The density matrix ρ is defined and its basic properties are derived in detail: ρ is a Hermitian non-negative operator with unit trace, its eigenvalues are non-negative and lie in the closed interval [0, 1]; if ρ is a projector, it projects onto a one-dimensional sub-space, the trace of ρ 2 is ≤ 1, the equality holding only if ρ is a projector. A necessary and sufficient condition for ρ to be a projector is that all vectors in its definition are identical up to a phase. Pure cases are sets that can be described by a state vector, unlike mixtures . The density matrix of a mixture is not a projection operator, and this may be viewed as its distinguishing feature with respect to pure cases. The mean value of an observable can be reexpressed with the help of the density matrix, and a Schrödinger equation for density matrices holds. Last, but not least, pure cases cannot unitarily evolve into mixtures . The applications of the formalism presented in this chapter deal with orientation of spin-½ particles, polarization of pairs of photons, thermal-equilibrium states. In the second part, quantum entanglement is presented, with emphasis on the existence of state vectors for entangled pairs of particles that belong to the tensor product of Hilbert spaces H 1 ⊗ H 2 , but are not of the simple product form ψ 1 ⊗ ψ 2 . The only correct interpretation of such states has a statistical nature, associated to series of repeated measurements performed by two observers on the constituents of the entangled pair. Hidden-variable theories, with the associated Bell inequalities, are introduced, and a way of using entangled quantum states is described which makes it possible to transfer the polarization state of a photon to another photon. This property provides the foundation of the modern investigations of quantum teleportation.
We recall some properties of convex functions and, in particular, of the sum of the largest eigenvalues of a Hermitian matrix. From these properties a new estimate of an arbitrary eigenvalue of a sum of Hermitian matrices is derived, which in turn is used to compute an approximate associated spectral projector. These estimates are applied for the first time to explain the generic spectral features of quantum systems. As an application of the formalism, we explain the preponderance of certain ground-state angular momenta as observed in the vibron model with random interactions. We show that the evolution of eigenstates can be predicted from the knowledge of a limited number of spectra and investigate the effect of a three-body interaction in the vibron model on eigenenergies and eigenvectors.
The problem of expanding a density operator $\ensuremath{\rho}$ in forms that simplify the evaluation of important classes of quantum-mechanical expectation values is studied. The weight function $P(\ensuremath{\alpha})$ of the
P representation, the Wigner distribution $W(\ensuremath{\alpha})$, and the function $〈\ensuremath{\alpha}|\ensuremath{\rho}|\ensuremath{\alpha}〉$, where $|\ensuremath{\alpha}〉$ is a coherent state, are discussed from a unified point of view. Each of these quasiprobability distributions is examined as the expectation value of a Hermitian operator, as the weight function of an integral representation for the density operator and as the function associated with the density operator by one of the operator-function correspondences defined in the preceding paper. The weight function $P(\ensuremath{\alpha})$ of the
P representation is shown to be the expectation value of a Hermitian operator all of whose eigenvalues are infinite. The existence of the function $P(\ensuremath{\alpha})$ as an infinitely differentiable function is found to be equivalent to the existence of a well-defined antinormally ordered series expansion for the density operator in powers of the annihilation and creation operators
a and ${a}^{\ifmmode\dagger\else\textdagger\fi{}}$. The Wigner distribution $W(\ensuremath{\alpha})$ is shown to be a continuous, uniformly bounded, square-integrable weight function for an integral expansion of the density operator and to be the function associated with the symmetrically ordered power-series expansion of the density operator. The function $〈\ensuremath{\alpha}|\ensuremath{\rho}|\ensuremath{\alpha}〉$, which is infinitely differentiable, corresponds to the normally ordered form of the density operator. Its use as a weight function in an integral expansion of the density operator is shown to involve singularities that are closely related to those which occur in the
P representation. A parametrized integral expansion of the density operator is introduced in which the weight function $W(\ensuremath{\alpha},s)$ may be identified with the weight function $P(\ensuremath{\alpha})$ of the
P representation, with the Wigner distribution $W(\ensuremath{\alpha})$, and with the function $〈\ensuremath{\alpha}|\ensuremath{\rho}|\ensuremath{\alpha}〉$ when the order parameter
s assumes the values $s=+1, 0, \ensuremath{-}1$, respectively. The function $W(\ensuremath{\alpha},s)$ is shown to be the expectation value of the ordered operator analog of the $\ensuremath{\delta}$ function defined in the preceding paper. This operator is in the trace class for
Res<0, has bounded eigenvalues for
Res=0, and has infinite eigenvalues for
s=1. Marked changes in the properties of the quasiprobability distribution $W(\ensuremath{\alpha},s)$ are exhibited as the order parameter
s is varied continuously from $s=\ensuremath{-}1$, corresponding to the function $〈\ensuremath{\alpha}|\ensuremath{\rho}|\ensuremath{\alpha}〉$, to
s=+1, corresponding to the function $P(\ensuremath{\alpha})$. Methods for constructing these functions and for using them to compute expectation values are presented and illustrated with several examples. One of these examples leads to a physical characterization of the density operators for which the
P representation is appropriate.
Tensor networks have emerged as a powerful theoretical and computational framework for understanding and simulating quantum many-body systems. Their efficiency in representing quantum states, particularly those satisfying area laws of entanglement, is intimately linked to the structure of their constituent tensors. A fundamental aspect of these networks is their spectral properties, which manifest in various forms, such as the singular values of bond tensors or the eigenvalues of associated transfer matrices. Concurrently, entanglement measures provide quantitative insights into the quantum correlations present within these systems. This paper explores the intricate relationship between the spectra arising from tensor network representations and the different entanglement measures used to characterize quantum states. We delve into how the decay rates of singular values directly impact entanglement entropy, how entanglement spectra derived from Schmidt decompositions can reveal topological order, and how the spectral gaps of transfer matrices are connected to correlation lengths. By analyzing various tensor network architectures, including Matrix Product States (MPS) and Projected Entangled Pair States (PEPS), we elucidate the mechanisms through which their spectral features encode profound information about quantum entanglement. The study highlights how a deeper understanding of these spectral properties can not only guide the construction of more efficient tensor network algorithms but also provide fundamental insights into the nature of quantum phases and phase transitions.
The problem of construction of projection operators on eigensubspaces of symmetry operators is considered. This problem arises in many approximate methods for solving time-independent and time-dependent quantum problems, and its solution ensures proper physical symmetries in development of approximate methods. The projector form is sought as a function of symmetry operators and their eigenvalues characterizing the eigensubspace of interest. This form is obtained in two steps: (1) identification of algebraic structures within a set of symmetry operators (e.g., groups and Lie algebras) and (2) construction of the projection operators for individual symmetry operators. The first step is crucial for efficient projection operator construction because it allows for use of information on irreducible representations of the present algebraic structure. The discussed approaches have potential to stimulate further developments of variational approaches for electronic structure of strongly correlated systems and in quantum computing.
The fixed area states are previously discussed in the quantum error-correction codes interpretation of
AdS/CFT. The dual bulk geometry is constructed by gravitational path integrals. In this paper we show the fixed area states correspondence in conformal field theories (CFTs), which are associated with the spectrum decomposition of reduced density matrix ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{A}$ for a subsystem
A. For two-dimensional CFTs we directly build the bulk metric, which is consistent with the expected geometry of the fixed area states. For arbitrary pure state $|\ensuremath{\psi}⟩$ with a geometric dual in the bulk we also find the consistency by using the gravity dual of R\'enyi entropy. We also obtain the parameters relation between the bulk geometry and boundary state. The pure state $|\ensuremath{\psi}⟩$ can be expanded as a superposition of the fixed area states. Motivated by this, we propose an area operator ${\stackrel{^}{A}}^{\ensuremath{\psi}}$. The fixed area state is the eigenstate of ${\stackrel{^}{A}}^{\ensuremath{\psi}}$, the associated eigenvalue is related to the R\'enyi entropy of subsystem
A in this state. The Ryu-Takayanagi formula can be expressed as the expectation value $⟨\ensuremath{\psi}|{\stackrel{^}{A}}^{\ensuremath{\psi}}|\ensuremath{\psi}⟩$ divided by
4G, where
G is the Newton constant. We further show the fluctuation of the area operator in the geometric state $|\ensuremath{\psi}⟩$ is suppressed in the semiclassical limit $G\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$.