairs, James Schneeloch, Samuel H. Knarr, Daniel J. Lum, John C. Howell Jan 2016

Position-Momentum Bell Nonlocality With Entangled Photon Pairs, James Schneeloch, Samuel H. Knarr, Daniel J. Lum, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Witnessing continuous-variable Bell nonlocality is a challenging endeavor, but Bell himself showed how one might demonstrate this nonlocality. Although Bell nearly showed a violation using the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (CHSH) inequality with sign-binned position-momentum statistics of entangled pairs of particles measured at different times, his demonstration is subject to approximations not realizable in a laboratory setting. Moreover, he does not give a quantitative estimation of the maximum achievable violation for the wave function he considers. In this article, we show how his strategy can be reimagined using the transverse positions and momenta of entangled photon pairs measured at different propagation distances, and …


Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution With Generalized Two-Mode Schrödinger Cat States, Curtis J. Broadbent, Kevin Marshall, Christian Weedbrook, John C. Howell Nov 2015

Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution With Generalized Two-Mode Schrödinger Cat States, Curtis J. Broadbent, Kevin Marshall, Christian Weedbrook, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We show how weak nonlinearities can be used in a device-independent quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol using generalized two-mode Schrödinger cat states. The QKD protocol is therefore shown to be secure against collective attacks and for some coherent attacks. We derive analytical formulas for the optimal values of the Bell parameter, the quantum bit error rate, and the device-independent secret key rate in the noiseless lossy bosonic channel. Additionally, we give the filters and measurements which achieve these optimal values. We find that, over any distance in this channel, the quantum bit error rate is identically zero, in principle, and …


Fast Hadamard Transforms For Compressive Sensing Of Joint Systems: Measurement Of A 3.2 Million-Dimensional Bi-Photon Probability Distribution, Daniel J. Lum, Samuel H. Knarr, John C. Howell Oct 2015

Fast Hadamard Transforms For Compressive Sensing Of Joint Systems: Measurement Of A 3.2 Million-Dimensional Bi-Photon Probability Distribution, Daniel J. Lum, Samuel H. Knarr, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We demonstrate how to efficiently implement extremely high-dimensional compressive imaging of a bi-photon probability distribution. Our method uses fast-Hadamard-transform Kronecker-based compressive sensing to acquire the joint space distribution. We list, in detail, the operations necessary to enable fast-transform-based matrix-vector operations in the joint space to reconstruct a 16.8 million-dimensional image in less than 10 minutes. Within a subspace of that image exists a 3.2 million-dimensional bi-photon probability distribution. In addition, we demonstrate how the marginal distributions can aid in the accuracy of joint space distribution reconstructions.


Experimentally Quantifying The Advantages Of Weak-Value-Based Metrology, Gerardo I. Viza, Julián Martínez-Rincón, Gabriel B. Alves, Andrew N. Jordan, John C. Howell Sep 2015

Experimentally Quantifying The Advantages Of Weak-Value-Based Metrology, Gerardo I. Viza, Julián Martínez-Rincón, Gabriel B. Alves, Andrew N. Jordan, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We experimentally investigate the relative advantages of implementing weak-value-based metrology versus standard methods. While the techniques outlined herein apply more generally, we measure small optical beam deflections both using a Sagnac interferometer with a monitored dark port (the weak-value-based technique), and by focusing the entire beam to a split detector (the standard technique). By introducing controlled external transverse detector modulations and transverse beam deflection momentum modulations, we quantify the mitigation of these sources in the weak-value-based experiment versus the standard focusing experiment. The experiments are compared using a combination of deterministic and stochastic methods. In all cases, the weak-value technique …


Shifting The Quantum-Classical Boundary: Theory And Experiment For Statistically Classical Optical Fields, Xiao-Feng Qian, Bethany Little, John C. Howell, Joseph H. Eberly Jun 2015

Shifting The Quantum-Classical Boundary: Theory And Experiment For Statistically Classical Optical Fields, Xiao-Feng Qian, Bethany Little, John C. Howell, Joseph H. Eberly

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The growing recognition that entanglement is not exclusively a quantum property, and does not even originate with Schrödinger’s famous remark about it [Proc. Cambridge Philos. Soc. 31, 555 (1935)], prompts the examination of its role in marking the quantum-classical boundary. We have done this by subjecting correlations of classical optical fields to new Bell-analysis experiments and report here values of the Bell parameter greater than ℬ=2.54. This is many standard deviations outside the limit ℬ=2 established by the Clauser–Horne–Shimony–Holt Bell inequality [Phys. Rev. Lett. 23, 880 (1969)], in agreement with our theoretical classical prediction, and not far from the Tsirelson …


Paraxial Full-Field Cloaking, Joseph S. Choi, John C. Howell Jun 2015

Paraxial Full-Field Cloaking, Joseph S. Choi, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We complete the ‘paraxial’ (small-angle) ray optics cloaking formalism presented previously [Opt. Express 22, 29465 (2014)], by extending it to the full-field of light. Omnidirectionality is then the only relaxed parameter of what may be considered an ideal, broadband, field cloak. We show that an isotropic plate of uniform thickness, with appropriately designed refractive index and dispersion, can match the phase over the whole visible spectrum. Our results support the fundamental limits on cloaking for broadband vs. omnidirectionality, and provide insights into when anisotropy may be required.


Demonstrating Continuous Variable Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen Steering In Spite Of Finite Experimental Capabilities Using Fano Steering Bounds, James Schneeloch, Samuel H. Knarr, Gregory A. Howland, John C. Howell Feb 2015

Demonstrating Continuous Variable Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen Steering In Spite Of Finite Experimental Capabilities Using Fano Steering Bounds, James Schneeloch, Samuel H. Knarr, Gregory A. Howland, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We show how one can demonstrate continuous-variable Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen (EPR) steering without needing to characterize entire measurement probability distributions. To do this, we develop a modified Fano inequality useful for discrete measurements of continuous variables and use it to bound the conditional uncertainties in continuous-variable entropic EPR-steering inequalities. With these bounds, we show how one can hedge against experimental limitations including a finite detector size, dead space between pixels, and any such factors that impose an incomplete sampling of the true measurement probability distribution. Furthermore, we use experimental data from the position and momentum statistics of entangled photon pairs in parametric …


Uncertainty Relation For Mutual Information, James Schneeloch, Curtis J. Broadbent, John C. Howell Dec 2014

Uncertainty Relation For Mutual Information, James Schneeloch, Curtis J. Broadbent, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We postulate the existence of a universal uncertainty relation between the quantum and classical mutual informations between pairs of quantum systems. Specifically, we propose that the sum of the classical mutual information, determined by two mutually unbiased pairs of observables, never exceeds the quantum mutual information. We call this the complementary-quantum correlation (CQC) relation and prove its validity for pure states, for states with one maximally mixed subsystem, and for all states when one measurement is minimally disturbing. We provide results of a Monte Carlo simulation suggesting that the CQC relation is generally valid. Importantly, we also show that the …


Paraxial Ray Optics Cloaking, Joseph S. Choi, John C. Howell Nov 2014

Paraxial Ray Optics Cloaking, Joseph S. Choi, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Despite much interest and progress in optical spatial cloaking, a three-dimensional (3D), transmitting, continuously multidirectional cloak in the visible regime has not yet been demonstrated. Here we experimentally demonstrate such a cloak using ray optics, albeit with some edge effects. Our device requires no new materials, uses isotropic off-the-shelf optics, scales easily to cloak arbitrarily large objects, and is as broadband as the choice of optical material, all of which have been challenges for current cloaking schemes. In addition, we provide a concise formalism that quantifies and produces perfect optical cloaks in the small-angle (‘paraxial’) limit.


Compressive Wavefront Sensing With Weak Values, Gregory A. Howland, Daniel J. Lum, John C. Howell Jun 2014

Compressive Wavefront Sensing With Weak Values, Gregory A. Howland, Daniel J. Lum, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We demonstrate a wavefront sensor that unites weak measurement and the compressive-sensing, single-pixel camera. Using a high-resolution spatial light modulator (SLM) as a variable waveplate, we weakly couple an optical field’s transverse-position and polarization degrees of freedom. By placing random, binary patterns on the SLM, polarization serves as a meter for directly measuring random projections of the wavefront’s real and imaginary components. Compressive-sensing optimization techniques can then recover the wavefront. We acquire high quality, 256 × 256 pixel images of the wavefront from only 10,000 projections. Photon-counting detectors give sub-picowatt sensitivity.


Simultaneous Measurement Of Complementary Observables With Compressive Sensing, Gregory A. Howland, James Schneeloch, Daniel J. Lum, John C. Howell Jun 2014

Simultaneous Measurement Of Complementary Observables With Compressive Sensing, Gregory A. Howland, James Schneeloch, Daniel J. Lum, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The more information a measurement provides about a quantum system’s position statistics, the less information a subsequent measurement can provide about the system’s momentum statistics. This information trade-off is embodied in the entropic formulation of the uncertainty principle. Traditionally, uncertainly relations correspond to resolution limits; increasing a detector’s position sensitivity decreases its momentum sensitivity and vice versa. However, this is not required in general; for example, position information can instead be extracted at the cost of noise in momentum. Using random, partial projections in position followed by strong measurements in momentum, we efficiently determine the transverse-position and transverse-momentum distributions of …


Avoiding Loopholes With Hybrid Bell-Leggett-Garg Inequalities, Justin Dressel, Alexander N. Korotkov Jan 2014

Avoiding Loopholes With Hybrid Bell-Leggett-Garg Inequalities, Justin Dressel, Alexander N. Korotkov

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

By combining the postulates of macrorealism with Bell locality, we derive a qualitatively different hybrid inequality that avoids two loopholes that commonly appear in Leggett-Garg and Bell inequalities. First, locally invasive measurements can be used, which avoids the “clumsiness” Leggett-Garg inequality loophole. Second, a single experimental ensemble with fixed analyzer settings is sampled, which avoids the “disjoint sampling” Bell inequality loophole. The derived hybrid inequality has the same form as the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt Bell inequality; however, its quantum violation intriguingly requires weak measurements. A realistic explanation of an observed violation requires either the failure of Bell locality or a preparation conspiracy …


Improving Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen Steering Inequalities With State Information, James Schneeloch, Curtis J. Broadbent, John C. Howell Jan 2014

Improving Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen Steering Inequalities With State Information, James Schneeloch, Curtis J. Broadbent, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We discuss the relationship between entropic Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen (EPR)-steering inequalities and their underlying uncertainty relations along with the hypothesis that improved uncertainty relations lead to tighter EPR-steering inequalities. In particular, we discuss how using information about the state of a quantum system affects oneʼs ability to witness EPR-steering. As an example, we consider the recent improvement to the entropic uncertainty relation between pairs of discrete observables (Berta et al., 2010 [10]). By considering the assumptions that enter into the development of a steering inequality, we derive correct steering inequalities from these improved uncertainty relations and find that they are identical to …