Testing quantum contextuality of continuous-variable states

We investigate the violation of noncontextuality by a class of continuous-variable states, including variations of entangled coherent states and a two-mode continuous superposition of coherent states. We generalize the Kochen-Specker (KS) inequality discussed by Cabello [A. Cabello, Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 210401 (2008)] by using effective bidimensional observables implemented through physical operations acting on continuous-variable states, in a way similar to an approach to the falsification of Bell-Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt inequalities put forward recently. We test for state-independent violation of KS inequalities under variable degrees of state entanglement and mixedness. We then demonstrate theoretically the violation of a KS inequality for any two-mode state by using pseudospin observables and a generalized quasiprobability function.

Tripartite nonlocality and continuous-variable entanglement in thermal states of trapped ions

We study a system of three trapped ions in an anisotropic bidimensional trap. By focusing on the transverse modes of the ions, we show that the mutual ion-ion Coulomb interactions set entanglement of a genuine tripartite nature, to some extent persistent to the thermal nature of the vibronic modes. We tackle this issue by addressing a nonlocality test in the phase space of the ionic system and quantifying the genuine residual tripartite entanglement in the continuous variable state of the transverse modes.

Driven optomechanical systems for mechanical entanglement distribution

We consider the distribution of entanglement from a multimode optical driving source to a network of remote and independent optomechanical systems. By focusing on the tripartite case, we analyse the effects that the features of the optical input states have on the degree and sharing structure of the distributed, fully mechanical, entanglement. This study, which is conducted looking at the mechanical steady state, highlights the structure of the entanglement distributed among the nodes and determines the relative efficiency between bipartite and tripartite entanglement transfer. We discuss a few open points, some of which are directed towards the bypassing of such limitations.

Visible-light-mediated synthesis of helicenes in batch and continuous flow systems

Le présent mémoire décrit le développement d’une méthode de synthèse des hélicènes catalysée par la lumière visible. Les conditions pour la formation de [5]hélicène ont été établies par une optimisation du photocatalyseur, du solvant, du système d’oxydation et du temps réactionnel. Suite aux études mécanistiques préliminaires, un mécanisme oxydatif est proposé. Les conditions optimisées ont été appliquées à la synthèse de [6]hélicènes pour laquelle la régiosélectivité a été améliorée en ajoutant des substituants sur la colonne hélicale. La synthèse de thiohélicènes a aussi été testée en utilisant les mêmes conditions sous irradiation par la lumière visible. La méthode a été inefficace pour la formation de benzodithiophènes et de naphtothiophènes, par contre elle permet la formation du phenanthro[3,4-b]thiophène avec un rendement acceptable. En prolongeant la surface-π de la colonne hélicale, le pyrène a été fusionné aux motifs de [4]- et [5]hélicène. Trois dérivés de pyrène-hélicène ont été synthétisés en utilisant les conditions optimisées pour la photocyclisation et leurs caractéristiques physiques ont été étudiées. La méthode de cyclisation sous l’action de la lumière visible a aussi été étudiée en flux continu. Une optimisation du montage expérimental ainsi que de la source lumineuse a été effectuée et les meilleures conditions ont été appliquées à la formation de [5]hélicène et des trois dérivés du pyrène-hélicène. Une amélioration ou conservation des rendements a été observée pour la plupart des produits formés en flux continu comparativement à la synthèse en batch. La concentration de la réaction a aussi été conservée et le temps réactionnel a été réduit par un facteur de dix toujours en comparaison avec la synthèse en batch.

Functional observer design with application to pre-compensated multi-variable systems

Partial state estimation of dynamical systems provides significant advantages in practical applications. Likewise, pre-compensator design for multi variable systems invokes considerable increase in the order of the original system. Hence, applying functional observer to pre-compensated systems can result in lower computational costs and more practicability in some applications such as fault diagnosis and output feedback control of these systems. In this note, functional observer design is investigated for pre-compensated systems. A lower order pre-compensator is designed based on a H2 norm optimization that is designed as the solution of a set of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Next, a minimum order functional observer is designed for the pre-compensated system. An LTI model of an irreversible chemical reactor is used to demonstrate our design algorithm, and to highlight the benefits of the proposed schemes.

Efficient information reconciliation for Continuous-Variable QKD using Non-Binary Low-Density Parity-Check Codes

We present here an information reconciliation method and demonstrate for the first time that it can achieve efficiencies close to 0.98. This method is based on the belief propagation decoding of non-binary LDPC codes over finite (Galois) fields. In particular, for convenience and faster decoding we only consider power-of-two Galois fields.

Logic-Based Outer Approximation for the Design of Discrete-Continuous Dynamic Systems with Implicit Discontinuities

We address the optimization of discrete-continuous dynamic optimization problems using a disjunctive multistage modeling framework, with implicit discontinuities, which increases the problem complexity since the number of continuous phases and discrete events is not known a-priori. After setting a fixed alternative sequence of modes, we convert the infinite-dimensional continuous mixed-logic dynamic (MLDO) problem into a finite dimensional discretized GDP problem by orthogonal collocation on finite elements. We use the Logic-based Outer Approximation algorithm to fully exploit the structure of the GDP representation of the problem. This modelling framework is illustrated with an optimization problem with implicit discontinuities (diver problem).

Teleportation of continuous-variable polarization states

This paper discusses methods for the optical teleportation of continuous-variable polarization states. We show that using two pairs of entangled beams, generated using four squeezed beams, perfect teleportation of optical polarization states can be performed. Restricting ourselves to three squeezed beams, we demonstrate that polarization state teleportation can still exceed the classical limit. The three-squeezer schemes involve either the use of quantum nondemolition measurement or biased entanglement generated from a single squeezed beam. We analyze the efficacies of these schemes in terms of fidelity, signal transfer coefficients, and quantum correlations.

Continuous-variable Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox with traveling-wave second-harmonic generation

The Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox and quantum entanglement are at the heart of quantum mechanics. Here we show that single-pass traveling-wave second-harmonic generation can be used to demonstrate both entanglement and the paradox with continuous variables that are analogous to the position and momentum of the original proposal.

Continuous-variable quantum-state sharing via quantum disentanglement

Quantum-state sharing is a protocol where perfect reconstruction of quantum states is achieved with incomplete or partial information in a multipartite quantum network. Quantum-state sharing allows for secure communication in a quantum network where partial information is lost or acquired by malicious parties. This protocol utilizes entanglement for the secret-state distribution and a class of quantum disentangling protocols for the state reconstruction. We demonstrate a quantum-state sharing protocol in which a tripartite entangled state is used to encode and distribute a secret state to three players. Any two of these players can collaborate to reconstruct the secret state, while individual players obtain no information. We investigate a number of quantum disentangling processes and experimentally demonstrate quantum-state reconstruction using two of these protocols. We experimentally measure a fidelity, averaged over all reconstruction permutations, of F=0.73 +/- 0.02. A result achievable only by using quantum resources.

Quantum-state engineering with continuous-variable postselection

We present a scheme to conditionally engineer an optical quantum system via continuous-variable measurements. This scheme yields high-fidelity squeezed single photons and a superposition of coherent states, from input single- and two-photon Fock states, respectively. The input Fock state is interacted with an ancilla squeezed vacuum state using a beam splitter. We transform the quantum system by postselecting on the continuous-observable measurement outcome of the ancilla state. We experimentally demonstrate the principles of this scheme using coherent states and experimentally measure fidelities that are only achievable using quantum resources.

Implementation of continuous-variable quantum key distribution with composable and one-sided-device-independent security against coherent attacks

Secret communication over public channels is one of the central pillars of a modern information society. Using quantum key distribution this is achieved without relying on the hardness of mathematical problems, which might be compromised by improved algorithms or by future quantum computers. State-of-the-art quantum key distribution requires composable security against coherent attacks for a finite number of distributed quantum states as well as robustness against implementation side channels. Here we present an implementation of continuous-variable quantum key distribution satisfying these requirements. Our implementation is based on the distribution of continuous-variable Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen entangled light. It is one-sided device independent, which means the security of the generated key is independent of any memoryfree attacks on the remote detector. Since continuous-variable encoding is compatible with conventional optical communication technology, our work is a step towards practical implementations of quantum key distribution with state-of-the-art security based solely on telecom components.