Quantum Information-Theoretic Analysis of Optical Fiber Sensing via Stimulated Brillouin Scattering
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) is a powerful mechanism for distributed sensing in optical fibers, as the Brillouin response is highly sensitive to local material parameters. Assuming the input probe is a quantum state, we develop a quantum-information-theoretic framework for SBS-based fiber sensing and intrusion detection. Starting from a linearized opto-acoustic Hamiltonian, we derive an effective input-output relation for a short fiber segment. We then model each fiber segment as a single-mode bosonic Gaussian channel and the entire fiber as a cascade of quantum channels. We then compute the quantum Fisher information for general SBS-dependent parameters and identify optimal measurement settings to achieve the quantum limit, comparing them with receiver-constrained strategies such as heterodyne detection and photon counting. In addition, we propose an adaptive approach that achieves first-order asymptotic optimality and provides a novel second-order correction to address preliminary miscalibration. As an application, we apply the framework to the fiber-tapping detection problem.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Authors: Adhikari, Kiran, Nötzel, Janis
Institution: Technical University of Munich
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: Verbundprojekt: Quantenkommunikation für Internet-of-Things-Netzwerke - QUIET -, G177143538, Verbundprojekt: Quanten Drahtloses Campusnetzwerk - QD-CamNetz - , Teilvorhaben: TP-Boche: Quantenklassische Verbindungen, TP-Deppe: Quantenklassischen Verbindungsschicht Protokolle, TP-Nötzel: Quantenklassiche Simulations/Emulations-Plattform, G3563359340, G3690431148, G5519890835, G6984449769, Verbundprojekt: Quantentoken Theorie und Anwendungen - QTOK -, Teilvorhaben: Modellierung und Simulation für Quantentoken-basierte Authentifizierung und sichere Speicherung, Verbundprojekt: Quantum Secure Transmission, Authentication, Resilience & Sensing - Q-STARS -
OpenAlex ID: W7221544840