A sensor based on quantum multiphoton entanglement (ME) combined with hyper-entanglement (HE) is described. Measures of effectiveness (MOEs) are derived describing the benefits of forming hybrid states between ME and HE. An open systems approach is taken with both environmental noise and loss factors included. Methods of generating the ME and HE states are described with schematics provided. Networks are introduced yielding additional performance improvements. Waveforms for effective atmospheric propagation are discussed. A new parameterized mode is derived using Lie algebra techniques. The waveform is shown to be a scaled and translated form of the Airy wave. The additional scaling and translation parameters derived from Lie algebra theory show promise for selecting the best performing waveform or linear combination of such waveforms. Alternatively, parameters for single waveforms or linear combinations of parameterized Airy waves can be selected through optimization. An MOE, the Holevo bound, is maximized ultimately yielding the Holevo-Shumacher-Westmoreland capacity. Analysis of the translated and scaled Airy function show that its asymptotic form yields much less loss during atmospheric propagation. It is robust under turbulence and atmospheric inhomogeneities. Additional parameters in the argument of the Airy function that occur as a natural result of the derivation show promise for using the waveform to facilitate imaging around corners. Second quantization is applied resulting in a version of the waveform when only one signal photon is present for entangled or non-entangled systems. Even when only one signal photon is propagating the waveform is shown to have advantages for sensing and imaging.

Date Published: 13 May 2019
PDF: 16 pages
Proc. SPIE 10984, Quantum Information Science, Sensing, and Computation XI, 109840F (13 May 2019); doi: 10.1117/12.2517077

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 10984:
Quantum Information Science, Sensing, and Computation XI
Eric Donkor; Michael Hayduk; Michael R. Frey; Samuel J. Lomonaco Jr.; John M. Myers, Editor(s)