Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2403.13632 · Physical Review A

Extremality of stabilizer states

Kaifeng Bu

Published Jul 14, 2025• 1 citation
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We investigate the extremality of stabilizer states to reveal their exceptional role in the space of all $n$-qubit/qudit states. We establish uncertainty principles for the characteristic function and the Wigner function of states, respectively. We find that only stabilizer states achieve saturation in these principles. Furthermore, we prove a general theorem that stabilizer states are extremal for convex information measures invariant under local unitaries. We explore this extremality in the context of various quantum information and correlation measures, including entanglement entropy, conditional entropy and other entanglement measures. Additionally, leveraging the recent discovery that stabilizer states are the limit states under quantum convolution, we establish the monotonicity of the entanglement entropy and conditional entropy under quantum convolution. These results highlight the remarkable information-theoretic properties of stabilizer states. Their extremality provides valuable insights into their ability to capture information content and correlations, paving the way for further exploration of their potential in quantum information processing.

DOI
10.1103/ln8j-ytcj

Related papers

Discrete quantum Gaussians and central limit theorem

Kaifeng Bu, Weichen Gu, Arthur Jaffe

We introduce a quantum convolution and a conceptual framework to study states in discrete-variable (DV) quantum systems. All our results suggest that stabilizer states play a role in DV quantum systems similar to the role that Gaussian states play in continuous-variable systems. Hence we suggest the name ``discrete quantum Gaussians'' for stabilizer states. For example, we prove that the convolution of two stabilizer states is another stabilizer state, and that stabilizer states extremize both quantum entropy and Fisher information. We establish a ``maximal entropy principle,'' a ``second law of thermodynamics for quantum convolution,'' and a ``quantum central limit theorem.'' The latter is based on iterating the convolution of a zero-mean quantum state, which we prove converges to a stabilizer state. We bound the exponential rate of convergence of the quantum central limit theorem by the ``magic gap,'' defined in terms of the support of the characteristic function of the state. We elaborate on our general results with a discussion of some examples, as well as extending many of them to quantum channels.

arXiv:2302.08423•Advances in Mathematics•Sep 4, 2026•4 citations

Stabilizer information inequalities from phase space distributions

David Gross, Michael Walter

The Shannon entropy of a collection of random variables is subject to a number of constraints, the best-known examples being monotonicity and strong subadditivity. It remains an open question to decide which of these “laws of information theory” are also respected by the von Neumann entropy of many-body quantum states. In this article, we consider a toy version of this difficult problem by analyzing the von Neumann entropy of stabilizer states. We find that the von Neumann entropy of stabilizer states satisfies all balanced information inequalities that hold in the classical case. Our argument is built on the fact that stabilizer states have a classical model, provided by the discrete Wigner function: The phase-space entropy of the Wigner function corresponds directly to the von Neumann entropy of the state, which allows us to reduce to the classical case. Our result has a natural counterpart for multi-mode Gaussian states, which sheds some light on the general properties of the construction. We also discuss the relation of our results to recent work by Linden, Ruskai, and Winter [“The quantum entropy cone of stabiliser states,” e-print arXiv:1302.5453].

arXiv:1302.6990•Journal of Mathematical Physics•Aug 1, 2013•45 citations

Quantum entropy and central limit theorem

Kaifeng Bu, Weichen Gu, Arthur M. Jaffe

We introduce a framework to study discrete-variable (DV) quantum systems based on qudits. It relies on notions of a mean state (MS), a minimal stabilizer-projection state (MSPS), and a new convolution. Some interesting consequences are: The MS is the closest MSPS to a given state with respect to the relative entropy; the MS is extremal with respect to the von Neumann entropy, demonstrating a "maximal entropy principle in DV systems." We obtain a series of inequalities for quantum entropies and for Fisher information based on convolution, giving a "second law of thermodynamics for quantum convolutions." We show that the convolution of two stabilizer states is a stabilizer state. We establish a central limit theorem, based on iterating the convolution of a zero-mean quantum state, and show this converges to its MS. The rate of convergence is characterized by the "magic gap," which we define in terms of the support of the characteristic function of the state. We elaborate on two examples: the DV beam splitter and the DV amplifier.

arXiv:2302.07841•Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences•Jun 12, 2023•37 citations

Constraints on Multipartite Quantum Entropies

Christian Majenz

The von Neumann entropy plays a vital role in quantum information theory. The von Neumann entropy determines, e.g., the capacities of quantum channels. Also, entropies of composite quantum systems are important for future quantum networks, and their characterization is related to the quantum marginal problem. Furthermore, they play a role in quantum thermodynamics. In this thesis the set of quantum entropies of multipartite quantum systems is studied. The problem of its characterization is not new -- however, progress has been sparse, indicating that the problem might be hard and that new methods might be needed. Here, a variety of different and complementary approaches are taken. First, I look at global properties. It is known that the von Neumann entropy region -- just like its classical counterpart -- forms a convex cone. I describe the symmetries of this cone and highlight geometric similarities and differences to the classical entropy cone. In a different approach, I utilize the local geometric properties of extremal rays of a cone. I show that quantum states whose entropy lies on such an extremal ray of the quantum entropy cone have a very simple structure. As the set of all quantum states is very complicated, I look at a simple subset called stabilizer states. I improve on previously known results by showing that under a technical condition on the local dimension, entropies of stabilizer states respect an additional class of information inequalities that is valid for random variables from linear codes. In a last approach I find a representation-theoretic formulation of the classical marginal problem simplifying the comparison with its quantum mechanical counterpart. This novel correspondence yields a simplified formulation of the group characterization of classical entropies (IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory, 48(7):1992-1995, 2002) in purely combinatorial terms.

arXiv:1810.12845•Oct 30, 2018•2 citations

Optimized discrete Wigner representations and non-stabilizerness in qubit systems

A. B. Klimov, C. Muñoz, I. Sainz

The apparent absence of a stabilizer-specific phase-space description for qubit systems is not fundamental, but arises from fixing a state-independent discrete Wigner map. Allowing the phase-space representation to adapt to the state through a simple optimization procedure, we prove that every qubit stabilizer state admits an exact delta-function discrete Wigner representation for any fixed phase-space partition. This optimization can be implemented directly at the level of measurement statistics by selecting maximal probabilities across mutually unbiased bases forming the partition. This construction naturally leads to a non-stabilizer witness defined by the optimized value of the Wigner function at the origin. Stabilizer states saturate the universal lower bound of this witness for pure states, whereas a value strictly larger than the bound certifies non-stabilizerness. Although the witness is not a finite-size resource monotone, it becomes sharply concentrated and effectively invariant under random Clifford transformations in the large-qubit limit, suggesting an asymptotically linear growth law for broad families of non-stabilizer states. Our results restore a meaningful geometric phase-space characterization of qubit stabilizer structure and provide an operational diagnostic of non-stabilizerness.

quant-pharXiv:2610.10471•Oct 8, 2026•0 citations

Conditional Entropy

Gilad Gour

Chapter 7 discusses quantum conditional entropy, extending the concept of conditional majorization and introducing the notion of negative quantum conditional entropy. The chapter starts with the basic definition of conditional entropy, exploring its key properties like monotonicity and additivity. It further delves into the concepts of conditional min- and max-entropies, emphasizing their roles in quantifying uncertainty in quantum states and their operational significance in quantum information theory. The text presents conditional entropy as a measure sensitive to the effects of entanglement, showing that negative conditional entropy is a distinctive feature of quantum systems, contrasting with the classical domain where entropy values are nonnegative. This negativity is particularly pronounced in the context of maximally entangled states and is connected to the fundamental differences between classical and quantum information processing. Moreover, the chapter includes theorems and exercises to solidify understanding, like the invariance of conditional entropy under local isometric channels and its reduction to entropy for product states. It concludes by underscoring the inevitability of negative conditional entropy in quantum systems, a topic of both theoretical and practical importance in the quantum domain.

Cambridge University Press eBooks•Apr 10, 2025•0 citations
We investigate the extremality of stabilizer states to reveal their exceptional role in the space of all nnn-qubit/qudit states. We establish uncertainty principles for the characteristic function and the Wigner function of states, respectively. We find that only stabilizer states achieve saturation in these principles. Furthermore, we prove a general theorem that stabilizer states are extremal for convex information measures invariant under local unitaries. We explore this extremality in the context of various quantum information and correlation measures, including entanglement entropy, conditional entropy and other entanglement measures. Additionally, leveraging the recent discovery that stabilizer states are the limit states under quantum convolution, we establish the monotonicity of the entanglement entropy and conditional entropy under quantum convolution. These results highlight the remarkable information-theoretic properties of stabilizer states. Their extremality provides valuable insights into their ability to capture information content and correlations, paving the way for further exploration of their potential in quantum information processing.
We introduce a quantum convolution and a conceptual framework to study states in discrete-variable (DV) quantum systems. All our results suggest that stabilizer states play a role in DV quantum systems similar to the role that Gaussian states play in continuous-variable systems. Hence we suggest the name ``discrete quantum Gaussians'' for stabilizer states. For example, we prove that the convolution of two stabilizer states is another stabilizer state, and that stabilizer states extremize both quantum entropy and Fisher information. We establish a ``maximal entropy principle,'' a ``second law of thermodynamics for quantum convolution,'' and a ``quantum central limit theorem.'' The latter is based on iterating the convolution of a zero-mean quantum state, which we prove converges to a stabilizer state. We bound the exponential rate of convergence of the quantum central limit theorem by the ``magic gap,'' defined in terms of the support of the characteristic function of the state. We elaborate on our general results with a discussion of some examples, as well as extending many of them to quantum channels.
The Shannon entropy of a collection of random variables is subject to a number of constraints, the best-known examples being monotonicity and strong subadditivity. It remains an open question to decide which of these “laws of information theory” are also respected by the von Neumann entropy of many-body quantum states. In this article, we consider a toy version of this difficult problem by analyzing the von Neumann entropy of stabilizer states. We find that the von Neumann entropy of stabilizer states satisfies all balanced information inequalities that hold in the classical case. Our argument is built on the fact that stabilizer states have a classical model, provided by the discrete Wigner function: The phase-space entropy of the Wigner function corresponds directly to the von Neumann entropy of the state, which allows us to reduce to the classical case. Our result has a natural counterpart for multi-mode Gaussian states, which sheds some light on the general properties of the construction. We also discuss the relation of our results to recent work by Linden, Ruskai, and Winter [“The quantum entropy cone of stabiliser states,” e-print arXiv:1302.5453].
We introduce a framework to study discrete-variable (DV) quantum systems based on qudits. It relies on notions of a mean state (MS), a minimal stabilizer-projection state (MSPS), and a new convolution. Some interesting consequences are: The MS is the closest MSPS to a given state with respect to the relative entropy; the MS is extremal with respect to the von Neumann entropy, demonstrating a "maximal entropy principle in DV systems." We obtain a series of inequalities for quantum entropies and for Fisher information based on convolution, giving a "second law of thermodynamics for quantum convolutions." We show that the convolution of two stabilizer states is a stabilizer state. We establish a central limit theorem, based on iterating the convolution of a zero-mean quantum state, and show this converges to its MS. The rate of convergence is characterized by the "magic gap," which we define in terms of the support of the characteristic function of the state. We elaborate on two examples: the DV beam splitter and the DV amplifier.
The von Neumann entropy plays a vital role in quantum information theory. The von Neumann entropy determines, e.g., the capacities of quantum channels. Also, entropies of composite quantum systems are important for future quantum networks, and their characterization is related to the quantum marginal problem. Furthermore, they play a role in quantum thermodynamics. In this thesis the set of quantum entropies of multipartite quantum systems is studied. The problem of its characterization is not new -- however, progress has been sparse, indicating that the problem might be hard and that new methods might be needed. Here, a variety of different and complementary approaches are taken. First, I look at global properties. It is known that the von Neumann entropy region -- just like its classical counterpart -- forms a convex cone. I describe the symmetries of this cone and highlight geometric similarities and differences to the classical entropy cone. In a different approach, I utilize the local geometric properties of extremal rays of a cone. I show that quantum states whose entropy lies on such an extremal ray of the quantum entropy cone have a very simple structure. As the set of all quantum states is very complicated, I look at a simple subset called stabilizer states. I improve on previously known results by showing that under a technical condition on the local dimension, entropies of stabilizer states respect an additional class of information inequalities that is valid for random variables from linear codes. In a last approach I find a representation-theoretic formulation of the classical marginal problem simplifying the comparison with its quantum mechanical counterpart. This novel correspondence yields a simplified formulation of the group characterization of classical entropies (IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory, 48(7):1992-1995, 2002) in purely combinatorial terms.
The apparent absence of a stabilizer-specific phase-space description for qubit systems is not fundamental, but arises from fixing a state-independent discrete Wigner map. Allowing the phase-space representation to adapt to the state through a simple optimization procedure, we prove that every qubit stabilizer state admits an exact delta-function discrete Wigner representation for any fixed phase-space partition. This optimization can be implemented directly at the level of measurement statistics by selecting maximal probabilities across mutually unbiased bases forming the partition. This construction naturally leads to a non-stabilizer witness defined by the optimized value of the Wigner function at the origin. Stabilizer states saturate the universal lower bound of this witness for pure states, whereas a value strictly larger than the bound certifies non-stabilizerness. Although the witness is not a finite-size resource monotone, it becomes sharply concentrated and effectively invariant under random Clifford transformations in the large-qubit limit, suggesting an asymptotically linear growth law for broad families of non-stabilizer states. Our results restore a meaningful geometric phase-space characterization of qubit stabilizer structure and provide an operational diagnostic of non-stabilizerness.
Chapter 7 discusses quantum conditional entropy, extending the concept of conditional majorization and introducing the notion of negative quantum conditional entropy. The chapter starts with the basic definition of conditional entropy, exploring its key properties like monotonicity and additivity. It further delves into the concepts of conditional min- and max-entropies, emphasizing their roles in quantifying uncertainty in quantum states and their operational significance in quantum information theory. The text presents conditional entropy as a measure sensitive to the effects of entanglement, showing that negative conditional entropy is a distinctive feature of quantum systems, contrasting with the classical domain where entropy values are nonnegative. This negativity is particularly pronounced in the context of maximally entangled states and is connected to the fundamental differences between classical and quantum information processing. Moreover, the chapter includes theorems and exercises to solidify understanding, like the invariance of conditional entropy under local isometric channels and its reduction to entropy for product states. It concludes by underscoring the inevitability of negative conditional entropy in quantum systems, a topic of both theoretical and practical importance in the quantum domain.