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arXiv:1512.05640 · Physical Review A

Heisenberg-Weyl Observables: Bloch vectors in phase space

Ali Asadian, Paul Erker, Marcus Huber, Claude Klöckl

Published Jul 19, 2016• 59 citations
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Abstract

We introduce a Hermitian generalization of Pauli matrices to higher dimensions which is based on Heisenberg-Weyl operators. The complete set of Heisenberg-Weyl observables allows us to identify a real-valued Bloch vector for an arbitrary density operator in discrete phase space, with a smooth transition to infinite dimensions. Furthermore, we derive bounds on the sum of expectation values of any set of anticommuting observables. Such bounds can be used in entanglement detection and we show that Heisenberg-Weyl observables provide a first nontrivial example beyond the dichotomic case.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.94.010301

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We introduce a Hermitian generalization of Pauli matrices to higher dimensions which is based on Heisenberg-Weyl operators. The complete set of Heisenberg-Weyl observables allows us to identify a real-valued Bloch vector for an arbitrary density operator in discrete phase space, with a smooth transition to infinite dimensions. Furthermore, we derive bounds on the sum of expectation values of any set of anticommuting observables. Such bounds can be used in entanglement detection and we show that Heisenberg-Weyl observables provide a first nontrivial example beyond the dichotomic case.
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Abstract Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen (EPR) steering is an intermediate form of nonlocality which interpolates between entanglement and Bell nonlocality. It has been shown that EPR steerable states are fundamental resources for one-sided device-independent quantum information tasks. Nevertheless, distinguishing quantum steerable states from the unsteerable ones in general cases remains a big challenge under active studies. The generalized Bloch representation of density matrices in terms of the Heisenberg observables is a useful tool for analyzing characteristics of quantum systems and plays an important role in quantum information. In this work, the role of this representation in detection of EPR steering is studied. More specifically, based on the correlation matrices of the Heisenberg–Weyl observables, a family of steerability criteria for arbitrary dimensional bipartite systems are proposed. A large class of Hermitian operators, which can conveniently witness steering in some scenarios, are further provided. Finally, these criteria are illustrated through several examples, are compared with some existing ones, and their power and advantages are exhibited in certain cases.
We present three different matrix bases that can be used to decompose density matrices of d -dimensional quantum systems, so-called qudits: the generalized Gell–Mann matrix basis , the polarization operator basis and the Weyl operator basis . Such a decomposition can be identified with a vector—the Bloch vector, i.e. a generalization of the well-known qubit case—and is a convenient expression for comparison with measurable quantities and for explicit calculations avoiding the handling of large matrices. We present a new method to decompose density matrices via so-called standard matrices, consider the important case of an isotropic two-qudit state and decompose it according to each basis. In the case of qutrits we show a representation of an entanglement witness in terms of expectation values of spin-1 measurements, which is appropriate for an experimental realization.