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arXiv:1109.0818 · Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical

Entanglement beyond tensor product structure: algebraic aspects of quantum non-separability

Łukasz Derkacz, Marek Gwóźdź, Lech Jakóbczyk

Published Dec 8, 2011• 12 citations
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Abstract

An algebraic approach to quantum non-separability is applied to the case of two qubits. It is based on the partition of the algebra of observables into independent subalgebras and the tensor product structure of the Hilbert space is not exploited. Even in this simple case, such a general formulation has some advantages. Using algebraic formalism, we can explicitly show the relativity of the notion of entanglement to the observables measured in the system and characterize separable and non-separable pure states. As a universal measure of non-separability of pure states, we propose to take the so-called total correlation. This quantity depends on the state as well as on the algebraic partition. Its numerical value is given by the norm of the corresponding correlation matrix.

DOI
10.1088/1751-8113/45/2/025302

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An algebraic approach to quantum non-separability is applied to the case of two qubits. It is based on the partition of the algebra of observables into independent subalgebras and the tensor product structure of the Hilbert space is not exploited. Even in this simple case, such a general formulation has some advantages. Using algebraic formalism, we can explicitly show the relativity of the notion of entanglement to the observables measured in the system and characterize separable and non-separable pure states. As a universal measure of non-separability of pure states, we propose to take the so-called total correlation. This quantity depends on the state as well as on the algebraic partition. Its numerical value is given by the norm of the corresponding correlation matrix.
In early days of quantum theory it was believed that the results of measurements performed on two distant physical systems should be uncorrelated thus their quantum state should be separable it means described by a simple tensor product of the individual local state vectors or a tensor product of individual local density operators. It was shown many years ago by EPR that two systems which interacted in the past and separated afterwards had to be described in most cases by particular non-separable states which are called entangled. It was noticed by Zanardi et al. that a Hilbert space of possible state vectors of compound physical system could be partitioned in different way by introducing various tensor product structures induced by the experimentally accessible observables (interactions and measurements). Therefore a separable state in one partition could become entangled in different partition. In this sense the entanglement was relative to a particular set of experimental capabilities. Continuing this line of thought Torre et al. claimed to prove that for any separable state there existed strongly correlated physical observables therefore all quantum states were entangled. The same claims one may find in several recent papers. In this paper we will discuss in operational way the differences existing between separable, non-separable and entangled states and we will show that the conclusions of Torre et al. were unjustified. A sufficient condition for entanglement is the violation of BI-CHSH and/or steering inequalities. Since there exist experiments outside the quantum physics violating these inequalities therefore in the operational approach one cannot say that the entanglement is an exclusive quantum phenomenon.
Abstract Many-body entanglement is studied within the algebraic approach to quantum physics in systems made of Majorana fermions. In this framework, the notion of separability stems from partitions of the algebra of observables and properties of the associated correlation functions, rather than on particle tensor products. This allows a complete characterization of non-separable Majorana fermion states to be obtained. These results may have direct application in quantum metrology: using Majorana systems, sub-shot-noise accuracy in parameter estimations can be achieved without preliminary resource-consuming, state entanglement operations.
Abstract This paper is devoted to clarification of the notion of entanglement through decoupling it from the tensor product structure and treating as a constraint posed by probabilistic dependence of quantum observable A and B. In our framework, it is meaningless to speak about entanglement without pointing to the fixed observables A and B, so this is AB-entanglement. Dependence of quantum observables is formalized as non-coincidence of conditional probabilities. Starting with this probabilistic definition, we achieve the Hilbert space characterization of the AB-entangled states as amplitude non-factorisable states. In the tensor product case, AB-entanglement implies standard entanglement, but not vise verse. AB-entanglement for dichotomous observables is equivalent to their correlation, i.e., ⟨AB⟩ψ≠⟨A⟩ψ⟨B⟩ψ.\langle AB\rangle _{\psi} \not = \langle A\rangle _{\psi} \langle B\rangle _{\psi} .⟨AB⟩ψ​=⟨A⟩ψ​⟨B⟩ψ​. ⟨ A B ⟩ ψ ≠ ⟨ A ⟩ ψ ⟨ B ⟩ ψ . We describe the class of quantum states that are AuBuA_{u} B_{u}Au​Bu​ A u B u -entangled for a family of unitary operators (u). Finally, observables entanglement is compared with dependence of random variables in classical probability theory.
Quantum correlations, crucial for the advantage and advancement of quantum science and technology, arise from the impossibility of expressing a quantum state as a tensor product over a given set of parties. In this work, a generalized notion of correlations via arbitrary products is formulated. Remarkably, as a universal property, the connection between such general products and tensor products is established, allowing one to relate generic non-product states to the common notion of entangled states. We construct the set of free operations for general types of products by extending the local-operation-and-classical-communication paradigm, familiar from standard entanglement theory, thereby establishing a resource theory of correlations for general products. A generalization is provided beyond two factors that can be universally related to multipartite entanglement. Applications that highlight the usefulness of the approach are discussed, such as the factorization of fermionic states, the non-local factorization of multi-photon states into single-photon states, and the interesting possibility of understanding prime numbers as a form of single-party entanglement.
The rank of a tensor is analyzed in context of quantum entanglement. A pure quantum state v\bf vv of a composite system consisting of ddd subsystems with nnn levels each is viewed as a vector in the ddd-fold tensor product of nnn-dimensional Hilbert space and can be identified with a tensor with ddd indices, each running from 111 to nnn. We discuss the notions of the generic rank and the maximal rank of a tensor and review results known for the low dimensions. Another variant of this notion, called the border rank of a tensor, is shown to be relevant for characterization of orbits of quantum states generated by the group of special linear transformations. A quantum state v{\bf v}v is called {\sl entangled}, if it {\sl cannot} be written in the product form, v≠v1⊗v2⊗⋯⊗vd{\bf v} \ne {\bf v}_1 \otimes {\bf v}_2 \otimes \cdots \otimes {\bf v}_dv=v1​⊗v2​⊗⋯⊗vd​, what implies correlations between physical subsystems. A relation between various ranks and norms of a tensor and the entanglement of the corresponding quantum state is revealed..
In quantum mechanics, states can exhibit entanglement. Entanglement is a property referring to correlations between the measurement outcomes associated with different parts of a quantum system. The usual von Neumann entanglement entropy quantifies this property using a tensor product factorization of the Hilbert space, but such a factorization is not naturally available in many physical systems. Algebraic entanglement entropy generalizes this construction by defining the accessible part of a system through a von Neumann algebra of observables which, in general, induces a direct sum of tensor products. This thesis develops the mathematical and operational framework for algebraic entanglement entropy and applies it to the finite-𝑁 single Hermitian matrix model, with particular attention given to the singlet and adjoint sectors. Explicit computations for several 𝑁 = 2 matrix quantum harmonic oscillator eigenstates demonstrate that the method applies consistently to both sectors and produces distinct entanglement entropies for their different wavefunction structures