Frontiers of quantum physics

Abstract:

By considering quantum computation as a communication process, we relate its efficiency to its classical communication capacity. This formalism allows us to derive lower bounds on the complexity of search algorithms in the most general context. It enables us to link the mixedness of a quantum computer to its efficiency and also allows us to derive the critical level of mixedness beyond which there is no quantum advantage in computation.

Abstract:

We propose a scheme for measuring the Berry phase in the vibrational degree of freedom of a trapped ion. Starting from the ion in a vibrational coherent state we show how to reverse the sign of the coherent state amplitude by using a purely geometric phase. This can then be detected through the internal degrees of freedom of the ion. Our method can be applied to preparation of entangled states of the ion and the vibrational mode.

Abstract:

We consider one copy of a quantum system prepared in one of two orthogonal pure states, entangled or otherwise, and distributed between any number of parties. We demonstrate that it is possible to identify which of these two states the system is in by means of local operations and classical communication alone. The protocol we outline is both completely reliable and completely general; it will correctly distinguish any two orthogonal states 100% of the time.

Abstract:

Quantum teleportation with additional a priori information about the input state achieves higher fidelity than teleportation of a completely unknown state. However, perfect teleporation of two nonorthogonal input states requires the same amount of entanglement as perfect teleportation of an unknown state, namely one ebit. We analyze how well two-state teleportation can be achieved using every degree of pure-state entanglement. We find the highest fidelity of "teleportation" that can be achieved with only classical communication but no shared entanglement. A two-state telecloning scheme is constructed. ©2000 The American Physical Society.