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arXiv:1704.01035 · Physical Review A

Optimal discrimination of single-qubit mixed states

Graeme Weir, Stephen Mark Barnett, Sarah Croke

Published Aug 14, 2017• 20 citations
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Abstract

We consider the problem of minimum-error quantum state discrimination for single-qubit mixed states. We present a method which uses the Helstrom conditions constructively and analytically; this algebraic approach is complementary to existing geometric methods, and solves the problem for any number of arbitrary signal states with arbitrary prior probabilities. It has long been known that the minimum-error probability is given by the trace of the Lagrange operator $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}$. The remarkable feature of our approach is the central role played not by $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}$, but by its inverse.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.96.022312

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Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical•Mar 28, 2017•1 citation
We consider the problem of minimum-error quantum state discrimination for single-qubit mixed states. We present a method which uses the Helstrom conditions constructively and analytically; this algebraic approach is complementary to existing geometric methods, and solves the problem for any number of arbitrary signal states with arbitrary prior probabilities. It has long been known that the minimum-error probability is given by the trace of the Lagrange operator \ensuremathΓ\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}\ensuremathΓ. The remarkable feature of our approach is the central role played not by \ensuremathΓ\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}\ensuremathΓ, but by its inverse.
Abstract We investigate minimum-error (ME) discrimination for mixed qubit states using a geometric approach. By analyzing positive operator-valued measure (POVM) solutions and introducing Lagrange operator Γ\Gamma Γ Γ , we develop a four-step structured instruction to find Γ\Gamma Γ Γ for N mixed qubit states. Our method covers optimal solutions for two, three, and four mixed qubit states, including a novel result for four qubit states. We introduce geometric-based POVM classes and non-decomposable subsets for constructing optimal solutions, enabling us to find all possible answers for the general problem of minimum-error discrimination for N mixed qubit states with arbitrary a priori probabilities.
Quantum state discrimination is a fundamental task in the field of quantum communication and quantum information theory. Unless the states to be discriminated are mutually orthogonal, there will be some error in any attempt to determine which state was sent. Several strategies to optimally discriminate between quantum states exist, each maximising some figure of merit. In this thesis we mainly investigate the minimum-error strategy, in which the probability of correctly guessing the signal state is maximised. We introduce a method for constructing the optimal Positive-Operator Valued Measure (POVM) for this figure of merit, which is applicable for arbitrary states and arbitrary prior probabilities. We then use this method to solve minimum-error state discrimination for the so-called trine states with arbitrary prior probabilities - the first such general solution for a set of quantum states since the two-state case was solved when the problem of state discrimination was first introduced. We also investigate the difference between local and global measurements for a bipartite ensemble of states, and find that in certain circumstances the local measurement is superior. We conclude by finding a bipartite analogue to the Helstrom conditions, which indicate when a POVM satisfies the minimum-error criteria.
Abstract We introduce a general algebraic approach for qubit state discrimination. The primary challenge in such problems lies in determining the nonzero elements of an optimal positive operator-valued measure (POVM). Our work establishes an explicit algebraic criterion to verify whether an optimal POVM for discriminating arbitrary qubit states contains zero elements. Based on this condition, we propose an exhaustive algorithm to obtain analytical solutions for discriminating any number of mixed qubit states with arbitrary prior probabilities.
The task of quantum state discrimination provides an operational characterization of distinguishability and plays a central role in quantum information science. Since the achievable success probability in quantum state discrimination depends both on the states being discriminated and on the allowed measurements, it is natural to study discrimination under physically motivated measurement constraints. Here, we investigate minimum-error quantum state discrimination under measurements implementable by both fixed and adaptive stabilizer circuits. Given arbitrary stabilizer-state ancillas, we show that fixed stabilizer circuits provide no additional discrimination power, whereas adaptive circuits do. Then, focusing on single-qubit systems, we derive analytical expressions for the success probability across both circuit classes when supplied with arbitrary (non-stabilizer) ancillas, showing that the performance gap between fixed and adaptive circuits persists. We further consider discrimination with non-stabilizerness incorporated directly into the measurement operators. Here, the optimization is formulated as a semidefinite program, and analytical bounds interpolating between the stabilizer and Helstrom limits for qubits are derived. Finally, we illustrate applications in quantum random access codes and bounds on unitary synthesis fidelity with a finite number of magic states.
In this work, we provide a complete analysis to minimum-error discrimination of mixed four qubit states with arbitrary prior probabilities. For the complete anaysis, the most important work to do is to find the necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of null measurement operator. From the geometric structure of qubit states, we obtain the analytic condition for deciding the existence of a null operator in minimum-error measurement for mixed four qubit states, which also gives the necessary and sufficient conditions for every optimal POVM to have non-zero elements. Using the condition, we completely analyze minimum-error discrimination of mixed four qubit states with arbitrary prior probabilities.
Abstract Minimum error discrimination (MED) and Unambiguous discrimination (UD) are two common strategies for quantum state discrimination that can be modified by imposing a finite error margin on the error probability. Error margins 0 and 1 correspond to two common strategies. In this paper, for an arbitrary error margin m , the discrimination problem of equiprobable quantum symmetric states is analytically solved for four distinct cases. A generating set of irreducible and reducible representations of a subgroup of a unitary group are considered, separately, as unitary operators that produce one set of the symmetric states. In the irreducible case, for N ⩾ d mixed and pure qudit states, one critical m which divides the parameter space into two domains is obtained. The number of critical values m in the reducible case is two, for both N mixed and pure qubit states. The reason for this difference between numbers of critical values m is explained. The optimal set of measurements and corresponding maximum success probability in fully analytical form are determined for all values of the error margin. The relationship between the amount of error that is imposed on error probability and geometrical situation of states with changes in rank of element corresponding to inconclusive result is determined. The behaviors of elements of measurement are explained geometrically in order to decrease the error probability in each domain. Furthermore, the problem of the discrimination with error margin among elements of two different sets of symmetric quantum states is studied. The number of critical values m is equivalent to one set in both reducible and irreducible cases. In addition, optimal measurements in each domain are obtained.