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arXiv:1506.02931 · Electronic Proceedings in Theoretical Computer Science

Axiomatizing complete positivity

Oscar Cunningham, Chris Heunen

Published Nov 3, 2015• 23 citations
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Abstract

There are two ways to turn a categorical model for pure quantum theory into one for mixed quantum theory, both resulting in a category of completely positive maps. One has quantum systems as objects, whereas the other also allows classical systems on an equal footing. The former has been axiomatized using environment structures. We extend this axiomatization to the latter by introducing decoherence structures.

DOI
10.4204/eptcs.195.11

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There are two ways to turn a categorical model for pure quantum theory into one for mixed quantum theory, both resulting in a category of completely positive maps. One has quantum systems as objects, whereas the other also allows classical systems on an equal footing. The former has been axiomatized using environment structures. We extend this axiomatization to the latter by introducing decoherence structures.
Mixing and decoherence are both manifestations of classicality within quantum theory, each of which admit a very general category-theoretic construction. We show under which conditions these two 'roads to classicality' coincide. This is indeed the case for (finite-dimensional) quantum theory, where each construction yields the category of C*-algebras and completely positive maps. We present counterexamples where the property fails which includes relational and modal theories. Finally, we provide a new interpretation for our category-theoretic generalisation of decoherence in terms of 'leaking information'.
We recast Selinger's CPM-construction of mixed states completely positive maps [P. Selinger (2007) Dagger compact closed categories and completely positive maps. In: Proceedings of the 3rd International Workshop on Quantum Programming Languages (QPL 2005), Electronic Notes in Theoretical Computer Science 170, 139–163. Available from Peter Selinger's homepage] as an axiomatization of maximally mixed states. This axiomatization also guarantees categories of completely positive maps to satisfy the preparation-state agreement axiom of [Coecke, B. (2007) De-linearizing linearity: projective quantum axiomatics from strong compact closure. In: Proceedings of the 3rd International Workshop on Quantum Programming Languages (QPL 2005), Electronic Notes in Theoretical Computer Science 170, 49–72. E-print: arXiv:quant-ph/0506134], and admits a physical interpretation in terms of purification of mixed states and CPMs. Internal traces, which are crucial in quantum information theory, are the adjoints to these maximally mixed states.
We introduce a construction that turns a category of pure state spaces and operators into a category of observable algebras and superoperators. For example, it turns the category of finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces into the category of finite-dimensional C*-algebras and completely positive maps. In particular, the new category contains both quantum and classical channels, providing elegant abstract notions of preparation and measurement. We also consider nonstandard models, that can be used to investigate which notions from algebraic quantum information theory are operationally justifiable.
In a recent paper [12], we discussed the serious inconsistency present within the operational and mathematical definition(s) of the notion of pure state. Continuing this analysis, in this work we attempt to address the role of 'purity' and 'mixtures' within two different categorical approaches to QM, namely, the topos approach originally presented by Chris Isham and Jeremy Butterfield [27, 28, 29] and the more recent logos categorical approach presented by the authors of this article [10, 11, 13]. While the first approach exposes the difficulties to produce a consistent understanding of pure states and mixtures, the latter approach presents a new scheme in which their reference is erased right from the start in favor of an intensive understanding of projection operators and quantum superpositions. This new account of the theory, grounded on an intensive interpretation of the Born rule, allows us not only to avoid the orthodox interpretation of projection operators --either as referring to definite valued properties or measurement outcomes-- but also to consider all matrices (of any rank) on equal footing. It is from this latter standpoint that we conclude that instead of distinguishing between pure and mixed states it would be recommendable --for a proper understanding of the theory of quanta-- to return to the original matrix formulation of quantum mechanics presented by Werner Heisenberg in 1925.