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:1107.2005 · Europhysics Letters (EPL)

Orthogonal measurements are almost sufficient for quantum discord of two qubits

Fernando Galve, Gian Luca Giorgi, Roberta Zambrini

Published Nov 1, 2011• 61 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

The common use in the literature of orthogonal measurements in obtaining quantum discord for two-qubit states is discussed and compared with more general measurements. We prove the optimality of orthogonal measurements for rank-2 states. While for rank-3 and -4 mixed states they are not optimal, we present strong numerical evidence showing that they give the correct quantum discord up to minimal corrections. Based on the connection, through purification with an ancilla, between discord and entanglement of formation (EoF), we give a tight upper bound for the EoF of a 2⊗ N mixed state of rank 2, given by an optimal decomposition of 2 elements. We also provide an alternative way to compute the quantum discord for two qubits based on the Bloch vectors of the state.

DOI
10.1209/0295-5075/96/40005

Related papers

Observable estimation of entanglement of formation and quantum discord for bipartite mixed quantum states

Chengjie Zhang, Sixia Yu, Qing Chen +1 more

We present observable lower and upper bounds for the entanglement of formation (EOF) and quantum discord (QD), which facilitates estimates of EOF and QD for arbitrary experimental unknown states in finite-dimensional bipartite systems. These bounds can be easily obtained by a few experimental measurements on a twofold copy $\ensuremath{\varrho}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}\ensuremath{\varrho}$ of the mixed states. Based on our results, we use the experimental measurement data of the real experiment given by Schmid et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 260505 (2008)] to obtain the lower and upper bounds of EOF and QD for the experimental unknown state.

arXiv:1107.5458•Physical Review A•Nov 21, 2011•24 citations

Quantum discord of two-qubit rank-2 states

Mingjun Shi, Wei Yang, Feng-Jian Jiang +1 more

Among various definitions of quantum correlations, quantum discord has attracted considerable attention. To find analytical expression of quantum discord is an intractable task. In this paper, we discuss thoroughly the case of two-qubit rank-two states. An analytical expression for the quantum discord is obtained by means of Koashi-Winter relation. A geometric picture is demonstrated by means of quantum steering ellipsoid. We point out that in this case the optimal measurement is indeed the von Neumann measurement, which is usually used in the study of quantum discord. However, for some two-qubit states with the rank larger than two, we find that three-element POVM measurement is more optimal. It means that more careful attention should be paid in the discussion of quantum discord.

arXiv:1107.2246•Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical•Sep 22, 2011•62 citations

Measure of quantum correlations that lies approximately between entanglement and discord

Aaron Szasz

When a quantum system is divided into two local subsystems, measurements on the two subsystems can exhibit correlations beyond those possible in a classical joint probability distribution; these are partially explained by entanglement, and more generally by a wider class of measures such as the quantum discord. In this paper, I introduce a simple thought experiment defining a measure of quantum correlations, which I call the accord, and write the result as a minimax optimization over unitary matrices. I find the exact result for pure states as a simple function of the Schmidt coefficients and provide a complete proof, and I likewise provide and prove the result for several classes of mixed states, notably including all states of two qubits and the experimentally relevant case of a pure state mixed with colorless noise. I demonstrate that for two qubit states the accord provides a tight lower bound on the discord; for Bell diagonal states it is also an upper bound on entanglement.

arXiv:1810.12949•Physical Review A•Jun 12, 2019•5 citations

Observable estimation of quantum discord for bipartite mixed quantum states

Chengjie Zhang, Sixia Yu, Qing Chen

We present observable lower and upper bounds of the quantum discord, which facilitates estimates of quantum discord for arbitrary experimental unknown states in finite-dimensional bipartite systems. These bounds can be easily obtained by a few experimental measurements on a twofold copy of the mixed states. Based on our results, we use the experimental measurement data of the real experiment given by Schmid et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 260505 (2008)] to obtain the lower and upper bounds for the experimental unknown state. Furthermore, lower and upper bounds for entanglement of formation can also be obtained as a corollary.

•Jul 27, 2011•0 citations

Optimal measurements to access classical correlations of two-qubit states

Xiao-Ming Lu, Jian Ma, Zhengjun Xi +1 more

We analyze the optimal measurements to access classical correlations in arbitrary two-qubit states. Two-qubit states can be transformed into the canonical forms via local unitary operations. For the canonical forms, we investigate the probability distribution of the optimal measurements. The probability distribution of the optimal measurements is found to be centralized in the vicinity of a specific von Neumann measurement, which we call the maximal-correlation-direction measurement (MCDM). We prove that, for the states with zero discord and maximally mixed marginals, the MCDM is the optimal measurement. Furthermore, we give an upper bound of quantum discord based on the MCDM, and investigate its performance for approximating the quantum discord.

arXiv:1009.1476•Physical Review A•Jan 31, 2011•164 citations

Comparative study of quantum discord and geometric discord for generic bipartite states

Bao Liu, Zheng Hu, Xi-Wen Hou

The characterization of quantum discord (QD) and geometric discord (GD) has mostly concentrated on two-qubit states since the minimization in both discords is a daunting task for high-dimensional states. Numerical calculations of both discords are carried out for a generic bipartite state. When one-dimensional orthogonal projectors for a local measurement on n-dimensional Hilbert space are realized by the generators and the Euler angles of SU (n), the optimal measurements have a figure of merit that includes n(n - 1) Euler parameters. As an representative example, such projectors and two kinds of algorithms are used to estimate both discords for two-qutrit mixed states in recent literature. The generalized negativity as a measure of quantum entanglement is calculated for reference purposes. For those states with one parameter the discords and the negativity respectively display the nonlinear and the linear function of the parameter, with different turning points. However, they are positively correlated in the suitable ranges of the parameter for those states. The hierarchy of those quantities is discussed as well. Those shed new light on the understanding of QDs and quantum entanglement of mixed states in high-dimensions.

International Journal of Quantum Information•Aug 1, 2014•6 citations
The common use in the literature of orthogonal measurements in obtaining quantum discord for two-qubit states is discussed and compared with more general measurements. We prove the optimality of orthogonal measurements for rank-2 states. While for rank-3 and -4 mixed states they are not optimal, we present strong numerical evidence showing that they give the correct quantum discord up to minimal corrections. Based on the connection, through purification with an ancilla, between discord and entanglement of formation (EoF), we give a tight upper bound for the EoF of a 2⊗ N mixed state of rank 2, given by an optimal decomposition of 2 elements. We also provide an alternative way to compute the quantum discord for two qubits based on the Bloch vectors of the state.
We present observable lower and upper bounds for the entanglement of formation (EOF) and quantum discord (QD), which facilitates estimates of EOF and QD for arbitrary experimental unknown states in finite-dimensional bipartite systems. These bounds can be easily obtained by a few experimental measurements on a twofold copy $\ensuremath{\varrho}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}\ensuremath{\varrho}$ of the mixed states. Based on our results, we use the experimental measurement data of the real experiment given by Schmid et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 260505 (2008)] to obtain the lower and upper bounds of EOF and QD for the experimental unknown state.
Among various definitions of quantum correlations, quantum discord has attracted considerable attention. To find analytical expression of quantum discord is an intractable task. In this paper, we discuss thoroughly the case of two-qubit rank-two states. An analytical expression for the quantum discord is obtained by means of Koashi-Winter relation. A geometric picture is demonstrated by means of quantum steering ellipsoid. We point out that in this case the optimal measurement is indeed the von Neumann measurement, which is usually used in the study of quantum discord. However, for some two-qubit states with the rank larger than two, we find that three-element POVM measurement is more optimal. It means that more careful attention should be paid in the discussion of quantum discord.
When a quantum system is divided into two local subsystems, measurements on the two subsystems can exhibit correlations beyond those possible in a classical joint probability distribution; these are partially explained by entanglement, and more generally by a wider class of measures such as the quantum discord. In this paper, I introduce a simple thought experiment defining a measure of quantum correlations, which I call the accord, and write the result as a minimax optimization over unitary matrices. I find the exact result for pure states as a simple function of the Schmidt coefficients and provide a complete proof, and I likewise provide and prove the result for several classes of mixed states, notably including all states of two qubits and the experimentally relevant case of a pure state mixed with colorless noise. I demonstrate that for two qubit states the accord provides a tight lower bound on the discord; for Bell diagonal states it is also an upper bound on entanglement.
We present observable lower and upper bounds of the quantum discord, which facilitates estimates of quantum discord for arbitrary experimental unknown states in finite-dimensional bipartite systems. These bounds can be easily obtained by a few experimental measurements on a twofold copy of the mixed states. Based on our results, we use the experimental measurement data of the real experiment given by Schmid et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 260505 (2008)] to obtain the lower and upper bounds for the experimental unknown state. Furthermore, lower and upper bounds for entanglement of formation can also be obtained as a corollary.
We analyze the optimal measurements to access classical correlations in arbitrary two-qubit states. Two-qubit states can be transformed into the canonical forms via local unitary operations. For the canonical forms, we investigate the probability distribution of the optimal measurements. The probability distribution of the optimal measurements is found to be centralized in the vicinity of a specific von Neumann measurement, which we call the maximal-correlation-direction measurement (MCDM). We prove that, for the states with zero discord and maximally mixed marginals, the MCDM is the optimal measurement. Furthermore, we give an upper bound of quantum discord based on the MCDM, and investigate its performance for approximating the quantum discord.
The characterization of quantum discord (QD) and geometric discord (GD) has mostly concentrated on two-qubit states since the minimization in both discords is a daunting task for high-dimensional states. Numerical calculations of both discords are carried out for a generic bipartite state. When one-dimensional orthogonal projectors for a local measurement on n-dimensional Hilbert space are realized by the generators and the Euler angles of SU (n), the optimal measurements have a figure of merit that includes n(n - 1) Euler parameters. As an representative example, such projectors and two kinds of algorithms are used to estimate both discords for two-qutrit mixed states in recent literature. The generalized negativity as a measure of quantum entanglement is calculated for reference purposes. For those states with one parameter the discords and the negativity respectively display the nonlinear and the linear function of the parameter, with different turning points. However, they are positively correlated in the suitable ranges of the parameter for those states. The hierarchy of those quantities is discussed as well. Those shed new light on the understanding of QDs and quantum entanglement of mixed states in high-dimensions.