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arXiv:2305.09309 · Progress of Theoretical and Experimental Physics

Extension of the Watanabe–Sagawa–Ueda Uncertainty Relations for Measurement Errors to Infinite-Dimensional Systems

Ryosuke Nogami

Published Sep 26, 2025• 0 citations
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Abstract

Abstract We extend the Watanabe–Sagawa–Ueda (WSU) uncertainty relations for measurement errors to infinite-dimensional systems. The original WSU formulation provided a definition of measurement errors with a clear physical interpretation based on quantum estimation theory, but was restricted to finite-dimensional systems, excluding important observables such as position and momentum. Using pseudo-inverse forms of positive-semidefinite forms, we develop a framework for classical and quantum estimation theory for models whose parameter space is the set of full-rank states on an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space, and derive classical and quantum Cramér–Rao inequalities. We extend the WSU measurement errors to both bounded and unbounded operators, and derive corresponding error–error uncertainty relations. The resulting uncertainty relation inequalities are stronger than the original WSU bound due to an improved derivation method. Our results provide a theoretical framework for applying estimation-based uncertainty relations to observables with continuous values in infinite-dimensional systems.

DOI
10.1093/ptep/ptaf137

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The focus of the present investigation is uncertainty relations for quantum particles, which quantify the fundamental limitations on some of their properties due to their incompatibility. In the first, longer part, we are concerned with preparational uncertainty \nrelations, while in the second we touch upon measurement inequalities through a generalisation of a model of joint measurement of position and momentum. \nSpecifically, starting from a triple of canonical operators, we prove product and sum inequalities for their variances with bounds larger than those following from combining the pairwise ones. We extend these results to N observables for a quantum particle and prove uncertainty relations for the sums and products of their variances \nin terms of the commutators. \nFurthermore, we present a general theory of preparational uncertainty relations for a quantum particle in one dimension and derive conditions for a smooth function of the second moments to assume a lower bound. The Robertson-Schroedinger inequality \nis found to be of special significance and we geometrically study the space of second moments. We prove new uncertainty relations for various functions of the variances and covariance of position and momentum of a quantum particle. Some of our findings are shown to extend to more than one spatial degree of freedom and we derive \nvarious types of inequalities. \nFinally, we propose a generalisation of the Arthurs-Kelly model of joint measurement of position and momentum to incorporate the case of more than two observables and derive joint-measurement inequalities for the statistics of the probes. For the case of \nthree canonical observables and suitable definitions of error and disturbance we obtain a number of error-error-error and error-error-disturbance inequalities and show that the lower bound is identical to the preparational one.

•Dec 1, 2015•1 citation
Abstract We extend the Watanabe–Sagawa–Ueda (WSU) uncertainty relations for measurement errors to infinite-dimensional systems. The original WSU formulation provided a definition of measurement errors with a clear physical interpretation based on quantum estimation theory, but was restricted to finite-dimensional systems, excluding important observables such as position and momentum. Using pseudo-inverse forms of positive-semidefinite forms, we develop a framework for classical and quantum estimation theory for models whose parameter space is the set of full-rank states on an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space, and derive classical and quantum Cramér–Rao inequalities. We extend the WSU measurement errors to both bounded and unbounded operators, and derive corresponding error–error uncertainty relations. The resulting uncertainty relation inequalities are stronger than the original WSU bound due to an improved derivation method. Our results provide a theoretical framework for applying estimation-based uncertainty relations to observables with continuous values in infinite-dimensional systems.
This dissertation investigates statistical constraints on measurement outcomes in quantum mechanics, addressing two fundamental features that distinguish quantum theory from classical physics: non-reality and uncertainty.We examine these features through two perspectives: observable-dependent statistical constraints on quantum correlations and estimationbased measurement uncertainty in infinite-dimensional quantum systems.In the first part, we study realizability problems in both local realism and quantum theory, focusing on observable-dependent constraints.While previous studies have mainly characterized quantum correlations independently of observables, we derive a necessary and sufficient condition for quantum realizability of correlations in the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (CHSH) scenario when observables are fixed in advance.Our main result provides an explicit inequality that imposes stronger constraints than previously known observable-independent bounds.We demonstrate that the maximum CHSH inequality violation depends on observable choice and apply our results to Bell's original scenario, revealing that whether Bell's original inequality is violated depends sensitively on observable selection.These findings demonstrate that non-reality does not manifest equally in all measurement configurations.In the second part, we extend the estimation-based formulation of measurement uncertainty by Watanabe, Sagawa, and Ueda to infinite-dimensional quantum systems.The original formulation provided clear physical interpretation but excluded fundamental observables such as position and momentum.Using pseudo-inverse forms of positive-semidefinite sesquilinear forms, we develop classical and quantum estimation theory for statistical models whose parameter space is the set of full-rank quantum states on infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces.We derive classical and quantum Cramér-Rao inequalities and define estimationbased measurement errors for both bounded and unbounded operators.For each error type, we establish error-error uncertainty relation inequalities stronger than the original Watanabe-Sagawa-Ueda bound due to an improved derivation utilizing the full Cauchy-Schwarz inequality.Our work provides a universal definition of measurement errors with a clear physical interpretation while maintaining mathematical rigor.Our results contribute to quantum foundations by deepening the understanding of how measurement outcome constraints arise from quantum structure and observable properties.The methodological tools introduced-including characteristic functions, quasi-joint probability distributions, symmetry-based reduction techniques, and pseudo-inverse forms-may prove useful for future investigations in quantum foundations and quantum information theory.
A universal formulation of uncertainty relations for quantum measurements is presented with additional focus on the representability of quantum observables by classical observables over a given state. Owing to the simplicity and operational tangibility of the framework, the resultant general relations admit natural operational interpretations and characterisations, and are thus also experimentally verifiable. In view of the universal formulation, Heisenberg's philosophy of the uncertainty principle is also revisited; it is reformulated and restated as a refined no-go theorem, albeit perhaps in a weaker form than was originally intended. In fact, the relations entail, in essence as corollaries to their special cases, several previously known relations, including most notably the Arthurs-Kelly-Goodman, Ozawa, and Watanabe-Sagawa-Ueda relations for quantum measurements. The Schr{ö}dinger relation (hence the standard Kennard-Robertson relation as its trivial corollary as well) is also shown to be a special case when the measurement is non-informative.
Measurement error in the Watanabe-Sagawa-Ueda formulation is the excess estimation error of a classical record over the quantum statistical limit. We show that, at the quantum-instrument level, this excess has an exact decomposition. The record-only error matrix equals a residual-aware error matrix plus a positive Schur-complement term fixed by Fisher information left in the unread post-measurement system. Thus measurement error separates into intrinsic instrument loss and record-restriction loss
A universal formulation of the quantum uncertainty regarding quantum indeterminacy, quantum measurement, and its inevitable observer effect is presented with additional focus on the representability of quantum observables over a given state. The operational tangibility of the framework assures that the resultant general relations admit natural operational interpretations and characterisations, and thereby perhaps most importantly, their experimental verifiability. In view of the universal formulation, Heisenberg's original philosophy of the uncertainty principle, most typically exemplified in his famous gamma-ray microscope Gedankenexperiment, is revisited; it is reformulated and restated as a refined no-go theorem, albeit perhaps in a weaker form than was originally intended. The relations entail, in essence as corollaries to their special cases, several previously known relations, including most notably the standard Kennard-Robertson relation, the Arthurs-Kelly-Goodman relations for joint measurement as well as the Ozawa and the Watanabe-Sagawa-Ueda relations for error and error-disturbance.
The focus of the present investigation is uncertainty relations for quantum particles, which quantify the fundamental limitations on some of their properties due to their incompatibility. In the first, longer part, we are concerned with preparational uncertainty \nrelations, while in the second we touch upon measurement inequalities through a generalisation of a model of joint measurement of position and momentum. \nSpecifically, starting from a triple of canonical operators, we prove product and sum inequalities for their variances with bounds larger than those following from combining the pairwise ones. We extend these results to N observables for a quantum particle and prove uncertainty relations for the sums and products of their variances \nin terms of the commutators. \nFurthermore, we present a general theory of preparational uncertainty relations for a quantum particle in one dimension and derive conditions for a smooth function of the second moments to assume a lower bound. The Robertson-Schroedinger inequality \nis found to be of special significance and we geometrically study the space of second moments. We prove new uncertainty relations for various functions of the variances and covariance of position and momentum of a quantum particle. Some of our findings are shown to extend to more than one spatial degree of freedom and we derive \nvarious types of inequalities. \nFinally, we propose a generalisation of the Arthurs-Kelly model of joint measurement of position and momentum to incorporate the case of more than two observables and derive joint-measurement inequalities for the statistics of the probes. For the case of \nthree canonical observables and suitable definitions of error and disturbance we obtain a number of error-error-error and error-error-disturbance inequalities and show that the lower bound is identical to the preparational one.