Work

Adaptive, Symmetry-Informed Bayesian Metrology for Precise Quantum Technology Measurements

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: High precision measurements are essential to solve major scientific and technological challenges, from gravitational wave detection to healthcare diagnostics. Quantum sensing delivers greater precision, but an in-depth optimization of measurement procedures has been overlooked. Here, we present a systematic strategy for parameter estimation in the low-data limit that integrates experimental control parameters and natural symmetries. The method is guided by a Bayesian quantifier of precision gain, enabling adaptive optimization tailored to the experiment. We provide general expressions for optimal estimators for any parameter. The strategy's power is demonstrated in a quantum technology experiment, in which ultracold caesium atoms are confined in a micromachined hole in an optical fiber. We find a fivefold reduction in the fractional variance of the estimated parameter, compared to the standard measurement procedure. Equivalently, our strategy achieves a target precision with a third of the data points previously required. Such enhanced device performance and accelerated data collection will be essential for applications in quantum computing, communication, metrology, and the wider quantum technology sector.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/rq95-zq9r