An Architecture Superposing Indefinite Causal Order and Path Superposition Improving Pauli Channels’ Parameter Estimation

Abstract

Quantum Parameter Estimation (QPE) is commonly led using quantum probe states for the characterization of quantum systems. For these purposes, Quantum Fisher Information (QFI) plays a crucial role by imposing a lower bound for the parametric estimation of quantum channels. Several schemes for obtaining QFI lower bounds have been proposed, particularly for Pauli channels regarding qubits. Those schemes commonly employ either the individual channel, multiple copies of it, or arrangements including communication architectures. The present work aims to propose an architecture involving path superposition and causal indefinite order in superposition. Thus, by controlling the symmetry balance of this superposition, it reaches notable improvements in quantum parameter estimation. The proposed architecture has been tested to find the best possible QPE bounds for a representative and emblematic set of Pauli channels. Further, for the most reluctant channels, it was revisited testing the architecture again under a primary path superposition (using double teleportation) and also using entangled probe states to recombine their outputs with the original undisturbed state. Notable outcomes practically near zero were found for the QPE bounds, stating a hierarchy between the approaches, but anyway reaching a perfect theoretical QPE, particularly for the last path superposition including the proposed architecture.