A unital completely positive map governing the time evolution of a quantum system is usually called a quantum channel, and it can be represented by a tuple of operators which are then referred to as the Kraus operators of the channel. We look at states of the system whose correlations with respect to the channel have a certain symmetry. Then we show that detailed balance holds if the Kraus operators satisfy a very interesting algebraic relation which plays an important role in the representation theory of any compact quantum group.
A unital completely positive map governing the time evolution of a quantum system is usually called a quantum channel, and it can be represented by a tuple of operators which are then referred to as the Kraus operators of the channel. We look at states of the system whose correlations with respect to the channel have a certain symmetry. Then we show that detailed balance holds if the Kraus operators satisfy a very interesting algebraic relation which plays an important role in the representation theory of any compact quantum group.
In the study of d-dimensional quantum channels (d⩾2), an assumption which includes many interesting examples, and which has a natural physical interpretation, is that the corresponding Kraus operators form a representation of a Lie algebra. Physically, this is a symmetry algebra for the interaction Hamiltonian. This paper begins a systematic study of channels defined by representations; the famous Werner-Holevo channel is one element of this infinite class. We show that the channel derived from the defining representation of su(n) is a depolarizing channel for all n, but for most other representations this is not the case. Since the standard Bloch sphere only exists for the qubit representation of su(2), we develop a consistent generalization of Bloch’s technique. By representing the density matrix as a polynomial in Lie algebra generators, we determine a class of positive semidefinite matrices which represent quantum states for various channels defined by finite-dimensional representations of semisimple Lie algebras. We also give a general method for finding positive semidefinite matrices using Lie algebraic trace identities. This includes an analysis of channels based on the exceptional Lie algebra g2 and the Clifford algebra.
In matrix algebras, we introduce a class of linear maps that are irreducibly covariant with respect to the finite group generated by the Weyl operators. In particular, we analyze the irreducibly covariant quantum channels, that is, the completely positive and trace-preserving linear maps. Interestingly, imposing additional symmetries leads to the so-called generalized Pauli channels, which were recently considered in the context of the non-Markovian quantum evolution. Finally, we provide examples of irreducibly covariant positive but not necessarily completely positive maps.
In the study of d-dimensional quantum channels (dgeq2), an assumption which is not very restrictive, and which has a natural physical interpretation, is that the corresponding Kraus operators form a representation of a Lie algebra. Physically, this is a symmetry algebra for the interaction Hamiltonian. This paper begins a systematic study of channels defined by representations; the famous Werner-Holevo channel is one element of this infinite class. We show that the channel derived from the defining representation of SU(n) is a depolarizing channel for all n, but for most other representations this is not the case. Since the Bloch sphere is not appropriate here, we develop technology which is a generalization of Bloch's technique. Our method works by representing the density matrix as a polynomial in symmetrized products of Lie algebra generators, with coefficients that are symmetric tensors. Using these tensor methods we prove eleven theorems, derive many explicit formulas and show other interesting properties of quantum channels in various dimensions, with various Lie symmetry algebras. We also derive numerical estimates on the size of a generalized ``Bloch sphere'' for certain channels. There remain many open questions which are indicated at various points through the paper.
Completely positive maps are useful in modeling the discrete evolution of quantum systems. Spectral properties of operators associated with such maps are relevant for determining the asymptotic dynamics of quantum systems subjected to multiple interactions described by the same quantum channel. We discuss a connection between the properties of the peripheral spectrum of completely positive and trace preserving map and the algebra generated by its Kraus operators A(A1,…,AK). By applying the Shemesh and Amitsur-Levitzki theorems to analyse the structure of the algebra A(A1,…,AK), one can predict the asymptotic dynamics for a class of operations.
A system of diagrams is introduced that allows the representation of various elements of a quantum circuit, including measurements, in a form which makes no reference to time (hence ``atemporal''). It can be used to relate quantum dynamical properties to those of entangled states (map-state duality), and suggests useful analogies, such as the inverse of an entangled ket. Diagrams clarify the role of channel kets, transition operators, dynamical operators (matrices), and Kraus rank for noisy quantum channels. Positive (semidefinite) operators are represented by diagrams with a symmetry that aids in understanding their connection with completely positive maps. The diagrams are used to analyze standard teleportation and dense coding, and for a careful study of unambiguous (conclusive) teleportation. A simple diagrammatic argument shows that a Kraus rank of 3 is impossible for a one-qubit channel modeled using a one-qubit environment in a mixed state.
Constructing all extreme instances of the set of completely positive trace-preserving (CPTP) maps, i.e., quantum channels, is a challenging and valuable open problem in quantum information theory. Here we introduce a systematic approach that, despite the lack of knowledge about the full parametrization of the set of CPTP maps on arbitrary Hilbert-spaced dimension, enables us to construct exactly those extreme channels that are covariant with respect to a finite discrete group or a compact connected Lie group. Innovative labeling of quantum channels by group representations enables us to identify the subset of group-covariant channels whose elements are group-covariant generalized-extreme channels. Furthermore, we exploit essentials of group representation theory to introduce equivalence classes for the labels and also partition the set of group-covariant channels. As a result, we show that it is enough to construct one representative of each partition. We construct Kraus operators for group-covariant generalized-extreme channels by solving systems of linear and quadratic equations for all candidates satisfying the necessary condition for being group-covariant generalized-extreme channels. Deciding whether these constructed instances are extreme or quasiextreme is accomplished by solving a system of linear equations. Proper labeling and partitioning the set of group-covariant channels leads to a novel systematic, algorithmic approach for constructing the entire subset of group-covariant extreme channels. We formalize the problem of constructing and classifying group-covariant generalized extreme channels, thereby yielding an algorithmic approach to solving, which we express as pseudocode. To illustrate the application and value of our method, we solve for explicit examples of group-covariant extreme channels. With unbounded computational resources to execute our algorithm, our method always delivers a description of an extreme channel for any finite-dimensional Hilbert space and furthermore guarantees a description of a group-covariant extreme channel for any dimension and for any finite-discrete or compact connected Lie group if such an extreme channel exists.