Enhanced weak-field sensing using detuned motional squeezing
Phys. Rev. A 114, 052411 – Published 3 November, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/bn76-jmby
Abstract
Achieving measurement precision beyond the standard quantum limit (SQL) is a fundamental object in quantum metrology. In this manuscript, we propose a streamlined protocol for weak signal sensing in a trapped-ion spin-oscillator system that simultaneously exploits detuned motional squeezing and spin-oscillator entanglement. By combining these two quantum resources, the phase accumulation in this spin system is significantly accelerated, as a result achieving an exponential improvement in the sensitivity over unsqueezed cases. Remarkably, we show that the significant metrological gain provided by our protocol persists in noisy environments, with the sensitivity remaining below the SQL. In particular, our protocol retains a distinct advantage in the short interrogation time regime, thus demonstrating the practical potential in quantum-enhanced sensing.
