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:2607.20266 · Physical Review A

Identifying local unitary equivalence based on reduction of quantum states

Yanjun Chu, Chenyang Cui, Yuhang Xie, Mengli Liu, Shao-Ming Fei

quant-phSubmitted Jul 22, 2026• Announced Jul 23, 2026• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Local unitary equivalence is central to entanglement quantification and classification. Identifying the local unitary equivalence remains a formidable challenge. We address this problem for a class of quantum states with one highly degenerate eigenvalue and the rest non-degenerate simple eigenvalues that are pivotal to structured resources in quantum resource theory. We introduce a ``reduction" procedure that maps each state to a ``reduced state" by nullifying the highest-multiplicity eigenvalue and prove that the local unitary equivalence of the original states is equivalent to that of their reduced counterparts. For the resulting pure or non-degenerate reduced states, we employ the existing invariants or fixed-point subgroup criteria to establish a complete discrimination framework, although the existing criteria can not directly identify the local unitary equivalence of the original states. We also verify the local unitary equivalence of two families of single-parameterized multipartite mixed states constructed by perturbing absolutely maximally entangled states from distinct combinatorial origins, demonstrating the efficacy and generality of our approach.

Journal reference
Physical Review A 114, 012451 (2026)
DOI
10.1103/kjgk-cpw7
Comments
8 pages, comments are welcome

Related papers

Local unitary equivalence of arbitrary-dimensional multipartite quantum states

Qing Fa Zhou, Yi-Zheng Zhen, Xin-Yu Xu +6 more

Local unitary equivalence is an important ingredient for quantifying and classifying entanglement. Verifying whether or not two quantum states are local unitary equivalent is a crucial problem, where only the case of multipartite pure states is solved. For mixed states, however, the verification of local unitary equivalence is still a challenging problem. In this paper, based on the coefficient matrices of generalized Bloch representations of quantum states, we find a variety of local unitary invariants for arbitrary-dimensional bipartite quantum states. These invariants are operational and can be used as necessary conditions for verifying the local unitary equivalence of two quantum states. Furthermore, we extend the construction to the arbitrary-dimensional multipartite case. We finally apply these invariants to estimate concurrence, a vital entanglement measure, showing the practicability of local unitary invariants in characterizing entanglement.

arXiv:2402.13489•Physical Review A•Feb 20, 2024•2 citations

Characterizing local unitary equivalence of multipartite states by local unitary Bargmann invariants

Yi Shen, Lin Chen, Shao-Ming Fei

Local unitary (LU) equivalent states are crucial for understanding the structure of quantum entanglement. We investigate the LU equivalence based on the LU Bargmann invariants (LUBIs). We consider for which states the LUBIs are sufficient to ensure the LU equivalence. We focus on a class of multipartite states with complete local commutativity, called CLC states. We first show that for multipartite CLC states, all the LUBIs are sufficient to ensure the local permutation equivalence, if their single-party marginals are diagonal and non-degenerate. By virtue of the fact that the CLC property remains unchanged under local operations, we verify that the LUBIs are also sufficient to ensure the LU equivalence of multipartite CLC states whose single-party marginals are non-degenerate. Furthermore, when the single-party marginals are degenerate, we propose concrete examples of two-qudit and three-qubit systems, showing that there are states which share all the LUBIs but are not LU equivalent.

quant-pharXiv:2609.22902•Sep 22, 2026•0 citations

Bargmann-invariant framework for local unitary equivalence and entanglement

Lin Zhang, Bing Xie, Yuan-Hong Tao

Research on quantum states often focuses on the correlation between nonlocal effects and local unitary invariants, among which local unitary equivalence plays a significant role in quantum state classification and resource theories. This paper focuses on the local unitary equivalence of multipartite quantum states in quantum information theory, aiming to determine a complete set of invariants that identify their local unitary orbits; these invariants are crucial for deriving polynomial invariants and describing the physical properties preserved under local unitary transformations. The study deeply explores the characterization of local unitary equivalence and the method of detecting entanglement using local unitary Bargmann invariants. Taking two-qubit systems as an example, it verifies the measurability of invariants that determine equivalence and establishes a connection between Makhlin fundamental invariants (a complete set of 18 local unitary invariants for two-qubit states) and local unitary Bargmann invariants. These Bargmann invariants, related to the traces of products of density operators and marginal states, can be measured through cycle tests (an extended form of swap tests).

arXiv:2412.17237•Physical Review A•Nov 13, 2025•1 citation

Characterization of multipartite entanglement

Nengkun Yu, Youming Qiao, Xiudong Sun

In this paper, we provide a characterization of multipartite entanglement in terms of equivalence classes of states under local unitary transformation (LU) by demonstrating a simple method to construct all homogenous polynomials that are invariant under local unitary group(LUIPs) for any fixed degree. We give an upper bound on the degree of the LUIP such that the ring of LUIPs can be generated by LUIPs with degree lower than the bound. Our characterization can directly generate an algorithm whose output is a generating set of LUIPs. By employing the concept of LUIPs, we prove that multipartite entanglement is additive in the sense that two multipartite states are LU equivalent if and only if $n$-copies of these two states are LU equivalent for some $n$. The method for studying LU equivalence is also used to classify the different types of multipartite mixed entanglement according to equivalence classes of states under stochastic local operations and classical communication (SLOCC), where the pure states case was previously studied by Gour and Wallach using another approach.

•Jan 12, 2014•2 citations

Local unitary equivalence for diagonal bipartite quantum states

Yanjun Chu, Mengli Liu, Keke Zhang

Local unitary equivalence plays a crucial role in quantifying and categorizing the entanglement of quantum states. When it comes to two isospectral diagonal bipartite quantum states, determining whether they are locally unitary equivalent turns out to be a rather challenging problem. Intuitively speaking, we conjecture that for two diagonal quantum states, local unitary equivalence and local permutation equivalence between them are the same. By taking into account the cosets of the fixed point subgroup and the tensor decomposability of permutation matrices, we present the classifications of diagonal states in [Formula: see text]⊗[Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]⊗[Formula: see text] under local permutation equivalence, respectively. Furthermore, relying on the classification results of diagonal states in [Formula: see text]⊗[Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]⊗[Formula: see text], we demonstrate that if two diagonal quantum states are not locally permutation equivalent, then they cannot be locally unitary equivalent. This offers significant backing for the conjecture that two general bipartite diagonal quantum states are locally unitary equivalent if and only if they are locally permutation equivalent.

International Journal of Quantum Information•May 16, 2025•2 citations

Criterion of local unitary equivalence for multipartite states

Ting-Gui Zhang, Ming‐Jing Zhao, Ming Li +2 more

We study the local unitary equivalence of arbitrary dimensional multipartite quantum mixed states. We present a necessary and sufficient criterion of the local unitary equivalence for general multipartite states based on matrix realignment. The criterion is shown to be operational, even for particularly degenerated states, by detailed examples. In addition, explicit expressions of the local unitary operators are constructed for locally equivalent states. Complementary to the criterion, an alternative approach based on the partial transposition of matrices is also given, which makes the criterion more effective in dealing with generally degenerated mixed states.

arXiv:1310.2042•Physical Review A•Oct 3, 2013•23 citations
Local unitary equivalence is central to entanglement quantification and classification. Identifying the local unitary equivalence remains a formidable challenge. We address this problem for a class of quantum states with one highly degenerate eigenvalue and the rest non-degenerate simple eigenvalues that are pivotal to structured resources in quantum resource theory. We introduce a reduction" procedure that maps each state to a reduced state" by nullifying the highest-multiplicity eigenvalue and prove that the local unitary equivalence of the original states is equivalent to that of their reduced counterparts. For the resulting pure or non-degenerate reduced states, we employ the existing invariants or fixed-point subgroup criteria to establish a complete discrimination framework, although the existing criteria can not directly identify the local unitary equivalence of the original states. We also verify the local unitary equivalence of two families of single-parameterized multipartite mixed states constructed by perturbing absolutely maximally entangled states from distinct combinatorial origins, demonstrating the efficacy and generality of our approach.
Local unitary equivalence is an important ingredient for quantifying and classifying entanglement. Verifying whether or not two quantum states are local unitary equivalent is a crucial problem, where only the case of multipartite pure states is solved. For mixed states, however, the verification of local unitary equivalence is still a challenging problem. In this paper, based on the coefficient matrices of generalized Bloch representations of quantum states, we find a variety of local unitary invariants for arbitrary-dimensional bipartite quantum states. These invariants are operational and can be used as necessary conditions for verifying the local unitary equivalence of two quantum states. Furthermore, we extend the construction to the arbitrary-dimensional multipartite case. We finally apply these invariants to estimate concurrence, a vital entanglement measure, showing the practicability of local unitary invariants in characterizing entanglement.
Local unitary (LU) equivalent states are crucial for understanding the structure of quantum entanglement. We investigate the LU equivalence based on the LU Bargmann invariants (LUBIs). We consider for which states the LUBIs are sufficient to ensure the LU equivalence. We focus on a class of multipartite states with complete local commutativity, called CLC states. We first show that for multipartite CLC states, all the LUBIs are sufficient to ensure the local permutation equivalence, if their single-party marginals are diagonal and non-degenerate. By virtue of the fact that the CLC property remains unchanged under local operations, we verify that the LUBIs are also sufficient to ensure the LU equivalence of multipartite CLC states whose single-party marginals are non-degenerate. Furthermore, when the single-party marginals are degenerate, we propose concrete examples of two-qudit and three-qubit systems, showing that there are states which share all the LUBIs but are not LU equivalent.
Research on quantum states often focuses on the correlation between nonlocal effects and local unitary invariants, among which local unitary equivalence plays a significant role in quantum state classification and resource theories. This paper focuses on the local unitary equivalence of multipartite quantum states in quantum information theory, aiming to determine a complete set of invariants that identify their local unitary orbits; these invariants are crucial for deriving polynomial invariants and describing the physical properties preserved under local unitary transformations. The study deeply explores the characterization of local unitary equivalence and the method of detecting entanglement using local unitary Bargmann invariants. Taking two-qubit systems as an example, it verifies the measurability of invariants that determine equivalence and establishes a connection between Makhlin fundamental invariants (a complete set of 18 local unitary invariants for two-qubit states) and local unitary Bargmann invariants. These Bargmann invariants, related to the traces of products of density operators and marginal states, can be measured through cycle tests (an extended form of swap tests).
In this paper, we provide a characterization of multipartite entanglement in terms of equivalence classes of states under local unitary transformation (LU) by demonstrating a simple method to construct all homogenous polynomials that are invariant under local unitary group(LUIPs) for any fixed degree. We give an upper bound on the degree of the LUIP such that the ring of LUIPs can be generated by LUIPs with degree lower than the bound. Our characterization can directly generate an algorithm whose output is a generating set of LUIPs. By employing the concept of LUIPs, we prove that multipartite entanglement is additive in the sense that two multipartite states are LU equivalent if and only if nnn-copies of these two states are LU equivalent for some nnn. The method for studying LU equivalence is also used to classify the different types of multipartite mixed entanglement according to equivalence classes of states under stochastic local operations and classical communication (SLOCC), where the pure states case was previously studied by Gour and Wallach using another approach.
Local unitary equivalence plays a crucial role in quantifying and categorizing the entanglement of quantum states. When it comes to two isospectral diagonal bipartite quantum states, determining whether they are locally unitary equivalent turns out to be a rather challenging problem. Intuitively speaking, we conjecture that for two diagonal quantum states, local unitary equivalence and local permutation equivalence between them are the same. By taking into account the cosets of the fixed point subgroup and the tensor decomposability of permutation matrices, we present the classifications of diagonal states in [Formula: see text]⊗[Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]⊗[Formula: see text] under local permutation equivalence, respectively. Furthermore, relying on the classification results of diagonal states in [Formula: see text]⊗[Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]⊗[Formula: see text], we demonstrate that if two diagonal quantum states are not locally permutation equivalent, then they cannot be locally unitary equivalent. This offers significant backing for the conjecture that two general bipartite diagonal quantum states are locally unitary equivalent if and only if they are locally permutation equivalent.
We study the local unitary equivalence of arbitrary dimensional multipartite quantum mixed states. We present a necessary and sufficient criterion of the local unitary equivalence for general multipartite states based on matrix realignment. The criterion is shown to be operational, even for particularly degenerated states, by detailed examples. In addition, explicit expressions of the local unitary operators are constructed for locally equivalent states. Complementary to the criterion, an alternative approach based on the partial transposition of matrices is also given, which makes the criterion more effective in dealing with generally degenerated mixed states.