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:0912.3018 · Physical Review A

Quantifying entanglement with covariance matrices

Oleg Gittsovich, Otfried Gühne

Published Mar 29, 2010• 45 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Covariance matrices are a useful tool for investigating correlations and entanglement in quantum systems. They are widely used in continuous-variable systems, but recently also for finite-dimensional systems powerful entanglement criteria in terms of covariance matrices have been derived. We show how these results can be used for the quantification of entanglement in bipartite systems. To that aim we introduce an entanglement parameter that quantifies the violation of the covariance matrix criterion and can be used to give lower bounds on the concurrence. These lower bounds are easily computable and give entanglement estimates for many weakly entangled states.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.81.032333

Related papers

A note on lower bounds of concurrence for arbitrary dimensional bipartite quantum states

Zhi-Bo Chen, Shao-Ming Fei

Abstract Quantification of quantum entanglement plays a crucial role in the study of quantum information tasks. We present analytical lower bounds for both concurrence and 2-concurrence based on the correlation matrices of bipartite quantum states. Compared with other related lower bounds, our approach provides a better estimation of the entanglement, particularly for states with large purity.

arXiv:2503.16291•Laser Physics•Mar 18, 2025•1 citation

Covariance-Matrix-Based Criteria for Network Entanglement

Kiara Hansenne, Otfried Gühne

Quantum networks offer a realistic and practical scheme for generating multiparticle entanglement and implementing multiparticle quantum communication protocols. However, the correlations that can be generated in networks with quantum sources and local operations are not yet well understood. Covariance matrices, which are powerful tools in entanglement theory, have been also applied to the network scenario. We present simple proofs for the decomposition of such matrices into the sum of positive semi-definite block matrices and, based on that, develop analytical and computable necessary criteria for preparing states in quantum networks. These criteria can be applied to networks where nodes share at most one source, such as all bipartite networks.

arXiv:2307.13480•Entropy•Aug 24, 2023•0 citations

Further results on entanglement detection and quantification from the correlation matrix criterion

Julio I de Vicente

The correlation matrix (CM) criterion is a recently derived powerful sufficient condition for the presence of entanglement in bipartite quantum states of arbitrary dimensions. It has been shown that it can be stronger than the positive partial transpose (PPT) criterion, as well as the computable cross norm or realignment (CCNR) criterion in different situations. However, it remained as an open question whether there existed sets of states for which the CM criterion could be stronger than both criteria simultaneously. Here, we give an affirmative answer to this question by providing examples of entangled states that scape detection by both the PPT and CCNR criteria whose entanglement is revealed by the CM condition. We also show that the CM can be used to measure the entanglement of pure states and obtain lower bounds for the entanglement measure known as tangle for general (mixed) states.

arXiv:0705.2583•Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical•Jan 29, 2008•76 citations

Separability and entanglement of quantum states based on covariance matrices

Ming Li, Shao-Ming Fei, Zhi-Xi Wang

We investigate the separability of quantum states based on covariance matrices. Separability criteria are presented for multipartite states. The lower bound of concurrence proposed in Vicente (2007 Phys. Rev. A 75 052320) is improved by optimizing the local orthonormal observables.

arXiv:0805.1632•Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical•Apr 30, 2008•17 citations

Characterizing Entanglement via Uncertainty Relations

Otfried Gühne

We derive a family of necessary separability criteria for finite-dimensional systems based on inequalities for variances of observables. We show that every pure bipartite entangled state violates some of these inequalities. Furthermore, a family of bound entangled states and true multipartite entangled states can be detected. The inequalities also allow us to distinguish between different classes of true tripartite entanglement for qubits. We formulate an equivalent criterion in terms of covariance matrices. This allows us to apply criteria known from the regime of continuous variables to finite-dimensional systems.

arXiv:quant-ph/0306194•Physical Review Letters•Mar 18, 2004•295 citations

Bounding entanglement dimensionality from the covariance matrix

Shuheng Liu, Matteo Fadel, Qiongyi He +2 more

High-dimensional entanglement has been identified as an important resource in quantum information processing, and also as a main obstacle for simulating quantum systems. Its certification is often difficult, and most widely used methods for experiments are based on fidelity measurements with respect to highly entangled states. Here, instead, we consider covariances of collective observables, as in the well-known Covariance Matrix Criterion (CMC)[1] and present a generalization of the CMC for determining the Schmidt number of a bipartite system. This is potentially particularly advantageous in many-body systems, such as cold atoms, where the set of practical measurements is very limited and only variances of collective operators can typically be estimated. To show the practical relevance of our results, we derive simpler Schmidt-number criteria that require similar information as the fidelity-based witnesses, yet can detect a wider set of states. We also consider paradigmatic criteria based on spin covariances, which would be very helpful for experimental detection of high-dimensional entanglement in cold atom systems. We conclude by discussing the applicability of our results to a multiparticle ensemble and some open questions for future work.

arXiv:2208.04909•Aug 9, 2022•0 citations
Covariance matrices are a useful tool for investigating correlations and entanglement in quantum systems. They are widely used in continuous-variable systems, but recently also for finite-dimensional systems powerful entanglement criteria in terms of covariance matrices have been derived. We show how these results can be used for the quantification of entanglement in bipartite systems. To that aim we introduce an entanglement parameter that quantifies the violation of the covariance matrix criterion and can be used to give lower bounds on the concurrence. These lower bounds are easily computable and give entanglement estimates for many weakly entangled states.
Quantum networks offer a realistic and practical scheme for generating multiparticle entanglement and implementing multiparticle quantum communication protocols. However, the correlations that can be generated in networks with quantum sources and local operations are not yet well understood. Covariance matrices, which are powerful tools in entanglement theory, have been also applied to the network scenario. We present simple proofs for the decomposition of such matrices into the sum of positive semi-definite block matrices and, based on that, develop analytical and computable necessary criteria for preparing states in quantum networks. These criteria can be applied to networks where nodes share at most one source, such as all bipartite networks.
The correlation matrix (CM) criterion is a recently derived powerful sufficient condition for the presence of entanglement in bipartite quantum states of arbitrary dimensions. It has been shown that it can be stronger than the positive partial transpose (PPT) criterion, as well as the computable cross norm or realignment (CCNR) criterion in different situations. However, it remained as an open question whether there existed sets of states for which the CM criterion could be stronger than both criteria simultaneously. Here, we give an affirmative answer to this question by providing examples of entangled states that scape detection by both the PPT and CCNR criteria whose entanglement is revealed by the CM condition. We also show that the CM can be used to measure the entanglement of pure states and obtain lower bounds for the entanglement measure known as tangle for general (mixed) states.
We derive a family of necessary separability criteria for finite-dimensional systems based on inequalities for variances of observables. We show that every pure bipartite entangled state violates some of these inequalities. Furthermore, a family of bound entangled states and true multipartite entangled states can be detected. The inequalities also allow us to distinguish between different classes of true tripartite entanglement for qubits. We formulate an equivalent criterion in terms of covariance matrices. This allows us to apply criteria known from the regime of continuous variables to finite-dimensional systems.
High-dimensional entanglement has been identified as an important resource in quantum information processing, and also as a main obstacle for simulating quantum systems. Its certification is often difficult, and most widely used methods for experiments are based on fidelity measurements with respect to highly entangled states. Here, instead, we consider covariances of collective observables, as in the well-known Covariance Matrix Criterion (CMC)[1] and present a generalization of the CMC for determining the Schmidt number of a bipartite system. This is potentially particularly advantageous in many-body systems, such as cold atoms, where the set of practical measurements is very limited and only variances of collective operators can typically be estimated. To show the practical relevance of our results, we derive simpler Schmidt-number criteria that require similar information as the fidelity-based witnesses, yet can detect a wider set of states. We also consider paradigmatic criteria based on spin covariances, which would be very helpful for experimental detection of high-dimensional entanglement in cold atom systems. We conclude by discussing the applicability of our results to a multiparticle ensemble and some open questions for future work.