We study the problem of transmitting classical information using quantum Gaussian states on a family of phase-noise channels with a finite decoherence time, such that the phase-reference is lost after m. consecutive uses of the transmission line. This problem is relevant for long-distance communication in free space and optical fiber, where phase noise is typically considered as a limiting factor. The Holevo capacity of these channels is always attained with photon-number encodings, challenging with current technology. Hence for coherent-state encodings the optimal rate depends only on the total-energy distribution and we provide upper and lower bounds for all m, the latter attainable at low energies with on/off modulation and photodetection. We generalize this lower bound to squeezed-coherent encodings, exhibiting for the first time to our knowledge an unconditional advantage with respect to any coherent encoding form 1 and a considerable advantage with respect to its direct coherent counterpart for m > 1. This advantage is robust with respect to moderate attenuation, and persists in a regime where Fock encodings with up to two-photon states are also suboptimal. Finally, we show that the use of part of the energy to establish a reference frame is sub-optimal even at large energies. Our results represent a key departure from the case of phase-covariant Gaussian channels and constitute a proof-of-principle of the advantages of using non-classical, squeezed light, in a motivated communication setting.

Fanizza, M., Rosati, M., Skotiniotis, M., Calsamiglia, J., Giovannetti, V. (2021). Squeezing-enhanced communication without a phase reference. QUANTUM, 5 [10.22331/q-2021-12-23-608].

Squeezing-enhanced communication without a phase reference

Rosati, Matteo;
2021-01-01

Abstract

We study the problem of transmitting classical information using quantum Gaussian states on a family of phase-noise channels with a finite decoherence time, such that the phase-reference is lost after m. consecutive uses of the transmission line. This problem is relevant for long-distance communication in free space and optical fiber, where phase noise is typically considered as a limiting factor. The Holevo capacity of these channels is always attained with photon-number encodings, challenging with current technology. Hence for coherent-state encodings the optimal rate depends only on the total-energy distribution and we provide upper and lower bounds for all m, the latter attainable at low energies with on/off modulation and photodetection. We generalize this lower bound to squeezed-coherent encodings, exhibiting for the first time to our knowledge an unconditional advantage with respect to any coherent encoding form 1 and a considerable advantage with respect to its direct coherent counterpart for m > 1. This advantage is robust with respect to moderate attenuation, and persists in a regime where Fock encodings with up to two-photon states are also suboptimal. Finally, we show that the use of part of the energy to establish a reference frame is sub-optimal even at large energies. Our results represent a key departure from the case of phase-covariant Gaussian channels and constitute a proof-of-principle of the advantages of using non-classical, squeezed light, in a motivated communication setting.
2021
Fanizza, M., Rosati, M., Skotiniotis, M., Calsamiglia, J., Giovannetti, V. (2021). Squeezing-enhanced communication without a phase reference. QUANTUM, 5 [10.22331/q-2021-12-23-608].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11590/470624
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