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arXiv:2308.14765

A note on Majorana representation of quantum states

Chi-Kwong Li, Mikio Nakahara

Published Aug 27, 2023• 0 citations
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Abstract

By the Majorana representation, for any $d > 1$ there is a one-one correspondence between a quantum state of dimension $d$ and $d-1$ qubits represented as $d-1$ points in the Bloch sphere. Using the theory of symmetry class of tensors, we present a simple scheme for constructing $d-1$ points on the Bloch sphere and the corresponding $d-1$ qubits representing a $d$-dimensional quantum state. Additionally, we demonstrate how the inner product of two $d$-dimensional quantum states can be expressed as a permanent of a matrix related to their $(d-1)$-qubit state representations. Extension of the result to mixed states is also considered.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2308.14765

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By the Majorana representation, for any d>1d > 1d>1 there is a one-one correspondence between a quantum state of dimension ddd and d−1d-1d−1 qubits represented as d−1d-1d−1 points in the Bloch sphere. Using the theory of symmetry class of tensors, we present a simple scheme for constructing d−1d-1d−1 points on the Bloch sphere and the corresponding d−1d-1d−1 qubits representing a ddd-dimensional quantum state. Additionally, we demonstrate how the inner product of two ddd-dimensional quantum states can be expressed as a permanent of a matrix related to their (d−1)(d-1)(d−1)-qubit state representations. Extension of the result to mixed states is also considered.
While the Bloch sphere provides a canonical geometric representation for qubits, its generalization to pure qudit states (d>2d>2d>2) is not unique. This representation can be extended following two different approaches: increasing the number of points, as in the Majorana representation, or using a single point but in a space of larger dimension, as in the generalized Bloch representation. In this work, we compare these representations of pure qudit states by finding explicit analytical relations between them. In particular, a general formula of the Bloch vector in terms of the Majorana points of a given state is provided. We also analyze some suitable extensions of these representations in the case of pure permutation-symmetric two- and three-qubit states, deriving the corresponding relation between them. These analytical results allow us to study, from a geometric point of view, quantum correlations of special classes of two-qubit states.
We generalize the Majorana stellar representation of spin-sss pure states to mixed states, and in general to any Hermitian operator, defining a bijective correspondence between three spaces: the spin-density matrices, a projective space of homogeneous polynomials of four variables, and a set of equivalence classes of points (constellations) on spheres of different radii. The representation behaves well under rotations by construction, and also under partial traces where the reduced density matrices inherit their constellation classes from the original state $\ensuremath{\rho}$. We express several concepts and operations related to density matrices in terms of the corresponding polynomials, such as the anticoherence criterion and the tensor representation of spin-sss states described in Giraud et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 080401 (2015)].
By describing the evolution of a quantum state with the trajectories of the Majorana stars on a Bloch sphere, Majorana’s stellar representation provides an intuitive geometric perspective to comprehend the quantum system with high-dimensional Hilbert space. However, the representation of a two-spin coupling system on a Bloch sphere has not been solved satisfactorily yet. Here, a practical method is presented to resolve the problem for the mixed-spin ( s , 1/2) system and describe the entanglement of the system. The system can be decomposed into two spins: spin-( s + 1/2) and spin-( s – 1/2) at the coupling bases, which can be regarded as independent spins. Besides, any pure state may be written as a superposition of two orthonormal states with one spin-( s + 1/2) state and the other spin-( s – 1/2) state. Thus, the whole initial state can be regarded as a state of a pseudo spin-1/2. In this way, the mixed spin decomposes into three spins. Therefore, the state can be represented by (2 s + 1) + (2 s – 1) + 1 = 4 s + 1 sets of stars on a Bloch sphere. Finally, some examples are given to show symmetric patterns on the Bloch sphere and unveil the properties of the high-spin system by analyzing the trajectories of the Majorana stars on the Bloch sphere.
Majorana drew a symmetric multiqubit state as points on the Bloch sphere, antipodal to the zeros of its overlap with spin coherent states. Projecting only one qubit of a general state leaves the others in a state that varies with direction. Its entanglement invariants are eigenvalues of a non-Hermitian matrix and form bands over the sphere. Exceptional points appear, without gain or loss, where the entanglement family of the rest changes. Circling one exchanges two bands, so the bands form one Riemann surface. At five qubits it fixes the entanglement class up to finitely many choices.
Abstract The Majorana representation (MR), which represents a quantum state and its evolution with the Majorana stars (MSs) on the Bloch sphere, provides us an intuitive way to study symmetric multiqubit pure states physical system with SU (2) symmetry. In this work, we propose a method to extend the MR for generic two-qubit pure states. By adding an additional reference star (RS), which represents the symmetry of the qubits, on the symmetric two qubit state with two base stars, we give a more general MR for both symmetric, anti-symmetric and generic two-qubit states. Using this method, we study the entanglement, Berry phase and their relation by this Majorana decomposition. Furthermore, the symmetries for different type of two-qubit states are also discussed via the RSs and correlation between the two MSs.
This paper presents an introduction to geometric representations of quantum states in which each distinct quantum state, pure and mixed, corresponds to a unique point in a Euclidean space. Beginning with a review of some underappreciated properties of the most commonly used geometric representation, the Bloch sphere visualization of qubit states, we show how concepts, algorithms, and spatial relations viewable on this geometric representation can be extended to representations of qudit states of any finite quantum dimension ddd and on to the infinite-dimensional limit. A primary goal of the work is helping the reader develop a visual intuition of these spaces, which can complement the understanding of the algebraic formalism of quantum mechanics for learners, teachers, and researchers at any level. Particular emphasis is given both to understanding states in a basis-independent way and to understanding how probability amplitudes and density matrix elements used to algebraically represent states in a particular basis correspond to line segments and angles in the geometric representations. In addition to providing visualizations for such concepts as superpositions, mixtures, decoherence, and measurement, we demonstrate how the representations can be used to substitute simple geometrical calculations for more cumbersome linear algebra ones, which may be of particular use in introducing mixed states and density matrices to beginning quantum students at an early stage. The work concludes with the geometrical interpretation of some commonly used metrics such as the purity of states and their relation to real, Euclidean vectors in the infinite-dimensional limit of the space, which contains all lower-dimensional qudit spaces as subspaces.