Limits of noisy quantum metrology with restricted quantum controls

The Heisenberg limit (HL) and the standard quantum limit (SQL) are two quantum metrological limits, which describe the scalings of estimation precision Δθ̂ of an unknown parameter θ with respect to n, the number of one-parameter quantum channels applied. It was known that the HL (Δθ̂∝ 1/n) is achievable using quantum error correction (QEC) strategies when the “Hamiltonian-not-in-Kraus-span” (HNKS) condition is satisfied; and when HNKS is violated, the SQL (Δθ̂∝ 1/n^1/2) is optimal and can be achieved with n repeated measurements. However, it is unknown whether such limits are still achievable using restricted quantum devices where the required QEC operations are not available – e.g., finite-size devices where only unitary controls are available or where noiseless ancilla is not available. In this work, we identify various new noisy metrological limits for estimating one-parameter qubit channels in different settings with restricted controls. The HL is proven to be unattainable in these cases, indicating the necessity of QEC in achieving the HL. Furthermore, we find a necessary and sufficient condition for qubit channels to attain the SQL, called the “rotation-generators-not-in-Kraus-span” (RGNKS) condition. When RGNKS is satisfied, the SQL is achievable using only unitary controls and a single measurement. When RGNKS is violated, the estimation precision (in most cases) has a constant floor when repeated measurements are not allowed. Demonstration of this separation in metrological powers is within reach of current quantum technologies.