Interest in the Werner-Holevo channel ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}_{1}(\ensuremath{\rho})=\frac{1}{2}[\mathrm{tr}(\ensuremath{\rho})I\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\rho}}^{T}]$ has been mainly due to its abstract mathematical properties. We show that in three dimensions and with a slight modification, this channel can be realized as the rotation of qutrit states in random directions by random angles. Our modification takes the form ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}_{x}(\ensuremath{\rho})=(1\ensuremath{-}x)\ensuremath{\rho}+x{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}_{1}(\ensuremath{\rho})$. Therefore, and in view of the potential use of qutrits in quantum processing tasks and their realization in many different platforms, the modified Werner-Holevo channel can be used as a very simple and realistic noise model, in the same way that the depolarizing channel is for qubits. We will make a detailed study of this channel and derive its various properties. In particular, we will use the recently proposed flag extension and other techniques to derive analytical expressions and bounds for the different capacities of this channel. The role of symmetry is revealed in these derivations. We also rigorously prove that the channel ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}_{x}$ is antidegradable and hence has zero quantum capacity, in the region $\frac{4}{7}\ensuremath{\le}x\ensuremath{\le}1.$
Interest in the Werner-Holevo channel \ensuremathΛ1(\ensuremathρ)=21[tr(\ensuremathρ)I\ensuremath−\ensuremathρT] has been mainly due to its abstract mathematical properties. We show that in three dimensions and with a slight modification, this channel can be realized as the rotation of qutrit states in random directions by random angles. Our modification takes the form \ensuremathΛx(\ensuremathρ)=(1\ensuremath−x)\ensuremathρ+x\ensuremathΛ1(\ensuremathρ). Therefore, and in view of the potential use of qutrits in quantum processing tasks and their realization in many different platforms, the modified Werner-Holevo channel can be used as a very simple and realistic noise model, in the same way that the depolarizing channel is for qubits. We will make a detailed study of this channel and derive its various properties. In particular, we will use the recently proposed flag extension and other techniques to derive analytical expressions and bounds for the different capacities of this channel. The role of symmetry is revealed in these derivations. We also rigorously prove that the channel \ensuremathΛx is antidegradable and hence has zero quantum capacity, in the region 74\ensuremath≤x\ensuremath≤1.
Two important classes of quantum channels, namly the Werner-Holevo and the Landau-Streater channels are known to be related only in three dimensions, i.e. when acting on qutrits. In this work, definition of the Landau-Streater channel is extended in such a way which retains its equivalence to the Werner-Holevo channel in all dimensions. This channel is then modified to be representable as a model of noise acting on qudits. We then investigate propeties of the resulting noisy channel and determine the conditions under which it cannot be the result of a Markovian evolution. Furthermore, we investigate its different capacities for transmitting classical and quantum information with or without entanglement. In particular, while the pure (or high noise) Landau-Streater or the Werner-Holevo channel is entanglement breaking and hence has zero capacity, by finding a lower bound for the quantum capacity, we show that when the level of noise is lower than a critical value the quantum capacity will be non-zero. Surprizingly this value turns out to be approximately equal to 0.4 in all dimensions. Finally we show that, in even dimension, this channel has a decomposition in terms of unitary operations. This is in contrast with the three dimensional case where it has been proved that such a decomposition is impossible, even in terms of other quantum maps.
Two important classes of quantum channels, namely, the Werner-Holevo and the Landau-Streater channels, are known to be related only in three dimensions, i.e., when acting on qutrits. In this work, the definition of the Landau-Streater channel is extended in such a way that it retains its equivalence to the Werner-Holevo channel in all dimensions. This channel is then modified to be representable as a model of noise acting on qudits. We then investigate properties of the resulting noisy channel and determine the conditions under which it cannot be the result of a Markovian evolution. Furthermore, we investigate its different capacities for transmitting classical and quantum information with or without entanglement. In particular, while the pure (or high-noise) Landau-Streater or the Werner-Holevo channel is entanglement breaking and hence has zero capacity, by finding a lower bound for the quantum capacity, we show that when the level of noise is lower than a critical value the quantum capacity will be nonzero. Surprisingly, this value turns out to be approximately equal to 0.4 in all dimensions. Finally, we show that, in even dimensions, this channel has a decomposition in terms of unitary operations. This is in contrast with the three-dimensional, case where it has been proved that such a decomposition is impossible, even in terms of other quantum maps.
In the study of d-dimensional quantum channels (dgeq2), an assumption which is not very restrictive, and which has a natural physical interpretation, is that the corresponding Kraus operators form a representation of a Lie algebra. Physically, this is a symmetry algebra for the interaction Hamiltonian. This paper begins a systematic study of channels defined by representations; the famous Werner-Holevo channel is one element of this infinite class. We show that the channel derived from the defining representation of SU(n) is a depolarizing channel for all n, but for most other representations this is not the case. Since the Bloch sphere is not appropriate here, we develop technology which is a generalization of Bloch's technique. Our method works by representing the density matrix as a polynomial in symmetrized products of Lie algebra generators, with coefficients that are symmetric tensors. Using these tensor methods we prove eleven theorems, derive many explicit formulas and show other interesting properties of quantum channels in various dimensions, with various Lie symmetry algebras. We also derive numerical estimates on the size of a generalized ``Bloch sphere'' for certain channels. There remain many open questions which are indicated at various points through the paper.
This chapter introduces the notion of noisy quantum channels , and the different types of “quantum noise” that affect qubit messages passed through such channels. The main types of noisy channel reviewed here are the depolarizing , bit-flip , phase-flip , and bit-phase-flip channels. Then the quantum channel capacity χ is defined through the Holevo–Schumacher–Westmoreland (HSW) theorem. Such a theorem can conceptually be viewed as the elegant quantum counterpart of Shannon's (noisy) channel coding theorem , which was described in Chapter 13. Here, I shall not venture into the complex proof of the HSW theorem but only provide a background illustrating the similarity with its classical counterpart. The resemblance with the channel capacity χ and the Holevo bound , as described in Chapter 21, and with the classical mutual information H ( X ; Y ), as described in Chapter 5, are both discussed. For advanced reference, a hint is provided as to the meaning of the still not fully explored concept of quantum coherent information . Several examples of quantum channel capacity, derived from direct applications of the HSW theorem, along with the solution of the maximization problem, are provided. Noisy quantum channels The notion of “noisiness” in a classical communication channel was first introduced in Chapter 12, when describing channel entropy . Such a channel can be viewed schematically as a probabilistic relation between two random sources, X for the originator, and Y for the recipient.
Recent examples have shown that zero private capacity need not imply antidegradability and that two channels with zero private capacity can nevertheless transmit private information together. Existing entropic channel orders compare what a receiver and its environment can learn and thereby bound capacities. We connect these orders to the recent constructions through binary estimation, whose minimum mean-square error is governed by measured χ2 divergence. A new integral representation shows how measured χ2 on a qubit extension recovers quantum χ2. It lets us pass from complete measured-χ2 ordering to complete quantum-χ2, relative-entropy, and less-noisy ordering. Zhu and Wang used a signed lift to show that their qutrit channel has zero private capacity. We show that Hermitian-smoothed measured-χ2 ordering characterizes when such lifts exist, even with a quantum reference. Environmental dominance in binary estimation at every blocklength yields a finite-code reliability--secrecy bound. These results explain why complete comparison prevents activation with antidegradable helpers whereas regularized comparison alone does not. Building on that qutrit example, we establish this stability for a range of noisy Werner--Holevo channels, determine sharp private-capacity and antidegradability thresholds, and compute exact complementary capacities in a nondegradable range. By contrast, we extend Pauli half-erasure activation to all 1/2≤p<1 and establish the same range for a new four-level family. Reference-assisted measured-χ2 witnesses show why these activating constructions lack complete comparison.
Abstract The class of quantum states known as Werner states have several interesting properties, which often serve to illuminate unusual properties of quantum information. Closely related to these states are the Holevo- Werner channels whose Choi matrices are Werner states. Exploiting the fact that these channels are teleportation covariant, and therefore simulable by teleportation, we compute the ultimate precision in the adaptive estimation of their channel-defining parameter. Similarly, we bound the minimum error probability affecting the adaptive discrimination of any two of these channels. In this case, we prove an analytical formula for the quantum Chernoff bound which also has a direct counterpart for the class of depolarizing channels. Our work exploits previous methods established in [Pirandola and Lupo, PRL