Optimal approximate quantum error correction for quantum metrology*

For a generic set of Markovian noise models, the estimation precision of a parameter associated with the Hamiltonian is limited by the 1/sqrt(t) scaling where t is the total probing time, in which case the maximal possible quantum improvement in the asymptotic limit of large t is restricted to a constant factor. However, situations arise where the constant factor improvement could be significant, yet no effective quantum strategies are known. Here we propose an optimal approximate quantum error correction (AQEC) strategy asymptotically saturating the precision lower bound in the most general adaptive parameter estimation scheme where arbitrary and frequent quantum controls are allowed. We also provide an efficient numerical algorithm finding the optimal code. Finally, we consider highly-biased noise and show that using the optimal AQEC strategy, strong noises are fully corrected, while the estimation precision depends only on the strength of weak noises in the limiting case.