Quantum Information Science: Quantum mechanics is a key enabler for next-generation information and communication technologies (ICT) including quantum sensors, quantum networks and quantum communications, which exploit the use of the peculiar aspects of quantum physics (such as quantum superposition and quantum entanglement) to reach unprecedented performance and open the way for new applications. Our contributions have focused on classical information trasmission with quantum carriers, quantum information theory, and quantum networks. Specific contributions include:
- Quantum State Discrimination: Quantum state discrimination (QSD) is a key enabler in quantum sensing and networking. QSD addresses the problem of identifying an unknown state among a set of quantum states. We have investigated and put forth the use of non-Gaussian states in QSD. In particular, we studied the binary QSD with noisy photon-added coherent states (PACSs). Our results allowed the characterization of classical information transmission with non-Gaussian states in quantum modulations, including quantum on-off keying (QOOK) and quantum pulse position modulation (QPPM).
- Quantum Networks: Quantum networks (QNs) are used to distribute quantum resources, as quantum entanglement, among spatially separated nodes. One of the most important application of QNs is the distribution of cryptographic keys among distant parties by relying on quantum key distribution (QKD) algorithms. We contributed in the analysis of the secret key rate for a QN in the presence of intermittent trusted relays (e.g., low-Earth orbit satellites).