Scientific Reports (May 2017)

Experimental investigation of quantum entropic uncertainty relations for multiple measurements in pure diamond

  • Jian Xing,
  • Yu-Ran Zhang,
  • Shang Liu,
  • Yan-Chun Chang,
  • Jie-Dong Yue,
  • Heng Fan,
  • Xin-Yu Pan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-02424-6
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Abstract One unique feature of quantum mechanics is the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, which states that the outcomes of two incompatible measurements cannot simultaneously achieve arbitrary precision. In an information-theoretic context of quantum information, the uncertainty principle can be formulated as entropic uncertainty relations with two measurements for a quantum bit (qubit) in two-dimensional system. New entropic uncertainty relations are studied for a higher-dimensional quantum state with multiple measurements, and the uncertainty bounds can be tighter than that expected from two measurements settings and cannot result from qubits system with or without a quantum memory. Here we report the first room-temperature experimental testing of the entropic uncertainty relations with three measurements in a natural three-dimensional solid-state system: the nitrogen-vacancy center in pure diamond. The experimental results confirm the entropic uncertainty relations for multiple measurements. Our result represents a more precise demonstrating of the fundamental uncertainty principle of quantum mechanics.