Paula Belzig, Li Gao, Graeme Smith, Peixue Wu (Dec 02 2024).
Abstract: The quantum data processing inequality states that two quantum states become harder to distinguish when a noisy channel is applied. On the other hand, a reverse quantum data processing inequality characterizes whether a pair of states remains distinguishable after the application of a noisy channel. In this work, we explore these concepts through contraction and expansion coefficients of quantum channels. We show that many quantum channels do not have a non-zero expansion coefficient, which means that they cannot admit a reverse data-processing inequality. Furthermore, we propose a comparative approach by introducing a relative expansion coefficient, to assess how one channel expands relative entropy compared to another. We show that this relative expansion coefficient is positive for various pairs of quantum channels, including depolarizing, generalized dephasing, and amplitude damping channels, allowing us to establish a reverse-type data processing inequality for several settings. As an application, we construct a class of less noisy quantum channels that are non-degradable. This work contributes new mathematical tools for evaluating quantum information preservation across channels.
