Robust adaptive quantum phase estimation

Abstract

Quantum parameter estimation is central to many fields such as quantum computation, communications and metrology. Optimal estimation theory has been instrumental in achieving the best accuracy in quantum parameter estimation, which is possible when we have very precise knowledge of and control over the model. However, uncertainties in key parameters underlying the system are unavoidable and may impact the quality of the estimate. We show here how quantum optical phase estimation of a squeezed state of light exhibits improvement when using a robust fixed-interval smoother designed with uncertainties explicitly introduced in parameters underlying the phase noise.