English

Probabilistic metrology or how some measurement outcomes render ultra-precise estimates

Quantum Physics 2016-10-27 v1

Abstract

We show on theoretical grounds that, even in the presence of noise, probabilistic measurement strategies (which have a certain probability of failure or abstention) can provide, upon a heralded successful outcome, estimates with a precision that exceeds the deterministic bounds for the average precision. This establishes a new ultimate bound on the phase estimation precision of particular measurement outcomes (or sequence of outcomes). For probe systems subject to local dephasing, we quantify such precision limit as a function of the probability of failure that can be tolerated. Our results show that the possibility of abstaining can set back the detrimental effects of noise.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1610.08272,
  title  = {Probabilistic metrology or how some measurement outcomes render ultra-precise estimates},
  author = {J. Calsamiglia and B. Gendra and R. Munoz-Tapia and E. Bagan},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1610.08272},
  year   = {2016}
}

Comments

Improved version of arXiv:1407.6910 with an extended introduction where we clarify our approach to metrology, and probabilistic metrology in particular. Changed title

R2 v1 2026-06-22T16:32:19.903Z