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arXiv:0910.5784 · Journal of Mathematical Physics

Symmetric informationally complete positive-operator-valued measures: A new computer study

A. J. Scott, Markus Grassl

Published Apr 1, 2010• 300 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We report on a new computer study of the existence of d2 equiangular lines in d complex dimensions. Such maximal complex projective codes are conjectured to exist in all finite dimensions and are the underlying mathematical objects defining symmetric informationally complete measurements in quantum theory. We provide numerical solutions in all dimensions d≤67 and, moreover, a putatively complete list of Weyl–Heisenberg covariant solutions for d≤50. A symmetry analysis of this list leads to new algebraic solutions in dimensions d=24, 35, and 48, which are given together with algebraic solutions for d=4,…,15, and 19.

DOI
10.1063/1.3374022

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Zauner's conjecture asserts that $d^2$ equiangular lines exist in all $d$ complex dimensions. In quantum theory, the $d^2$ lines are dubbed a SIC, as they define a favoured standard informationally complete quantum measurement called a SIC-POVM. This note supplements A. J. Scott and M. Grassl [J. Math. Phys. 51 (2010), 042203] by extending the list of published numerical solutions. We provide a putative complete list of Weyl-Heisenberg covariant SICs with the known symmetries in dimensions $d\leq 90$, a single solution with Zauner's symmetry for every $d\leq 121$ and solutions with higher symmetry for $d=124,143,147,168,172,195,199,228,259$ and $323$.

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The notion of Symmetric Informationally Complete Positive Operator-Valued Measures (SIC-POVMs) arose in physics as a kind of optimal measurement basis for quantum systems. However the question of their existence is equivalent to that of the existence of a maximal set of \emph{complex equiangular lines}. That is to say, given a complex Hilbert space of dimension $d$, what is the maximal number of (complex) lines one can find which all make a common (real) angle with one another, in the sense that the inner products between unit vectors spanning those lines all have a common absolute value? A maximal set would consist of $d^2$ lines all with a common angle of $\arccos{\frac{1}{\sqrt{d+1}}}$. The same question has been posed in the real case and some partial answers are known. But at the time of writing no unifying theoretical result has been found in the real or the complex case: some sporadic low-dimensional numerical constructions have been converted into algebraic solutions but beyond this very little is known. It is conjectured that such structures always arise as orbits of certain fiducial vectors under the action of the Weyl (or generalised Pauli) group. In this paper we point out some new construction methods in the lowest dimensions ($d=2$ and $d=3$). We should mention that the SIC-POVMs so constructed are all unitarily equivalent to previously known SIC-POVMs.

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Abstract The existence of $d^2$ pairwise equiangular complex lines [equivalently, a symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measure (SIC-POVM)] in $d$-dimensional Hilbert space is known only for finitely many dimensions $d$. We prove that, if there exists a set of real units in a certain ray class field (depending on $d$) satisfying certain algebraic properties, a SIC-POVM exists, when $d$ is an odd prime congruent to 2 modulo 3. We give an explicit analytic formula that we expect to yield such a set of units. Our construction uses values of derivatives of zeta functions at $s=0$ and is closely connected to the Stark conjectures over real quadratic fields. We verify numerically that our construction yields SIC-POVMs in dimensions 5, 11, 17, and 23, and we give the first exact SIC-POVM in dimension 23.

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In this work, we generalise an object that has proved interesting to both the pure and applied mathematician alike. Specifically, symmetric informationally complete positive operator valued measures (SIC-POVMs) were first encountered in the study finite tight frames, where they provide examples of complex equiangular tight frames. Then, the quantum information theory community discovered their own utility for these objects, for they provided a particularly useful example of a generalised measurement of a quantum system, a type of positive operator valued measure. In particular, they have proven useful to quantum state tomography and for probing quantum foundations. SIC-POVMs are collections of rank-one orthogonal projections acting on finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces and operational SIC-POVMs are their arbitrary rank counterparts. In this thesis, we cover necessary background on the standard quantum formalism, define SIC-POVMs and outline how they have been constructed up until this point via the orbit of the Weyl-Heisenberg group, which motivates Zauner’s conjecture. We go on to discuss generalised operational SIC-POVMs and give some new theorems that classify them. We then show that an infinite family of operational SIC-POVMs can be obtained via the representation theory of the symmetric group. Possibly shedding light on the unproven Zauner’s conjecture, we prove that an element of this infinite family cannot be generated via an orbit of the Weyl-Heisenberg group. We finish by describing the relation between these operational SIC-POVMs and Bell inequalities.

•Jul 14, 2026•0 citations
We report on a new computer study of the existence of d2 equiangular lines in d complex dimensions. Such maximal complex projective codes are conjectured to exist in all finite dimensions and are the underlying mathematical objects defining symmetric informationally complete measurements in quantum theory. We provide numerical solutions in all dimensions d≤67 and, moreover, a putatively complete list of Weyl–Heisenberg covariant solutions for d≤50. A symmetry analysis of this list leads to new algebraic solutions in dimensions d=24, 35, and 48, which are given together with algebraic solutions for d=4,…,15, and 19.
Zauner's conjecture asserts that d2d^2d2 equiangular lines exist in all ddd complex dimensions. In quantum theory, the d2d^2d2 lines are dubbed a SIC, as they define a favoured standard informationally complete quantum measurement called a SIC-POVM. This note supplements A. J. Scott and M. Grassl [J. Math. Phys. 51 (2010), 042203] by extending the list of published numerical solutions. We provide a putative complete list of Weyl-Heisenberg covariant SICs with the known symmetries in dimensions d≤90d\leq 90d≤90, a single solution with Zauner's symmetry for every d≤121d\leq 121d≤121 and solutions with higher symmetry for d=124,143,147,168,172,195,199,228,259d=124,143,147,168,172,195,199,228,259d=124,143,147,168,172,195,199,228,259 and 323323323.
We consider the existence in arbitrary finite dimensions d of a positive operator valued measure (POVM) comprised of d2 rank-one operators all of whose operator inner products are equal. Such a set is called a “symmetric, informationally complete” POVM (SIC–POVM) and is equivalent to a set of d2 equiangular lines in Cd. SIC–POVMs are relevant for quantum state tomography, quantum cryptography, and foundational issues in quantum mechanics. We construct SIC–POVMs in dimensions two, three, and four. We further conjecture that a particular kind of group-covariant SIC–POVM exists in arbitrary dimensions, providing numerical results up to dimension 45 to bolster this claim.
Recent years have seen significant advances in the study of symmetric informationally complete (SIC) quantum measurements, also known as maximal sets of complex equiangular lines. Previously, the published record contained solutions up to dimension 67, and was with high confidence complete up through dimension 50. Computer calculations have now furnished solutions in all dimensions up to 151, and in several cases beyond that, as large as dimension 844. These new solutions exhibit an additional type of symmetry beyond the basic definition of a SIC, and so verify a conjecture of Zauner in many new cases. The solutions in dimensions 68 through 121 were obtained by Andrew Scott, and his catalogue of distinct solutions is, with high confidence, complete up to dimension 90. Additional results in dimensions 122 through 151 were calculated by the authors using Scott’s code. We recap the history of the problem, outline how the numerical searches were done, and pose some conjectures on how the search technique could be improved. In order to facilitate communication across disciplinary boundaries, we also present a comprehensive bibliography of SIC research.
The notion of Symmetric Informationally Complete Positive Operator-Valued Measures (SIC-POVMs) arose in physics as a kind of optimal measurement basis for quantum systems. However the question of their existence is equivalent to that of the existence of a maximal set of \emph{complex equiangular lines}. That is to say, given a complex Hilbert space of dimension ddd, what is the maximal number of (complex) lines one can find which all make a common (real) angle with one another, in the sense that the inner products between unit vectors spanning those lines all have a common absolute value? A maximal set would consist of d2d^2d2 lines all with a common angle of arccos⁡1d+1\arccos{\frac{1}{\sqrt{d+1}}}arccosd+1​1​. The same question has been posed in the real case and some partial answers are known. But at the time of writing no unifying theoretical result has been found in the real or the complex case: some sporadic low-dimensional numerical constructions have been converted into algebraic solutions but beyond this very little is known. It is conjectured that such structures always arise as orbits of certain fiducial vectors under the action of the Weyl (or generalised Pauli) group. In this paper we point out some new construction methods in the lowest dimensions (d=2d=2d=2 and d=3d=3d=3). We should mention that the SIC-POVMs so constructed are all unitarily equivalent to previously known SIC-POVMs.
Abstract The existence of d2d^2d2 pairwise equiangular complex lines [equivalently, a symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measure (SIC-POVM)] in ddd-dimensional Hilbert space is known only for finitely many dimensions ddd. We prove that, if there exists a set of real units in a certain ray class field (depending on ddd) satisfying certain algebraic properties, a SIC-POVM exists, when ddd is an odd prime congruent to 2 modulo 3. We give an explicit analytic formula that we expect to yield such a set of units. Our construction uses values of derivatives of zeta functions at s=0s=0s=0 and is closely connected to the Stark conjectures over real quadratic fields. We verify numerically that our construction yields SIC-POVMs in dimensions 5, 11, 17, and 23, and we give the first exact SIC-POVM in dimension 23.
In this work, we generalise an object that has proved interesting to both the pure and applied mathematician alike. Specifically, symmetric informationally complete positive operator valued measures (SIC-POVMs) were first encountered in the study finite tight frames, where they provide examples of complex equiangular tight frames. Then, the quantum information theory community discovered their own utility for these objects, for they provided a particularly useful example of a generalised measurement of a quantum system, a type of positive operator valued measure. In particular, they have proven useful to quantum state tomography and for probing quantum foundations. SIC-POVMs are collections of rank-one orthogonal projections acting on finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces and operational SIC-POVMs are their arbitrary rank counterparts. In this thesis, we cover necessary background on the standard quantum formalism, define SIC-POVMs and outline how they have been constructed up until this point via the orbit of the Weyl-Heisenberg group, which motivates Zauner’s conjecture. We go on to discuss generalised operational SIC-POVMs and give some new theorems that classify them. We then show that an infinite family of operational SIC-POVMs can be obtained via the representation theory of the symmetric group. Possibly shedding light on the unproven Zauner’s conjecture, we prove that an element of this infinite family cannot be generated via an orbit of the Weyl-Heisenberg group. We finish by describing the relation between these operational SIC-POVMs and Bell inequalities.