TY - JOUR
T1 - Quantum Data Compression of a Qubit Ensemble
AU - Rozema, Lee A.
AU - Mahler, Dylan H
AU - Hayat, Alex
AU - Turner, Peter S.
AU - Steinberg, Aephraim M.
PY - 2014/10/17
Y1 - 2014/10/17
N2 - Data compression is a ubiquitous aspect of modern information technology, and the advent of quantum information raises the question of what types of compression are feasible for quantum data, where it is especially relevant given the extreme difficulty involved in creating reliable quantum memories. We present a protocol in which an ensemble of quantum bits (qubits) can in principle be perfectly compressed into exponentially fewer qubits. We then experimentally implement our algorithm, compressing three photonic qubits into two. This protocol sheds light on the subtle differences between quantum and classical information. Furthermore, since data compression stores all of the available information about the quantum state in fewer physical qubits, it could provide a vast reduction in the amount of quantum memory required to store a quantum ensemble, making even today's limited quantum memories far more powerful than previously recognized.
AB - Data compression is a ubiquitous aspect of modern information technology, and the advent of quantum information raises the question of what types of compression are feasible for quantum data, where it is especially relevant given the extreme difficulty involved in creating reliable quantum memories. We present a protocol in which an ensemble of quantum bits (qubits) can in principle be perfectly compressed into exponentially fewer qubits. We then experimentally implement our algorithm, compressing three photonic qubits into two. This protocol sheds light on the subtle differences between quantum and classical information. Furthermore, since data compression stores all of the available information about the quantum state in fewer physical qubits, it could provide a vast reduction in the amount of quantum memory required to store a quantum ensemble, making even today's limited quantum memories far more powerful than previously recognized.
KW - quant-ph
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84908108304&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.160504
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.160504
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
C2 - 25361244
VL - 113
JO - Physical Review Letters
JF - Physical Review Letters
SN - 0031-9007
IS - 16
M1 - 160504
ER -