We characterize the non-Gaussianity of continuous-variable quantum states in terms of the cumulant theory and derive the exact formula of the cumulant of any order for such states. Exploiting the fourth-order cumulant method, we evaluate the quantum non-Gaussianity of two-mode single-photon squeezed Bell states and investigate their dynamics under the influence of two different types of decoherence models. It is shown that in a two-reservoir model, all the fourth-order cumulants of these states are very fragile, while in single-reservoir model, the fourth-order cumulants of one such state are insensitive to thermal noise, showing the time-invariant non-Gaussianity.

• Received 31 December 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.93.062119