In a recent paper, Chang et al. have proposed studying “quantum F u n ”: the q ↦ 1 limit of modal quantum theories over finite fields F q , motivated by the fact that such limit theories can be naturally interpreted in classical quantum theory. In this letter, we first make a number of rectifications of statements made in that paper. For instance, we show that quantum theory over F 1 does have a natural analogon of an inner product, and so orthogonality is a well-defined notion, contrary to what was claimed in Chang et al. Starting from that formalism, we introduce time evolution operators and observables in quantum F u n , and we determine the corresponding unitary group. Next, we obtain a typical no-cloning result in the general realm of quantum F u n . Finally, we obtain a no-deletion result as well. Remarkably, we show that we can perform quantum deletion by almost unitary operators, with a probability tending to 1. Although we develop the construction in quantum F u n , it is also valid in any other quantum theory (and thus also in classical quantum theory in complex Hilbert spaces).
In a recent paper, Chang et al. have proposed studying “quantum F u n ”: the q ↦ 1 limit of modal quantum theories over finite fields F q , motivated by the fact that such limit theories can be naturally interpreted in classical quantum theory. In this letter, we first make a number of rectifications of statements made in that paper. For instance, we show that quantum theory over F 1 does have a natural analogon of an inner product, and so orthogonality is a well-defined notion, contrary to what was claimed in Chang et al. Starting from that formalism, we introduce time evolution operators and observables in quantum F u n , and we determine the corresponding unitary group. Next, we obtain a typical no-cloning result in the general realm of quantum F u n . Finally, we obtain a no-deletion result as well. Remarkably, we show that we can perform quantum deletion by almost unitary operators, with a probability tending to 1. Although we develop the construction in quantum F u n , it is also valid in any other quantum theory (and thus also in classical quantum theory in complex Hilbert spaces).
Abstract Inspired by classical (‘actual’) quantum theory over C and modal quantum theory (MQT), which is a model of quantum theory over certain finite fields, we introduce general quantum theory as a quantum theory—in the København interpretation—over general division rings with involution, in which the inner product ‘is’ a ( σ , 1)-Hermitian form φ . This unites all known such approaches in one and the same theory, and we show that many of the known results such as no-cloning, no-deleting, quantum teleportation and super-dense quantum coding, which are known in classical quantum theory over C and in some MQTs, hold for any general quantum theory. Our approach is totally different (and more general) than Hardy’s axiomatic approach [15], and generalized probability theories. On the other hand, in many general quantum theories, a geometrical object which we call ‘quantum kernel’ arises, which is invariant under the unitary group U ( V , φ ), and which carries the geometry of a so-called polar space. This object cannot be seen in classical quantum theory over C , but it is present, for instance, in all known MQTs. We use this object to construct new quantum (teleportation) coding schemes, which mix quantum theory with the geometry of the quantum kernel (and the action of the unitary group). We also show that in characteristic 0, every general quantum theory over an algebraically closed field behaves like classical quantum theory over C at many levels, and that all such theories share one model, which we pin down as the ‘minimal model,’ which is countable and defined over Q ¯ . Moreover, to make the analogy with classical quantum theory even more striking, we show that Born’s rule holds in any such theory. So all such theories are not modal at all. Finally, we obtain an extension theory for general quantum theories in characteristic 0 which allows one to extend any such theory over algebraically closed fields (such as classical complex quantum theory) to larger theories in which a quantum kernel is present. In this sense, these singular objects are always virtually around in abundance.
Inspired by classical ("actual") Quantum Theory over C and Modal Quantum Theory (MQT), which is a model of Quantum Theory over certain finite fields, we introduce General Quantum Theory as a Quantum Theory -- in the København interpretation -- over general division rings with involution, in which the inner product "is" a (σ,1)-Hermitian form φ. This unites all known such approaches in one and the same theory, and we show that many of the known results such as no-cloning, no-deleting, quantum teleportation and super-dense quantum coding, which are known in classical Quantum Theory over C and in some MQTs, hold for any General Quantum Theory. On the other hand, in many General Quantum Theories, a geometrical object which we call "quantum kernel" arises, which is invariant under the unitary group U(V,φ), and which carries the geometry of a so-called polar space. We use this object to construct new quantum (teleportation) coding schemes, which mix quantum theory with the geometry of the quantum kernel (and the action of the unitary group). We also show that in characteristic 0, every General Quantum Theory over an algebraically closed field behaves like classical Quantum Theory over C at many levels, and that all such theories share one model, which we pin down as the "minimal model," which is countable and defined over Q. Moreover, to make the analogy with classical Quantum Theory even more striking, we show that Born's rule holds in any such theory. So all such theories are not modal at all. Finally, we obtain an extension theory for General Quantum Theories in characteristic 0 which allows one to extend any such theory over algebraically closed fields (such as classical complex Quantum Theory) to larger theories in which a quantum kernel is present.
As earlier conjectured by several authors and much later established by Solèr (relying on partial results by Piron, Maeda–Maeda and other authors), from the lattice theory point of view, Quantum Mechanics may be formulated in real, complex or quaternionic Hilbert spaces only. Stückelberg provided some physical, but not mathematically rigorous, reasons for ruling out the real Hilbert space formulation, assuming that any formulation should encompass a statement of Heisenberg principle. Focusing on this issue from another — in our opinion, deeper — viewpoint, we argue that there is a general fundamental reason why elementary quantum systems are not described in real Hilbert spaces. It is their basic symmetry group. In the first part of the paper, we consider an elementary relativistic system within Wigner’s approach defined as a locally-faithful irreducible strongly-continuous unitary representation of the Poincaré group in a real Hilbert space. We prove that, if the squared-mass operator is non-negative, the system admits a natural, Poincaré invariant and unique up to sign, complex structure which commutes with the whole algebra of observables generated by the representation itself. This complex structure leads to a physically equivalent reformulation of the theory in a complex Hilbert space. Within this complex formulation, differently from what happens in the real one, all selfadjoint operators represent observables in accordance with Solèr’s thesis, and the standard quantum version of Noether theorem may be formulated. In the second part of this work, we focus on the physical hypotheses adopted to define a quantum elementary relativistic system relaxing them on the one hand, and making our model physically more general on the other hand. We use a physically more accurate notion of irreducibility regarding the algebra of observables only, we describe the symmetries in terms of automorphisms of the restricted lattice of elementary propositions of the quantum system and we adopt a notion of continuity referred to the states viewed as probability measures on the elementary propositions. Also in this case, the final result proves that there exists a unique (up to sign) Poincaré invariant complex structure making the theory complex and completely fitting into Solèr’s picture. This complex structure reveals a nice interplay of Poincaré symmetry and the classification of the commutant of irreducible real von Neumann algebras.
In conventional quantum mechanics, quantum no-deleting and no-cloning theorems indicate that two different and nonorthogonal states cannot be perfectly and deterministically deleted and cloned, respectively. Here, we investigate the quantum deleting and cloning in a pseudo-unitary system. We first present a pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian with real eigenvalues in a two-qubit system. By using the pseudo-unitary operators generated from this pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian, we show that it is possible to delete and clone a class of two different and nonorthogonal states, and it can be generalized to arbitrary two different and nonorthogonal pure qubit states. Furthermore, state discrimination, which is strongly related to quantum no-cloning theorem, is also discussed. Last but not least, we simulate the pseudo-unitary operators in conventional quantum mechanics with post-selection, and obtain the success probability of simulations. Pseudo-unitary operators are implemented with a limited efficiency due to the post-selections. Thus, the success probabilities of deleting and cloning in the simulation by conventional quantum mechanics are less than unity, which maintain the quantum no-deleting and no-cloning theorems.
It is not surprising that our language should be incapable of describing processes occurring within atoms, for, as has been remarked, it was invented to describe the experiences of daily life, … Fortunately, mathematics is not subject to this limitation, and it has been possible to invent a mathematical scheme–the quantum theory–which seems entirely adequate for the treatment of atomic processes. Werner Heisenberg, The Physical Principles of the Quantum Theory (1930) In this chapter we introduce the mathematical structure of quantum theory, for a finite number of systems and finite dimension, starting from three simple Hilbert-space postulates, and based on the intuitive notions of state, transformation, and effect, within a causal context. Such notions will be formalized in a general non-causal context in Chapter 3, which is devoted to the informational framework. We will assume the reader has a basic knowledge of matrix analysis and of operators over Hilbert spaces. Comments about the extension to infinite dimensions, continuous outcome-spaces, and infinitely many systems can be found in the notes at the end of the chapter. From the three simple Hilbert-space postulates, the present chapter extracts six principles, which will become the postulates for quantum theory in the axiomatic derivation presented in Part III of the book. In addition, we will take the opportunity to present and explore many relevant features of the theory – including its convex and causal structure, the Choi–Jamiołkowski isomorphism, and relevant notions, such as those of POVM, complete positivity of maps, quantum operation and channels, entangled states, state discrimination, tomography of states, and transformations. The purification principle will open the stage to the dilation theorems of the theory of quantum open systems, along with other consequences, such as the existence of faithful and steering states, the theorem of no information without disturbance, quantum teleportation, and more. We will review the quantum no-cloning and no-programming theorems, and finally provide a thorough derivation of the theory of quantum channel inversion, which is the backbone of the general theory of quantum error correction in quantum information. Additional interesting topics will be classical information theory as a restriction of quantum information theory, and a critical reconsideration of the von Neumann postulate and the notion of observable.
Suppose we are given two identical copies of an unknown quantum state and we wish to delete one copy from among the given two copies. The quantum no-deletion principle restricts us from perfectly deleting a copy but it does not prohibit us from deleting a copy approximately. Here we construct two types of a ``universal quantum deletion machine'' which approximately deletes a copy such that the fidelity of deletion does not depend on the input state. The two types of universal quantum deletion machines are (1) a conventional deletion machine described by one unitary operator and (2) a modified deletion machine described by two unitary operators. Here it is shown that the modified deletion machine deletes a qubit with fidelity 3∕4, which is the maximum limit for deleting an unknown quantum state. In addition to this we also show that the modified deletion machine retains the qubit in the first mode with average fidelity 0.77 (approx.) which is slightly greater than the fidelity of measurement for two given identical states, showing how precisely one can determine its state [S. Massar and S. Popescu, Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 1259 (1995)]. We also show that the deletion machine itself is input state independent, i.e., the information is not hidden in the deleting machine, and hence we can delete the information completely from the deletion machine.