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:1511.08071 · Physical Review A

Catalytic coherence transformations

Kaifeng Bu, Uttam Singh, Junde Wu

Published Apr 18, 2016• 60 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Catalytic coherence transformations allow the otherwise impossible state transformations using only incoherent operations with the aid of an auxiliary system with finite coherence that is not being consumed in any way. Here we find the necessary and sufficient conditions for the deterministic and stochastic catalytic coherence transformations between a pair of pure quantum states. In particular, we show that the simultaneous decrease of a family of R\'enyi entropies of the diagonal parts of the states under consideration is a necessary and sufficient condition for the deterministic catalytic coherence transformations. Similarly, for stochastic catalytic coherence transformations we find the necessary and sufficient conditions for achieving a higher optimal probability of conversion. We thus completely characterize the coherence transformations among pure quantum states under incoherent operations. We give numerous examples to elaborate our results. We also explore the possibility of the same system acting as a catalyst for itself and find that indeed self-catalysis is possible. Further, for the cases where no catalytic coherence transformation is possible we provide entanglement-assisted coherence transformations and find the necessary and sufficient conditions for such transformations.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.93.042326

Related papers

Self-catalytic conversion of pure quantum states

Cristhiano Duarte, Raphael C. Drumond, Marcelo Terra Cunha

Abstract Conversion of entangled states under ( s tochastic) local operations and classical communication ((S)LOCC) admits the phenomenon of catalysis. Here we explore the possibility of a copy of the initial state itself performing as a catalyst, which we call a self-catalytic process. We show explicit examples of self-catalysis. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the phenomenon to take place are discussed. We numerically estimate how frequent it is and we show that increasing the number of copies used as catalyst can increase the probability of conversion, but does not make the process deterministic. By the end we conjecture that under LOCC the probability of finding a self-catalytic reaction does not increase monotonically with the dimensions whereas under SLOCC, it does increase.

arXiv:1504.06364•Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical•Feb 22, 2016•8 citations

Catalyst-assisted probabilistic coherence distillation for mixed states

C. L. Liu, D. L. Zhou

The remarkable phenomenon of catalyst tells us that adding a catalyst could help state transformation. In this paper, we consider the problem of catalyst-assisted probabilistic coherence distillation for mixed states under strictly incoherent operations. To this end, we first present the necessary and sufficient conditions for distilling a target pure coherent state from an initial mixed state via stochastic strictly incoherent operations and the maximal probability of obtaining the target pure state from the initial state. With the help of these results, we present the necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a catalyst that increases the maximal transformation probability.

arXiv:2001.03508•Physical Review A•Jan 10, 2020•30 citations

Catalytic Coherence Transformation and Distillation for Special Mixed States

Hai‐Bo Xing, Ming Yang

Abstract The coherence transformation and distillation for a class of special mixed coherent states of rank‐2 under incoherent operations (IO) is discussed. Similar to the entanglement transformation for mixed entangled states, the catalytic coherence transformation for this class of special mixed coherent states is analyzed. On the one hand, it is found that some of the mixed coherent states can be converted into other mixed coherent states under IO. But for those mixed coherent states which fail in the coherence conversion under IO, the catalytic coherence manipulation can solve this problem. In this case, a mixed coherent state cannot be converted into another under IO, while the coherence transformation can be realized with the help of coherence‐assisted incoherent operations, that is, catalytic coherence transformation. On the other hand, these special mixed coherent states can be distilled into the maximally pure coherent states or mixed states of arbitrary dimensions by strictly incoherent operations with certain probabilities. Finally, the coherence transformation of this type of mixed states can be generalized to the case of higher rank in a similar way, which is discussed at the end of this paper.

Annalen der Physik•Apr 8, 2020•3 citations

Advantage of flexible catalysis for entanglement and quantum thermodynamics

Jingsong Ao, Aby Philip, Alexander Streltsov

Understanding the fundamental limits of state convertibility is crucial for establishing the boundaries of quantum information processing and thermodynamic efficiency. While auxiliary systems, catalysts, can facilitate otherwise impossible transformations, standard catalysis rigidly requires the auxiliary system to return to its exact initial state. In this work, we investigate the power of flexible catalysis, where the catalyst evolves through a cycle of states, restoring its initial configuration only after a finite number of steps. Focusing on the regime of fixed, finite dimensions, we analyze the capabilities of flexible catalysis within the resource theories of entanglement and quantum thermodynamics. In the context of entanglement, we derive conditions limiting flexible catalysts, yet show that flexible catalysis can be strictly more powerful than same-dimensional standard catalysis: it enables deterministic transformations achievable by no standard catalyst of the same dimension, and it strictly increases the success probability of stochastic local operations and classical communication. A similar deterministic advantage arises in quantum thermodynamics, where flexible catalysis enables state transformations that are impossible with any standard catalyst of fixed dimension and Hamiltonian but become achievable via flexible catalysis.

quant-pharXiv:2603.05146•Physical Review A•Mar 6, 2026•0 citations

Transformation protocols of pure-coherent states under incoherent operation

Ping Li, Yongming Li

Abstract It is well known that the majorization condition is the necessary and sufficient for the deterministic transformations of pure-coherent states under incoherent operation (IO). In this paper, we present the protocol 1 (product-form) which provides a method for the pure-coherent transformation under IO and overcomes the restriction of the number of Kraus operators of Protocol I (Torun and Yildiz 2018 Phys. Rev. A 97 052331). Then, we show that the corresponding uncorrelated-catalytic protocol (discarding the catalytic state) is not incoherent-preserving. We construct the protocol 2 such that the uncorrelated-catalytic transformation with four-dimensional catalyst state can be implemented probabilistically under dephasing-covariant IO. Especially, the protocol 2 provides the target state from the catalyst-assisted transformation and its equivalent states with respect to Pauli operators <?CDATA $X,Z$?> X , Z .

Laser Physics•May 18, 2023•0 citations

Catalytic quantum randomness as a correlational resource

Seok Hyung Lie, Hyunseok Jeong

Catalysts are substances that assist transformation of other resourceful objects without being consumed in the process. However, the fact that their ``catalytic power'' is limited and can be depleted is often overlooked, especially in the recently developing theories on catalysis of quantum randomness utilizing building correlation with catalyst. In this work, we establish a resource theory of one-shot catalytic randomness in which uncorrelatedness is consumed in catalysis of randomness. We do so by completely characterizing bipartite unitary operators that can be used to implement catalysis of randomness using partial transpose. By doing so, we find that every catalytic channel is factorizable, and therefore there exists a unital channel that is not catalytic. We define a family of catalytic entropies that quantifies catalytically extractable R\'enyi entropies from a quantum state and show how much the degeneracy of a quantum state can boost the catalytic entropy beyond its ordinary entropy. Based on this, we demonstrate that a randomness source can be actually exhausted after a certain amount of randomness is extracted. We apply this theory to systems under superselection rules that forbids superposition of certain quantum states and find that nonmaximally mixed states can yield the maximal catalytic entropy. We discuss implications of this theory to various topics, including catalytic randomness absorption, the no-secret theorem, and the possibility of multiparty infinite catalysis.

Physical Review Research•Oct 29, 2021•11 citations
Catalytic coherence transformations allow the otherwise impossible state transformations using only incoherent operations with the aid of an auxiliary system with finite coherence that is not being consumed in any way. Here we find the necessary and sufficient conditions for the deterministic and stochastic catalytic coherence transformations between a pair of pure quantum states. In particular, we show that the simultaneous decrease of a family of R'enyi entropies of the diagonal parts of the states under consideration is a necessary and sufficient condition for the deterministic catalytic coherence transformations. Similarly, for stochastic catalytic coherence transformations we find the necessary and sufficient conditions for achieving a higher optimal probability of conversion. We thus completely characterize the coherence transformations among pure quantum states under incoherent operations. We give numerous examples to elaborate our results. We also explore the possibility of the same system acting as a catalyst for itself and find that indeed self-catalysis is possible. Further, for the cases where no catalytic coherence transformation is possible we provide entanglement-assisted coherence transformations and find the necessary and sufficient conditions for such transformations.
Abstract Conversion of entangled states under ( s tochastic) local operations and classical communication ((S)LOCC) admits the phenomenon of catalysis. Here we explore the possibility of a copy of the initial state itself performing as a catalyst, which we call a self-catalytic process. We show explicit examples of self-catalysis. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the phenomenon to take place are discussed. We numerically estimate how frequent it is and we show that increasing the number of copies used as catalyst can increase the probability of conversion, but does not make the process deterministic. By the end we conjecture that under LOCC the probability of finding a self-catalytic reaction does not increase monotonically with the dimensions whereas under SLOCC, it does increase.
The remarkable phenomenon of catalyst tells us that adding a catalyst could help state transformation. In this paper, we consider the problem of catalyst-assisted probabilistic coherence distillation for mixed states under strictly incoherent operations. To this end, we first present the necessary and sufficient conditions for distilling a target pure coherent state from an initial mixed state via stochastic strictly incoherent operations and the maximal probability of obtaining the target pure state from the initial state. With the help of these results, we present the necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a catalyst that increases the maximal transformation probability.
Abstract The coherence transformation and distillation for a class of special mixed coherent states of rank‐2 under incoherent operations (IO) is discussed. Similar to the entanglement transformation for mixed entangled states, the catalytic coherence transformation for this class of special mixed coherent states is analyzed. On the one hand, it is found that some of the mixed coherent states can be converted into other mixed coherent states under IO. But for those mixed coherent states which fail in the coherence conversion under IO, the catalytic coherence manipulation can solve this problem. In this case, a mixed coherent state cannot be converted into another under IO, while the coherence transformation can be realized with the help of coherence‐assisted incoherent operations, that is, catalytic coherence transformation. On the other hand, these special mixed coherent states can be distilled into the maximally pure coherent states or mixed states of arbitrary dimensions by strictly incoherent operations with certain probabilities. Finally, the coherence transformation of this type of mixed states can be generalized to the case of higher rank in a similar way, which is discussed at the end of this paper.
Understanding the fundamental limits of state convertibility is crucial for establishing the boundaries of quantum information processing and thermodynamic efficiency. While auxiliary systems, catalysts, can facilitate otherwise impossible transformations, standard catalysis rigidly requires the auxiliary system to return to its exact initial state. In this work, we investigate the power of flexible catalysis, where the catalyst evolves through a cycle of states, restoring its initial configuration only after a finite number of steps. Focusing on the regime of fixed, finite dimensions, we analyze the capabilities of flexible catalysis within the resource theories of entanglement and quantum thermodynamics. In the context of entanglement, we derive conditions limiting flexible catalysts, yet show that flexible catalysis can be strictly more powerful than same-dimensional standard catalysis: it enables deterministic transformations achievable by no standard catalyst of the same dimension, and it strictly increases the success probability of stochastic local operations and classical communication. A similar deterministic advantage arises in quantum thermodynamics, where flexible catalysis enables state transformations that are impossible with any standard catalyst of fixed dimension and Hamiltonian but become achievable via flexible catalysis.
Abstract It is well known that the majorization condition is the necessary and sufficient for the deterministic transformations of pure-coherent states under incoherent operation (IO). In this paper, we present the protocol 1 (product-form) which provides a method for the pure-coherent transformation under IO and overcomes the restriction of the number of Kraus operators of Protocol I (Torun and Yildiz 2018 Phys. Rev. A 97 052331). Then, we show that the corresponding uncorrelated-catalytic protocol (discarding the catalytic state) is not incoherent-preserving. We construct the protocol 2 such that the uncorrelated-catalytic transformation with four-dimensional catalyst state can be implemented probabilistically under dephasing-covariant IO. Especially, the protocol 2 provides the target state from the catalyst-assisted transformation and its equivalent states with respect to Pauli operators <?CDATA X,ZX,ZX,Z?> X , Z .
Catalysts are substances that assist transformation of other resourceful objects without being consumed in the process. However, the fact that their ``catalytic power'' is limited and can be depleted is often overlooked, especially in the recently developing theories on catalysis of quantum randomness utilizing building correlation with catalyst. In this work, we establish a resource theory of one-shot catalytic randomness in which uncorrelatedness is consumed in catalysis of randomness. We do so by completely characterizing bipartite unitary operators that can be used to implement catalysis of randomness using partial transpose. By doing so, we find that every catalytic channel is factorizable, and therefore there exists a unital channel that is not catalytic. We define a family of catalytic entropies that quantifies catalytically extractable R\'enyi entropies from a quantum state and show how much the degeneracy of a quantum state can boost the catalytic entropy beyond its ordinary entropy. Based on this, we demonstrate that a randomness source can be actually exhausted after a certain amount of randomness is extracted. We apply this theory to systems under superselection rules that forbids superposition of certain quantum states and find that nonmaximally mixed states can yield the maximal catalytic entropy. We discuss implications of this theory to various topics, including catalytic randomness absorption, the no-secret theorem, and the possibility of multiparty infinite catalysis.