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:1504.04908 · Physical Review A

Optimality of square-root measurements in quantum state discrimination

Nicola Dalla Pozza, Gianfranco L. Pierobon

Published Apr 27, 2015• 56 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Distinguishing assigned quantum states with assigned probabilities via quantum measurements is a crucial problem for the transmission of classical information through quantum channels. Measurement operators maximizing the probability of correct discrimination have been characterized by Helstrom, Holevo, and Yuen since the 1970s. On the other hand, closed-form solutions are available only for particular situations enjoying high degrees of symmetry. As a suboptimal solution to the problem, measurement operators, directly determined from states and probabilities and known as square-root measurements (SRMs), were introduced by Hausladen and Wootters. These operators were also recognized to be optimal for pure states equipped with geometrical uniform symmetry (GUS). In this paper we discuss the optimality of the SRM and find necessary and sufficient conditions in order that SRM maximize the correct decision probabilities for the set of states formed by several constellations of GUS states. The results are applied to some specific examples concerning double constellations of quantum phase-shift keying and pulse-position modulation states, with possible applications to practical systems of quantum communications.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.91.042334

Related papers

Gaussian states and geometrically uniform symmetry

Gianfranco Cariolaro, Roberto Corvaja, Gianfranco L. Pierobon

Quantum Gaussian states can be considered as the majority of the practical quantum states used in quantum communications and more generally in quantum information. Here we consider their properties in relation to the geometrically uniform symmetry, a property of quantum states that greatly simplifies the derivation of the optimal decision by means of the square root measurements. In a general framework of the $N$-mode Gaussian states we show the general properties of this symmetry and the application of the optimal quantum measurements. An application example is presented to quantum communication systems employing pulse position modulation. We prove that the geometrically uniform symmetry can be applied to the general class of multimode Gaussian states.

arXiv:1410.5282•Physical Review A•Oct 8, 2014•18 citations

Comparison of error probability bounds in quantum state discrimination

Roberto Corvaja

In quantum discrimination, the value of the minimum error probability and the set of measurement operators which achieve this minimum are often difficult to derive. Here we present a comparison of the performance obtained by the optimal solution and by the available bounds, namely the square root measurement (SRM) and the Chernoff bound. Applied to some Gaussian states, namely to coherent states with thermal noise, it is shown that the SRM provides a much tighter bound with respect to the Chernoff bound, with a comparable numerical complexity.

Physical Review A•Apr 23, 2013•3 citations

Minimum error discrimination between similarity-transformed quantum states

M. A. Jafarizadeh, Rahime Sufiani, Y. Mazhari Khiavi

Using the well-known necessary and sufficient conditions for minimum error discrimination (MED), we extract an equivalent form for the MED conditions. In fact, by replacing the inequalities corresponding to the MED conditions with an equivalent but more suitable and convenient identity, the problem of mixed state discrimination with optimal success probability is solved. Moreover, we show that the mentioned optimality conditions can be viewed as a Helstrom family of ensembles under some circumstances. Using the given identity, MED between $N$ similarity transformed equiprobable quantum states is investigated. In the case that the unitary operators are generating a set of irreducible representation, the optimal set of measurements and corresponding maximum success probability of discrimination can be determined precisely. In particular, it is shown that for equiprobable pure states, the optimal measurement strategy is the square-root measurement (SRM), whereas for the mixed states, SRM is not optimal. In the case that the unitary operators are reducible, there is no closed-form formula in the general case, but the procedure can be applied in each case in accordance to that case. Finally, we give the maximum success probability of optimal discrimination for some important examples of mixed quantum states, such as generalized Bloch sphere $m$-qubit states, spin-$j$ states, particular nonsymmetric qudit states, etc.

arXiv:1008.0179•Physical Review A•Jul 1, 2011•11 citations

Optimal measurements for symmetric quantum states with applications to optical quantum communication

Hari Krovi, Saikat Guha, Zachary Dutton +1 more

Minimum probability of error (MPE) measurements are quantum mechanical measurements that discriminate between a set of candidate states and achieve the minimum error allowed by quantum mechanics. Conditions for a measurement to be an MPE measurement have been derived by Yuen, Kennedy and Lax. But finding explicit measurements that satisfy these conditions is a hard problem in general and even in cases where an explicit measurement is known, calculating the MPE of the measurement is not easy. In some cases, MPE measurements have been found such as when the states form a single orbit under a group action i.e., there is a transitive group action on the states. For such state sets, termed Geometrically Uniform (GU) in [1], it was shown that the `pretty good measurement' (PGM) is optimal. However, calculating the MPE and other performance metrics for the PGM involves inverting large matrices, and it is therefore not easy in general to evaluate. Our first contribution is a formula for the MPE and conditional probabilities of GU sets using group representation theory. Next, we consider sets of pure states that have multiple orbits under the group action. Such states are termed compound geometrically uniform (CGU). CGU sets appear in many practical problems in quantum communication and imaging. For example, they include all linear codes formed using pure-state modulation constellations, which are known to achieve the ultimate (Holevo) capacity of optical communication. Optimal (MPE) measurement for general CGU sets are not known. In this paper, we show how our representation-theoretic description of optimal measurements for GU sets naturally generalizes to the CGU case. We show how to compute the optimal measurement for CGU sets by reducing the problem to solving a few simultaneous equations. The number of equations depends on the sizes of the multiplicity space of irreducible representations. For many group representations (such as those of several practical good linear codes), this is much more tractable than solving large semi-definite programs-which is what is needed to solve for MPE measurements for an arbitrary set of pure states using the Yuen-Kennedy-Lax conditions [2]. We show examples of the evaluation of optimal measurements for CGU states.

IEEE International Symposium on Information Theory (ISIT)•Jun 1, 2014•1 citation

Efficient optimal minimum error discrimination of symmetric quantum states

Antonio Assalini, Gianfranco Cariolaro, Gianfranco L. Pierobon

This article deals with the quantum optimal discrimination among mixed quantum states enjoying geometrical uniform symmetry with respect to a reference density operator ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{0}$. It is well known that the minimal error probability is given by the positive operator-valued measure obtained as a solution of a convex optimization problem, namely a set of operators satisfying geometrical symmetry, with respect to a reference operator ${\ensuremath{\Pi}}_{0}$ and maximizing $\mathrm{Tr}({\ensuremath{\rho}}_{0}{\ensuremath{\Pi}}_{0})$. In this article, by resolving the dual problem, we show that the same result is obtained by minimizing the trace of a semidefinite positive operator $X$ commuting with the symmetry operator and such that $X\ensuremath{\geqslant}{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{0}$. The new formulation gives a deeper insight into the optimization problem and allows to obtain closed-form analytical solutions, as shown by a simple but not trivial explanatory example. In addition to the theoretical interest, the result leads to semidefinite programming solutions of reduced complexity, allowing to extend the numerical performance evaluation to quantum communication systems modeled in Hilbert spaces of large dimension.

arXiv:1001.1385•Physical Review A•Jan 21, 2010•38 citations

Family of generalized “pretty good” measurements and the minimal-error pure-state discrimination problems for which they are optimal

Carlos Mochon

Given a quantum pure state chosen from a set with some a priori probabilities, what is the optimal measurement needed to correctly guess the given state? We show that a good choice is the family of square-root or ``pretty good'' measurements, as each measurement in the family is optimal for at least one discrimination problem with the same quantum states but possibly different a priori probabilities. Furthermore, the map from measurement to discrimination problems can be explicitly described. In fact, for linearly independent states, every pair of discrimination problem and optimal measurement can be explicitly generated this way.

arXiv:quant-ph/0506061•Physical Review A•Mar 22, 2006•48 citations
Distinguishing assigned quantum states with assigned probabilities via quantum measurements is a crucial problem for the transmission of classical information through quantum channels. Measurement operators maximizing the probability of correct discrimination have been characterized by Helstrom, Holevo, and Yuen since the 1970s. On the other hand, closed-form solutions are available only for particular situations enjoying high degrees of symmetry. As a suboptimal solution to the problem, measurement operators, directly determined from states and probabilities and known as square-root measurements (SRMs), were introduced by Hausladen and Wootters. These operators were also recognized to be optimal for pure states equipped with geometrical uniform symmetry (GUS). In this paper we discuss the optimality of the SRM and find necessary and sufficient conditions in order that SRM maximize the correct decision probabilities for the set of states formed by several constellations of GUS states. The results are applied to some specific examples concerning double constellations of quantum phase-shift keying and pulse-position modulation states, with possible applications to practical systems of quantum communications.
Quantum Gaussian states can be considered as the majority of the practical quantum states used in quantum communications and more generally in quantum information. Here we consider their properties in relation to the geometrically uniform symmetry, a property of quantum states that greatly simplifies the derivation of the optimal decision by means of the square root measurements. In a general framework of the NNN-mode Gaussian states we show the general properties of this symmetry and the application of the optimal quantum measurements. An application example is presented to quantum communication systems employing pulse position modulation. We prove that the geometrically uniform symmetry can be applied to the general class of multimode Gaussian states.
In quantum discrimination, the value of the minimum error probability and the set of measurement operators which achieve this minimum are often difficult to derive. Here we present a comparison of the performance obtained by the optimal solution and by the available bounds, namely the square root measurement (SRM) and the Chernoff bound. Applied to some Gaussian states, namely to coherent states with thermal noise, it is shown that the SRM provides a much tighter bound with respect to the Chernoff bound, with a comparable numerical complexity.
Using the well-known necessary and sufficient conditions for minimum error discrimination (MED), we extract an equivalent form for the MED conditions. In fact, by replacing the inequalities corresponding to the MED conditions with an equivalent but more suitable and convenient identity, the problem of mixed state discrimination with optimal success probability is solved. Moreover, we show that the mentioned optimality conditions can be viewed as a Helstrom family of ensembles under some circumstances. Using the given identity, MED between NNN similarity transformed equiprobable quantum states is investigated. In the case that the unitary operators are generating a set of irreducible representation, the optimal set of measurements and corresponding maximum success probability of discrimination can be determined precisely. In particular, it is shown that for equiprobable pure states, the optimal measurement strategy is the square-root measurement (SRM), whereas for the mixed states, SRM is not optimal. In the case that the unitary operators are reducible, there is no closed-form formula in the general case, but the procedure can be applied in each case in accordance to that case. Finally, we give the maximum success probability of optimal discrimination for some important examples of mixed quantum states, such as generalized Bloch sphere mmm-qubit states, spin-jjj states, particular nonsymmetric qudit states, etc.
Minimum probability of error (MPE) measurements are quantum mechanical measurements that discriminate between a set of candidate states and achieve the minimum error allowed by quantum mechanics. Conditions for a measurement to be an MPE measurement have been derived by Yuen, Kennedy and Lax. But finding explicit measurements that satisfy these conditions is a hard problem in general and even in cases where an explicit measurement is known, calculating the MPE of the measurement is not easy. In some cases, MPE measurements have been found such as when the states form a single orbit under a group action i.e., there is a transitive group action on the states. For such state sets, termed Geometrically Uniform (GU) in [1], it was shown that the `pretty good measurement' (PGM) is optimal. However, calculating the MPE and other performance metrics for the PGM involves inverting large matrices, and it is therefore not easy in general to evaluate. Our first contribution is a formula for the MPE and conditional probabilities of GU sets using group representation theory. Next, we consider sets of pure states that have multiple orbits under the group action. Such states are termed compound geometrically uniform (CGU). CGU sets appear in many practical problems in quantum communication and imaging. For example, they include all linear codes formed using pure-state modulation constellations, which are known to achieve the ultimate (Holevo) capacity of optical communication. Optimal (MPE) measurement for general CGU sets are not known. In this paper, we show how our representation-theoretic description of optimal measurements for GU sets naturally generalizes to the CGU case. We show how to compute the optimal measurement for CGU sets by reducing the problem to solving a few simultaneous equations. The number of equations depends on the sizes of the multiplicity space of irreducible representations. For many group representations (such as those of several practical good linear codes), this is much more tractable than solving large semi-definite programs-which is what is needed to solve for MPE measurements for an arbitrary set of pure states using the Yuen-Kennedy-Lax conditions [2]. We show examples of the evaluation of optimal measurements for CGU states.
This article deals with the quantum optimal discrimination among mixed quantum states enjoying geometrical uniform symmetry with respect to a reference density operator ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{0}$. It is well known that the minimal error probability is given by the positive operator-valued measure obtained as a solution of a convex optimization problem, namely a set of operators satisfying geometrical symmetry, with respect to a reference operator ${\ensuremath{\Pi}}_{0}$ and maximizing $\mathrm{Tr}({\ensuremath{\rho}}_{0}{\ensuremath{\Pi}}_{0})$. In this article, by resolving the dual problem, we show that the same result is obtained by minimizing the trace of a semidefinite positive operator XXX commuting with the symmetry operator and such that $X\ensuremath{\geqslant}{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{0}$. The new formulation gives a deeper insight into the optimization problem and allows to obtain closed-form analytical solutions, as shown by a simple but not trivial explanatory example. In addition to the theoretical interest, the result leads to semidefinite programming solutions of reduced complexity, allowing to extend the numerical performance evaluation to quantum communication systems modeled in Hilbert spaces of large dimension.
Given a quantum pure state chosen from a set with some a priori probabilities, what is the optimal measurement needed to correctly guess the given state? We show that a good choice is the family of square-root or ``pretty good'' measurements, as each measurement in the family is optimal for at least one discrimination problem with the same quantum states but possibly different a priori probabilities. Furthermore, the map from measurement to discrimination problems can be explicitly described. In fact, for linearly independent states, every pair of discrimination problem and optimal measurement can be explicitly generated this way.