Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:0907.3704 · New Journal of Physics

Entropic uncertainty relations—a survey

Stephanie Wehner, Andreas Winter

Published Feb 26, 2010• 404 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Uncertainty relations play a central role in quantum mechanics. Entropic uncertainty relations in particular have gained significant importance within quantum information, providing the foundation for the security of many quantum cryptographic protocols. Yet, little is known about entropic uncertainty relations with more than two measurement settings. In the present survey, we review known results and open questions.

DOI
10.1088/1367-2630/12/2/025009

Related papers

Entropic uncertainty relations – A survey

Stephanie Wehner, Andreas Winter

Uncertainty relations play a central role in quantum mechanics. Entropic uncertainty relations in particular have gained significant importance within quantum information, providing the foundation for the security of many quantum cryptographic protocols. Yet, rather little is known about entropic uncertainty relations with more than two measurement settings. In this note we review known results and open questions. The uncertainty principle is one of the fundamental ideas of quantum mechanics. Since Heisenberg’s uncertainty relations for canonically conjugate variables, they have been one of the most prominent examples of how quantum mechanics differs from the classical world (Heisenberg, 1927). Uncertainty relations today are probably best known in the form given by (Robertson, 1929), who extended Heisenberg’s result to two arbitrary observables A and B. Robertson’s relation states that if we prepare many copies of the state |ψ〉, and measure each copy individually using either A or B, we have

•Jan 1, 2009•239 citations

Review on entropic uncertainty relations

Lijuan Li, Fei Ming, Xue‐Ke Song +2 more

The Heisenberg uncertainty principle is one of the characteristics of quantum mechanics. With the vigorous development of quantum information theory, uncertain relations have gradually played an important role in it. In particular, in order to solved the shortcomings of the concept in the initial formulation of the uncertainty principle, we brought entropy into the uncertainty relation, after that, the entropic uncertainty relation has exploited the advantages to the full in various applications. As we all know the entropic uncertainty relation has became the core element of the security analysis of almost all quantum cryptographic protocols. This review mainly introduces development history and latest progress of uncertain relations. After Heisenberg's argument that incompatible measurement results are impossible to predict, many scholars, inspired by this viewpoint, have made further relevant investigations. They combined the quantum correlation between the observable object and its environment, and carried out various generalizations of the uncertainty relation to obtain more general formulas. In addition, it also focuses on the entropy uncertainty relationship and quantum-memory-assisted entropic uncertainty relation, and the dynamic characteristics of uncertainty in some physical systems. Finally, various applications of the entropy uncertainty relationship in the field of quantum information are discussed, from randomnesss to wave-particle duality to quantum key distribution.

Acta Physica Sinica•Jan 1, 2022•9 citations

Entropic uncertainty relations for multiple measurements

Shang Liu, Liang-Zhu Mu, Heng Fan

We present the entropic uncertainty relations for multiple measurement settings which demonstrate the uncertainty principle of quantum mechanics. Those uncertainty relations are obtained for both cases with and without the presence of quantum memory, and can be proven by a unified method. Our results recover some well known entropic uncertainty relations for two observables, which show the uncertainties about the outcomes of two incompatible measurements. The bounds of those relations which quantify the extent of the uncertainty take concise forms and are easy to calculate. Those uncertainty relations might play important roles in the foundations of quantum theory. Potential experimental demonstration of those entropic uncertainty relations is discussed.

arXiv:1410.5177•Physical Review A•Apr 30, 2015•136 citations

Multipartite uncertainty relation with quantum memory

Saeed Haddadi, Mohammad Reza Pourkarimi, Soroush Haseli

We present a new quantum-memory-assisted entropic uncertainty relation for multipartite systems which shows the uncertainty principle of quantum mechanics. Notably, our results recover some well-known entropic uncertainty relations for two arbitrary incompatible observables that demonstrate the uncertainties about the results of two measurements. This uncertainty relation might play a critical role in the foundations of quantum theory.

Scientific Reports•Jul 2, 2021•25 citations

Complementary relation between quantum entanglement and entropic uncertainty

Yun Cao, Dong Wang, Xiao‐Gang Fan +3 more

Abstract Quantum entanglement is regarded as one of the core concepts, which is used to describe the non-classical correlation between subsystems, and entropic uncertainty relation plays a vital role in quantum precision measurement. It is well known that entanglement of formation can be expressed by von Neumann entropy of subsystems for arbitrary pure states. An interesting question is naturally raised: is there any intrinsic correlation between the entropic uncertainty relation and quantum entanglement? Or if the relation can be applied to estimate the entanglement. In this work, we focus on exploring the complementary relation between quantum entanglement and the entropic uncertainty relation. The results show that there exists an inequality relation between both of them for an arbitrary two-qubit system, and specifically the larger uncertainty will induce the weaker entanglement of the probed system, and vice versa. Besides, we use randomly generated states as illustrations to verify our results. Therefore, we claim that our observations might offer and support the validity of using the entropy uncertainty relation to estimate quantum entanglement.

Communications in Theoretical Physics•Dec 18, 2020•11 citations

Entropic uncertainty relations and their applications

Patrick J. Coles, Mario Berta, Marco Tomamichel +1 more

The Heisenberg uncertainty principle has a more precise formulation in terms of inequalities involving quantum entropies. Currently known entropic uncertainty relations are presented; they capture and extend Heisenberg's idea of the unpredictability of the outcomes of incompatible measurements. Distinct results are obtained for finite- and infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces. Applications are surveyed, including the formulation of entanglement witnesses, current ideas about wave-particle duality, and the analysis of quantum cryptography.

arXiv:1511.04857•Reviews of Modern Physics•Feb 6, 2017•664 citations
Uncertainty relations play a central role in quantum mechanics. Entropic uncertainty relations in particular have gained significant importance within quantum information, providing the foundation for the security of many quantum cryptographic protocols. Yet, little is known about entropic uncertainty relations with more than two measurement settings. In the present survey, we review known results and open questions.
Uncertainty relations play a central role in quantum mechanics. Entropic uncertainty relations in particular have gained significant importance within quantum information, providing the foundation for the security of many quantum cryptographic protocols. Yet, rather little is known about entropic uncertainty relations with more than two measurement settings. In this note we review known results and open questions. The uncertainty principle is one of the fundamental ideas of quantum mechanics. Since Heisenberg’s uncertainty relations for canonically conjugate variables, they have been one of the most prominent examples of how quantum mechanics differs from the classical world (Heisenberg, 1927). Uncertainty relations today are probably best known in the form given by (Robertson, 1929), who extended Heisenberg’s result to two arbitrary observables A and B. Robertson’s relation states that if we prepare many copies of the state |ψ〉, and measure each copy individually using either A or B, we have
The Heisenberg uncertainty principle is one of the characteristics of quantum mechanics. With the vigorous development of quantum information theory, uncertain relations have gradually played an important role in it. In particular, in order to solved the shortcomings of the concept in the initial formulation of the uncertainty principle, we brought entropy into the uncertainty relation, after that, the entropic uncertainty relation has exploited the advantages to the full in various applications. As we all know the entropic uncertainty relation has became the core element of the security analysis of almost all quantum cryptographic protocols. This review mainly introduces development history and latest progress of uncertain relations. After Heisenberg's argument that incompatible measurement results are impossible to predict, many scholars, inspired by this viewpoint, have made further relevant investigations. They combined the quantum correlation between the observable object and its environment, and carried out various generalizations of the uncertainty relation to obtain more general formulas. In addition, it also focuses on the entropy uncertainty relationship and quantum-memory-assisted entropic uncertainty relation, and the dynamic characteristics of uncertainty in some physical systems. Finally, various applications of the entropy uncertainty relationship in the field of quantum information are discussed, from randomnesss to wave-particle duality to quantum key distribution.
We present the entropic uncertainty relations for multiple measurement settings which demonstrate the uncertainty principle of quantum mechanics. Those uncertainty relations are obtained for both cases with and without the presence of quantum memory, and can be proven by a unified method. Our results recover some well known entropic uncertainty relations for two observables, which show the uncertainties about the outcomes of two incompatible measurements. The bounds of those relations which quantify the extent of the uncertainty take concise forms and are easy to calculate. Those uncertainty relations might play important roles in the foundations of quantum theory. Potential experimental demonstration of those entropic uncertainty relations is discussed.
Abstract Quantum entanglement is regarded as one of the core concepts, which is used to describe the non-classical correlation between subsystems, and entropic uncertainty relation plays a vital role in quantum precision measurement. It is well known that entanglement of formation can be expressed by von Neumann entropy of subsystems for arbitrary pure states. An interesting question is naturally raised: is there any intrinsic correlation between the entropic uncertainty relation and quantum entanglement? Or if the relation can be applied to estimate the entanglement. In this work, we focus on exploring the complementary relation between quantum entanglement and the entropic uncertainty relation. The results show that there exists an inequality relation between both of them for an arbitrary two-qubit system, and specifically the larger uncertainty will induce the weaker entanglement of the probed system, and vice versa. Besides, we use randomly generated states as illustrations to verify our results. Therefore, we claim that our observations might offer and support the validity of using the entropy uncertainty relation to estimate quantum entanglement.
The Heisenberg uncertainty principle has a more precise formulation in terms of inequalities involving quantum entropies. Currently known entropic uncertainty relations are presented; they capture and extend Heisenberg's idea of the unpredictability of the outcomes of incompatible measurements. Distinct results are obtained for finite- and infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces. Applications are surveyed, including the formulation of entanglement witnesses, current ideas about wave-particle duality, and the analysis of quantum cryptography.