Robust quantum metrological schemes based on protection of quantum Fisher information

Fragile quantum features such as entanglement are employed to improve the precision of parameter estimation and as a consequence the quantum gain becomes vulnerable to noise. As an established tool to subdue noise, quantum error correction is unfortunately overprotective because the quantum enhancement can still be achieved even if the states are irrecoverably affected, provided that the quantum Fisher information, which sets the ultimate limit to the precision of metrological schemes, is preserved and attained. Here we develop a theory of robust metrological schemes that preserve the quantum Fisher information instead of the quantum states themselves against noise. After deriving a minimal set of testable conditions on this kind of robustness, we construct a family of 2t+1 qubits metrological schemes being immune to t-qubit errors after the signal sensing. In comparison, at least five qubits are required for correcting arbitrary 1-qubit errors in standard quantum error correction.