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arXiv:1505.07802 · Physical Review Letters

Device-Independent Tests of Entropy

Rafael Chaves, Jonatan Bohr Brask, Nicolas Brunner

Published Sep 8, 2015• 54 citations
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Abstract

We show that the entropy of a message can be tested in a device-independent way. Specifically, we consider a prepare-and-measure scenario with classical or quantum communication, and develop two different methods for placing lower bounds on the communication entropy, given observable data. The first method is based on the framework of causal inference networks. The second technique, based on convex optimization, shows that quantum communication provides an advantage over classical communication, in the sense of requiring a lower entropy to reproduce given data. These ideas may serve as a basis for novel applications in device-independent quantum information processing.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.115.110501

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We show that the entropy of a message can be tested in a device-independent way. Specifically, we consider a prepare-and-measure scenario with classical or quantum communication, and develop two different methods for placing lower bounds on the communication entropy, given observable data. The first method is based on the framework of causal inference networks. The second technique, based on convex optimization, shows that quantum communication provides an advantage over classical communication, in the sense of requiring a lower entropy to reproduce given data. These ideas may serve as a basis for novel applications in device-independent quantum information processing.
Prepare-and-measure scenarios are among the simplest and most widely used settings for quantum communication. A sender prepares a physical system in one of several possible states, which a receiver then measures. Despite this simple structure, these scenarios offer a rich framework for exploring the differences between classical and quantum communication, revealing quantum advantages, and developing protocols for quantum cryptography and device certification. In this tutorial, we give a ground-up introduction to prepare-and-measure scenarios and the methods used to study them. We introduce different frameworks for constraining and characterising communication, with an emphasis on semi-device-independent approaches to quantum information. We also cover modern convex-optimisation techniques for characterising the correlations achievable in these scenarios and illustrate how these tools can be applied in practice. Our aim is to give newcomers the conceptual and technical foundations needed to approach the current literature and apply prepare-and-measure methods in their own research. We conclude with a discussion of open problems and directions for future work.
A key aspect in quantum information is to understand the advantage offered by quantum systems over classical ones in communication tasks. In recent years, a fundamental approach to this problem has been developed, focusing on quantum correlations in prepare-and-measure scenarios. Inspired by the developments in Bell nonlocality and device-independent information processing, this line of research aims to characterize the possibilities and limits of quantum systems for communication, in particular to precisely capture the advantage they offer over classical systems. In addition to fundamental insights, these ideas also underpin the concept of semi-device-independent quantum information processing. Exploring trade-offs between security, performance and ease-of-implementation, this approach opens promising directions for novel quantum information processing technologies and devices. A number of protocols and proof-of-principle demonstrations have been reported in recent years, in particular for quantum randomness certification and key distribution. Here, we provide a comprehensive introduction to quantum prepare-and-measure correlations and semi-device independent applications.
Analyzing the dimension of an unknown quantum system in a device-independent manner, i.e., using only the measurement statistics, is a fundamental task in quantum physics and quantum information theory. In this paper, we consider this problem in the prepare-and-measure scenario. Specifically, we provide a lower bound on the dimension of the prepared quantum systems, which is a function that only depends on the measurement statistics. Furthermore, we show that our bound performs well in several examples. In particular, we show that our bound provides insights into the notion of dimension witness, and we also use it to show that the sets of restricted-dimensional prepare-and-measure correlations are not always convex.
In quantum information processing, it is important to witness the entropy of the message in the device-independent way which was proposed recently [R. Chaves, J. B. Brask, and N. Brunner, Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 110501 (2015)]. In this paper, we theoretically obtain the minimal quantum entropy for three widely used linear dimension witnesses, which is considered ``a difficult question.'' Then we experimentally test the classical and quantum entropy in a device-independent manner. The experimental results agree well with the theoretical analysis, demonstrating that entropy is needed in quantum systems that is lower than the entropy needed in classical systems with the given value of the dimension witness.
We consider networks featuring preparation, transformation, and measurement devices, in which devices exchange communication via mediating physical systems. We investigate the problem of testing the dimension of the mediating systems in the device-independent scenario, that is, based on observable data alone. A general framework for tackling this problem is presented, considering both classical and quantum systems. These methods can then also be used to certify the nonclassicality of the mediating systems, given an upper bound on their dimension. Several case studies are reported, which illustrate the relevance of the framework. These examples also show that, for fixed dimension, quantum systems largely outperform classical ones. Moreover, the use of a transformation device considerably improves noise tolerance when compared to simple prepare-and-measure networks. These results suggest that the classical simulation of quantum systems becomes costly in terms of dimension, even for simple networks.
We address the problem of testing the dimensionality of classical and quantum systems in a "black-box" scenario. We develop a general formalism for tackling this problem. This allows us to derive lower bounds on the classical dimension necessary to reproduce given measurement data. Furthermore, we generalize the concept of quantum dimension witnesses to arbitrary quantum systems, allowing one to place a lower bound on the Hilbert space dimension necessary to reproduce certain data. Illustrating these ideas, we provide simple examples of classical and quantum dimension witnesses.