Universality in fidelity-based quantum metrology
Phys. Rev. A 114, 032406 – Published 3 September, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/gpp5-n5j6
Abstract
We consider the problem of identifying the quantum spin states that are the optimal sensors of a given transformation, averaged over all possible orientations of the spin system. Our geometric approach to the problem is based on a fidelity criterion and is entirely general, encompassing any unitary transformation. This formalism leads to a universality result: For any value of the spin, there exists a zero-measure subset of states that can be the optimal sensors for certain transformations and the worst sensors for others, and this set does not depend on the transformation under consideration. In other words, some spin states are simply the best (or worst) sensors, regardless of what they detect.
