Constraints on Gaussian Error Channels and Measurements for Quantum Communication

Abstract

Joint Gaussian measurements of two quantum systems can be used for quantum communication between remote parties, as in teleportation or entanglement swapping protocols. Many types of physical error sources throughout a protocol can be modeled by independent Gaussian error channels acting prior to measurement. In this work we study joint Gaussian measurements on two modes $\mathsf{A}$ and $\mathsf{B}$ that take place after independent single-mode Gaussian error channels, for example loss with parameters $l_{\mathsf{A}}$ and $l_{\mathsf{B}}$ followed by added noise with parameters $n_{\mathsf{A}}$ and $n_{\mathsf{B}}$. We show that, for any Gaussian measurement, if $l_\mathsf{A} + l_\mathsf{B} + n_\mathsf{A} + n_\mathsf{B} \geq 1$ then the effective total measurement is separable and unsuitable for teleportation or entanglement swapping of arbitrary input states. If this inequality is not satisfied then there exists a Gaussian measurement that remains inseparable. We extend the results and determine the set of pairs of single-mode Gaussian error channels that render all Gaussian measurements separable.