We determine the exact error and strong converse exponents of shared randomness-assisted channel simulation in worst case total-variation distance. Namely, we find that these exponents can be written as simple optimizations over the R´enyi channel mutual information. Strikingly, and in stark contrast to channel coding, there are no critical rates, allowing a tight characterization for arbitrary rates below and above the simulation capacity. We derive our results by asymptotically expanding the meta-converse for channel simulation [Caoet al., IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory (2024)], which corresponds to nonsignaling assisted codes. We prove this to be asymptotically tight by employing the approximation algorithms from [Bertaet al., Proc. IEEE ISIT (2024)], which show how to round any non-signaling assisted strategy to a strategy that only uses shared randomness. Notably, this implies that any additional quantum entanglement-assistance does not change the error or the strong converse exponents.We determine the exact error and strong converse exponents of shared randomness-assisted channel simulation in worst case total-variation distance. Namely, we find that these exponents can be written as simple optimizations over the R´enyi channel mutual information. Strikingly, and in stark contrast to channel coding, there are no critical rates, allowing a tight characterization for arbitrary rates below and above the simulation capacity. We derive our results by asymptotically expanding the meta-converse for channel simulation [Caoet al., IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory (2024)], which corresponds to nonsignaling assisted codes. We prove this to be asymptotically tight by employing the approximation algorithms from [Bertaet al., Proc. IEEE ISIT (2024)], which show how to round any non-signaling assisted strategy to a strategy that only uses shared randomness. Notably, this implies that any additional quantum entanglement-assistance does not change the error or the strong converse exponents.

IEEE Transactions on Information TheoryFeb 16, 20261 citation

Exponents for Shared Randomness-Assisted Channel Simulation

Aadil Oufkir, Michael X. Cao, Hao–Chung Cheng +1 more

IEEE International Symposium on Information Theory (ISIT)Jun 22, 20252 citations

Strong Converse Exponent of Channel Interconversion

Aadil Oufkir, Yongsheng Yao, Mario Berta

Abstract In their seminal work, Bennett et al. [1] showed that, with sufficient shared randomness, one noisy channel can simulate another at a rate equal to the ratio of their capacities. We establish that when coding above this channel interconversion capacity, the exact strong converse exponent is characterized by a simple optimization involving the difference of the corresponding Rényi channel capacities with Hölder dual parameters. We further extend this result to the entanglement-assisted interconversion of classical–quantum channels, showing that the strong converse exponent is likewise determined by differences of sandwiched Rényi channel capacities. The converse bound is obtained by relaxing to non-signaling assisted codes and applying Hölder duality together with the data processing inequality for Rényi divergences. Achievability is proven by concatenating refined channel coding and simulation protocols that go beyond first-order capacities, attaining an exponentially small conversion error, remaining robust under small variations in the input distribution, and tolerating a sublinear gap between the conversion rates.Abstract In their seminal work, Bennett et al. [1] showed that, with sufficient shared randomness, one noisy channel can simulate another at a rate equal to the ratio of their capacities. We establish that when coding above this channel interconversion capacity, the exact strong converse exponent is characterized by a simple optimization involving the difference of the corresponding Rényi channel capacities with Hölder dual parameters. We further extend this result to the entanglement-assisted interconversion of classical–quantum channels, showing that the strong converse exponent is likewise determined by differences of sandwiched Rényi channel capacities. The converse bound is obtained by relaxing to non-signaling assisted codes and applying Hölder duality together with the data processing inequality for Rényi divergences. Achievability is proven by concatenating refined channel coding and simulation protocols that go beyond first-order capacities, attaining an exponentially small conversion error, remaining robust under small variations in the input distribution, and tolerating a sublinear gap between the conversion rates.

arXiv:2509.15200Annales Henri PoincaréSep 17, 20260 citations

Exponents for Classical-Quantum Channel Simulation in Purified Distance

Aadil Oufkir, Yongsheng Yao, Mario Berta

We determine the exact error and strong converse exponent for entanglement-assisted classical-quantum channel simulation in worst case input purified distance. The error exponent is expressed as a single-letter formula optimized over sandwiched Rényi divergences of order $α\in [1, \infty)$ , notably without the need for a critical rate--a sharp contrast to the error exponent for classical-quantum channel coding. The strong converse exponent is expressed as a single-letter formula optimized over sandwiched Rényi divergences of order $α\in [\frac{1}{2},1]$ . As in the classical work [Oufkir et al., arXiv:2410.07051], we start with the goal of asymptotically expanding the meta-converse for channel simulation in the relevant regimes. However, to deal with non-commutativity issues arising from classical-quantum channels and entanglement-assistance, we critically use various properties of the quantum fidelity, additional auxiliary channel techniques, approximations via Chebyshev inequalities, and entropic continuity bounds.We determine the exact error and strong converse exponent for entanglement-assisted classical-quantum channel simulation in worst case input purified distance. The error exponent is expressed as a single-letter formula optimized over sandwiched Rényi divergences of order $α\in [1, \infty)$, notably without the need for a critical rate--a sharp contrast to the error exponent for classical-quantum channel coding. The strong converse exponent is expressed as a single-letter formula optimized over sandwiched Rényi divergences of order $α\in [\frac{1}{2},1]$. As in the classical work [Oufkir et al., arXiv:2410.07051], we start with the goal of asymptotically expanding the meta-converse for channel simulation in the relevant regimes. However, to deal with non-commutativity issues arising from classical-quantum channels and entanglement-assistance, we critically use various properties of the quantum fidelity, additional auxiliary channel techniques, approximations via Chebyshev inequalities, and entropic continuity bounds.

arXiv:2410.10770IEEE Transactions on Information TheoryMay 6, 20261 citation

Quantum channel coding: Approximation algorithms and strong converse exponents

Aadil Oufkir, Mario Berta

We study relaxations of entanglement-assisted quantum channel coding and establish that non-signaling assistance and a natural semi-definite programming relaxation\, -- \,termed meta-converse\, -- \,are equivalent in terms of success probabilities. We then present a rounding procedure that transforms any non-signaling-assisted strategy into an entanglement-assisted one and prove an approximation ratio of $(1 - e^{-1})$ in success probabilities for the special case of measurement channels. For fully quantum channels, we give a weaker (dimension dependent) approximation ratio, that is nevertheless still tight to characterize the strong converse exponent of entanglement-assisted channel coding [Li and Yao, IEEE Tran.~Inf.~Theory (2024)]. Our derivations leverage ideas from position-based coding, quantum decoupling theorems, the matrix Chernoff inequality, and input flattening techniques.We study relaxations of entanglement-assisted quantum channel coding and establish that non-signaling assistance and a natural semi-definite programming relaxation\, -- \,termed meta-converse\, -- \,are equivalent in terms of success probabilities. We then present a rounding procedure that transforms any non-signaling-assisted strategy into an entanglement-assisted one and prove an approximation ratio of $(1 - e^{-1})$ in success probabilities for the special case of measurement channels. For fully quantum channels, we give a weaker (dimension dependent) approximation ratio, that is nevertheless still tight to characterize the strong converse exponent of entanglement-assisted channel coding [Li and Yao, IEEE Tran.~Inf.~Theory (2024)]. Our derivations leverage ideas from position-based coding, quantum decoupling theorems, the matrix Chernoff inequality, and input flattening techniques.

arXiv:2410.21124Oct 28, 20240 citations

Quantum channel coding: Approximation algorithms and strong converse exponents

Aadil Oufkir, Mario Berta

We study relaxations of entanglement-assisted quantum channel coding and establish that non-signaling assistance and a natural semi-definite programming relaxation — termed meta-converse — are equivalent in terms of success probabilities. We then present a rounding procedure that transforms any non-signaling-assisted strategy into an entanglement-assisted one and prove an approximation ratio of (1–e−1) in success probabilities for the special case of measurement channels. For fully quantum channels, we give a weaker (dimension dependent) approximation ratio, that is nevertheless still tight to characterize the strong converse exponent of entanglement-assisted channel coding [Li and Yao, IEEE Tran. Inf. Theory (2024)]. Our derivations leverage ideas from position-based coding, quantum decoupling theorems, the matrix Chernoff inequality, and input flattening techniques.We study relaxations of entanglement-assisted quantum channel coding and establish that non-signaling assistance and a natural semi-definite programming relaxation — termed meta-converse — are equivalent in terms of success probabilities. We then present a rounding procedure that transforms any non-signaling-assisted strategy into an entanglement-assisted one and prove an approximation ratio of (1–e−1) in success probabilities for the special case of measurement channels. For fully quantum channels, we give a weaker (dimension dependent) approximation ratio, that is nevertheless still tight to characterize the strong converse exponent of entanglement-assisted channel coding [Li and Yao, IEEE Tran. Inf. Theory (2024)]. Our derivations leverage ideas from position-based coding, quantum decoupling theorems, the matrix Chernoff inequality, and input flattening techniques.

QuantumOct 6, 20252 citations

α\in [1, \infty)

, notably without the need for a critical rate--a sharp contrast to the error exponent for classical-quantum channel coding. The strong converse exponent is expressed as a single-letter formula optimized over sandwiched Rényi divergences of order

α\in [\frac{1}{2},1]

. As in the classical work [Oufkir et al., arXiv:2410.07051], we start with the goal of asymptotically expanding the meta-converse for channel simulation in the relevant regimes. However, to deal with non-commutativity issues arising from classical-quantum channels and entanglement-assistance, we critically use various properties of the quantum fidelity, additional auxiliary channel techniques, approximations via Chebyshev inequalities, and entropic continuity bounds.

(1 - e^{-1})

in success probabilities for the special case of measurement channels. For fully quantum channels, we give a weaker (dimension dependent) approximation ratio, that is nevertheless still tight to characterize the strong converse exponent of entanglement-assisted channel coding [Li and Yao, IEEE Tran.~Inf.~Theory (2024)]. Our derivations leverage ideas from position-based coding, quantum decoupling theorems, the matrix Chernoff inequality, and input flattening techniques.