Experimental Quantum Target Detection Approaching the Fundamental Helstrom Limit

Xu, Feixiang1,2,3; Zhang, Xiao-Ming4; Xu, Liang1,2,3; Jiang, Tao1,2,3; Yung, Man-Hong5,6,7,8; Zhang, Lijian1,2,3

2021-07-22

10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.040504

PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS   影响因子和分区

0031-9007

1079-7114

Quantum target detection is an emerging application that utilizes entanglement to enhance the sensing of the presence of an object. Although several experimental demonstrations for certain situations have been reported recently, the single-shot detection limit imposed by the Helstrom limit has not been reached because of the unknown optimum measurements. Here we report an experimental demonstration of quantum target detection, also known as quantum illumination, in the single-photon limit. In our experiment, one photon of the maximally entangled photon pair is employed as the probe signal and the corresponding optimum measurement is implemented at the receiver. We explore the detection problem in different regions of the parameter space and verify that the quantum advantage exists even in a forbidden region of the conventional illumination, where all classical schemes become useless. Our results indicate that quantum illumination breaks the classical limit for up to 40%, while approaching the quantum limit imposed by the Helstrom limit. These results not only demonstrate the advantage of quantum illumination, but also manifest its valuable potential of target detection.

SCI ; EI

英语

NI论文

通讯

National Key Research and Development Program of China["2017YFA0303703","2019YFA0308700"] ; National Natural Science Foundation of China[61975077,91836303,11690032,11875160,"U1801661"] ; Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities["021314380197","020414380175"] ; Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province[2017B030308003] ; Key-Area R&D Program of Guangdong province[2018B030326001] ; Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality["JCYJ20170412152620376","JCYJ20170817105046702","KYTDPT20181011104202253"] ; Economy, Trade and Information Commission of Shenzhen Municipality[201901161512] ; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory[2019B121203002]

Physics

Physics, Multidisciplinary

WOS:000677558900003

AMER PHYSICAL SOC

20213110704366

Particle beams ; Photons ; Signal receivers

Atomic and Molecular Physics:931.3 ; Quantum Theory; Quantum Mechanics:931.4 ; High Energy Physics:932.1

PHYSICS

Web of Science

1.Nanjing Univ, Coll Engn & Appl Sci, Natl Lab Solid State Microstruct, Nanjing 210093, Peoples R China
2.Nanjing Univ, Sch Phys, Nanjing 210093, Peoples R China
3.Nanjing Univ, Collaborat Innovat Ctr Adv Microstruct, Nanjing 210093, Peoples R China
4.City Univ Hong Kong, Dept Phys, Tat Chee Ave, Hong Kong, Peoples R China
5.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Phys, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China
6.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Shenzhen Inst Quantum Sci & Engn, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China
7.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Guangdong Prov Key Lab Quantum Sci & Engn, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China
8.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Shenzhen Key Lab Quantum Sci & Engn, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China

Xu, Feixiang,Zhang, Xiao-Ming,Xu, Liang,et al. Experimental Quantum Target Detection Approaching the Fundamental Helstrom Limit[J]. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS,2021,127(4).

Xu, Feixiang,Zhang, Xiao-Ming,Xu, Liang,Jiang, Tao,Yung, Man-Hong,&Zhang, Lijian.(2021).Experimental Quantum Target Detection Approaching the Fundamental Helstrom Limit.PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS,127(4).

Xu, Feixiang,et al."Experimental Quantum Target Detection Approaching the Fundamental Helstrom Limit".PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 127.4(2021).