Super-Heisenberg-limited Sensing via Collective Subradiance in Waveguide Quantum Electrodynamics

Abstract:We explore the quantum-metrological potential of subwavelength-spaced emitter arrays coupled to a one-dimensional nanophotonic waveguide. In this system, strong dipole--dipole interactions profoundly modify the collective optical response, leading to the emergence of ultranarrow subradiant resonances. Through an eigenmode analysis of the effective non-Hermitian Hamiltonian, we derive the decay rate of the most subradiant state, which, within the present model and geometry, exhibits an $N^{-3}$ scaling with even--odd oscillatory behavior in the deep-subwavelength regime. This scaling is directly observable in the single-photon scattering spectrum, enabling the detection of minute changes in atomic separation with a figure of merit that scales as $ N^3 $. The quantum Fisher information (QFI) scales as $N^6$ and can be closely approached by measuring spectral shifts near the steepest slope of the most subradiant resonance. These enhancements remain robust under realistic positional disorder, confirming that dipole--dipole-engineered subradiance provides a viable resource for quantum metrology. Our work bridges collective waveguide-QED physics and high-precision sensing, opening a route toward scalable quantum sensors on integrated nanophotonic platforms.

arXiv:2512.14463 [quant-ph]

(or arXiv:2512.14463v2 [quant-ph] for this version)

https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2512.14463 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite

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