Experimental Certification of Nonclassicality via Phase-Space Inequalities

Year: 2021

Authors: Biagi N., Bohmann M., Agudelo E., Bellini M., Zavatta A.

Autors Affiliation: Ist Nazl Ott CNR INO, L-Go E Fermi 6, I-50125 Florence, Italy; Univ Firenze, LENS, I-50019 Florence, Italy; Univ Firenze, Dept Phys & Astron, I-50019 Florence, Italy; Austrian Acad Sci, Inst Quantum Opt & Quantum Informat IQOQI Vienna, Boltzmanngasse 3, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Vienna Ctr Quantum Sci & Technol VCQ, Vienna, Austria.

Abstract: In spite of its fundamental importance in quantum science and technology, the experimental certification of nonclassicality is still a challenging task, especially in realistic scenarios where losses and noise imbue the system. Here, we present the first experimental implementation of the recently introduced phase-space inequalities for nonclassicality certification, which conceptually unite phase-space representations with correlation conditions. We demonstrate the practicality and sensitivity of this approach by studying nonclassicality of a family of noisy and lossy quantum states of light. To this end, we experimentally generate single-photon-added thermal states with various thermal mean photon numbers and detect them at different loss levels. Based on the reconstructed Wigner and Husimi Q functions, the inequality conditions detect nonclassicality despite the fact that the involved distributions are nonnegative, which includes cases of high losses (93%) and cases where other established methods do not reveal nonclassicality. We show the advantages of the implemented approach and discuss possible extensions that assure a wide applicability for quantum science and technologies.

Journal/Review: PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS

Volume: 126 (2)      Pages from: 023605-1  to: 023605-6

More Information: N. B., M. B., and A. Z. gratefully acknowledge the support of Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze under the project “MOSTO” and of the EU under the ERA-NET QuantERA project “ShoQC” and the FET Flagship on Quantum Technologies project “Qombs” (Grant No. 820419). E. A. acknowledges funding from the European Union´s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie IF (InDiQE -EU Project No. 845486).
KeyWords: Optical tests of quantum theory, Quantum optics, Quantum states of light, Quantum tomography
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.023605

ImpactFactor: 9.185
Citations: 16
data from “WEB OF SCIENCE” (of Thomson Reuters) are update at: 2024-11-24
References taken from IsiWeb of Knowledge: (subscribers only)

Connecting to view paper tab on IsiWeb: Click here
Connecting to view citations from IsiWeb: Click here