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

Journal of Mathematical Physics

Compatibility of observables represented by positive operator-valued measures

Paweł Kruszyński, Willem M. de Muynck

Published Aug 1, 1987• 29 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The proof of a result analogous to that in Koelman and de Muynck [Phys. Lett. A 98, 1 (1983)] is given for the case of unbounded observables. If two, not necessarily bounded, observables are represented by a positive operator-valued measure, then the measurement of any of them is undisturbed if and only if they commute. The Naimark theorem on dilations of spectral functions is exploited. A stronger version of Wigner’s theorem is given.

DOI
10.1063/1.527487

Related papers

Infinite sequences of linear functionals, positive operator-valued measures and Naimark extension theorem

Roberto Beneduci

Let F : ℬ(ℝ)→ℱ(ℋ) be a commutative positive operator-valued measure from the Borel σ-algebra of the reals to the space of bounded positive operators on the Hilbert space ℋ. It is well known that there exist a self-adjoint operator A and a Markov kernel μ(·)(λ) such that F(Δ) = μΔ(A), where Δ ∈ ℬ(ℝ). We prove that, for any Δ ∈ ℬ(ℝ), if F(Δ) is a discrete operator, then A is a linear combination of the moments of F. This result allows us to characterize the quantum observable represented by A by means of the Naimark dilation of F. The result is connected with the following properties of the sequences of linear functionals. Consider an infinite sequence of linear functionals {Ti}i ∈ ℕ, such that Tif = ∫ f(t) dμt(i), corresponding to an infinite sequence of probability measures {μ(·)(i)}i ∈ ℕ on the Borel σ-algebra ℬ([0, 1]) such that μ(·)(i) ≠ μ(·)(j), where i, j ∈ ℕ and i≠j. There exists a real bounded one-to-one continuous function f such that T i f = ∫ f ( t ) d μ t ( i ) ≠ ∫ f ( t ) d μ t ( j ) = T j f , i , j ∊ ℕ , i ≠ j .

Bulletin of the London Mathematical Society•Mar 17, 2010•16 citations

Notes on Naimark’s dilation theorem

Roberto Beneduci

Abstract After a short review of the main properties of unsharp observables we provide examples of commutative unsharp observables obtained as the projection of sharp observables. In particular, we consider a family of PVMs defined on the tensor product Hilbert space H ⊗ K which include the one introduced by Ozawa in his modification of the von Neumann position measurement model and show that their projections onto H are commutative POVMs. Then, we make some observations on the concept of Naimark dilation and its connections with the integral representation of commutative POVMs. Finally, we introduce a partial order relation in the set of Naimark dilations, show that there is a minimal element and that it is unique. Minimality is a consequence of the partial ordered structure and coincides with the usual definition of minimal Naimark dilation. In passing, we use Naimark’s theorem in order to prove some well known properties of positive operator valued measures.

Journal of Physics Conference Series•Oct 1, 2020•8 citations

Joint measurability through Naimark's theorem

Roberto Beneduci

We use Naimark's dilation theorem in order to characterize the joint measurability of two POVMs. Then, we analyze the joint measurability of two commutative POVMs $F_1$ and $F_2$ which are the smearing of two self-adjoint operators $A_1$ and $A_2$ respectively. We prove that the compatibility of $F_1$ and $F_2$ is connected to the existence of two compatible self-adjoint dilations $A_1^+$ and $A_2^+$ of $A_1$ and $A_2$ respectively. As a corollary we prove that each couple of self-adjoint operators can be dilated to a couple of compatible self-adjoint operators. Next, we analyze the joint measurability of the unsharp position and momentum observables and show that it provides a master example of the scheme we propose. Finally, we give a sufficient condition for the compatibility of two effects.

arXiv:1404.1477•Apr 5, 2014•3 citations

Characterizing incompatibility of quantum measurements via their Naimark extensions

Arindam Mitra, Sibasish Ghosh A, Prabha Mandayam

We obtain a formal characterization of the compatibility or otherwise of a set of positive-operator-valued measures (POVMs) via their Naimark extensions. We show that a set of POVMs is jointly measurable if and only if there exists a single Naimark extension, specified by a fixed ancilla state on the same ancilla Hilbert space, that maps them to a set of commuting projective measurements (PVMs). We use our result to obtain an easily checkable sufficient condition for the compatibility of a pair of dichotomic observables in any dimension. This in turn leads to a characterization of the compatibility regions for some important classes of observables including a pair of unsharp qubit observables. Finally, we also outline as to how our result provides an alternate approach to quantifying the incompatibility of a general set of quantum measurements.

arXiv:2011.11364•Nov 23, 2020•2 citations

Quantum realization of arbitrary joint measurability structures

Ravi Kunjwal, Chris Heunen, Tobias Fritz

In many a traditional physics textbook, a quantum measurement is defined as a projective measurement represented by a Hermitian operator. In quantum information theory, however, the concept of a measurement is dealt with in complete generality and we are therefore forced to confront the more general notion of positive-operator valued measures (POVMs), which suffice to describe all measurements that can be implemented in quantum experiments. We study the (in)compatibility of such POVMs and show that quantum theory realizes all possible (in)compatibility relations among sets of POVMs. This is in contrast to the restricted case of projective measurements for which commutativity is essentially equivalent to compatibility. Our result therefore points out a fundamental feature with respect to the (in)compatibility of quantum observables that has no analog in the case of projective measurements.

arXiv:1311.5948•Physical Review A•May 21, 2014•56 citations

On Operator Valued Measures

Darian McLaren, Sarah Plosker, Christopher Ramsey

We consider positive operator valued measures whose image is the bounded operators acting on an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space, and we relax, when possible, the usual assumption of positivity of the operator valued measure seen in the quantum information theory literature. We define the Radon-Nikodym derivative of a positive operator valued measure with respect to a complex measure induced by a given quantum state; this derivative does not always exist when the Hilbert space is infinite dimensional in so much as its range may include unbounded operators. We define integrability of a positive quantum random variable with respect to a positive operator valued measure. Emphasis is put on the structure of operator valued measures, and we develop positive operator valued versions of the Lebesque decomposition theorem and Johnson's atomic and nonatomic decomposition theorem. Beyond these generalizations, we make connections between absolute continuity and the "cleanness" relation defined on positive operator valued measures as well as to the notion of atomic and nonatomic measures.

arXiv:1801.00331•Dec 31, 2017•9 citations
The proof of a result analogous to that in Koelman and de Muynck [Phys. Lett. A 98, 1 (1983)] is given for the case of unbounded observables. If two, not necessarily bounded, observables are represented by a positive operator-valued measure, then the measurement of any of them is undisturbed if and only if they commute. The Naimark theorem on dilations of spectral functions is exploited. A stronger version of Wigner’s theorem is given.
Let F : ℬ(ℝ)→ℱ(ℋ) be a commutative positive operator-valued measure from the Borel σ-algebra of the reals to the space of bounded positive operators on the Hilbert space ℋ. It is well known that there exist a self-adjoint operator A and a Markov kernel μ(·)(λ) such that F(Δ) = μΔ(A), where Δ ∈ ℬ(ℝ). We prove that, for any Δ ∈ ℬ(ℝ), if F(Δ) is a discrete operator, then A is a linear combination of the moments of F. This result allows us to characterize the quantum observable represented by A by means of the Naimark dilation of F. The result is connected with the following properties of the sequences of linear functionals. Consider an infinite sequence of linear functionals {Ti}i ∈ ℕ, such that Tif = ∫ f(t) dμt(i), corresponding to an infinite sequence of probability measures {μ(·)(i)}i ∈ ℕ on the Borel σ-algebra ℬ([0, 1]) such that μ(·)(i) ≠ μ(·)(j), where i, j ∈ ℕ and i≠j. There exists a real bounded one-to-one continuous function f such that T i f = ∫ f ( t ) d μ t ( i ) ≠ ∫ f ( t ) d μ t ( j ) = T j f , i , j ∊ ℕ , i ≠ j .
Abstract After a short review of the main properties of unsharp observables we provide examples of commutative unsharp observables obtained as the projection of sharp observables. In particular, we consider a family of PVMs defined on the tensor product Hilbert space H ⊗ K which include the one introduced by Ozawa in his modification of the von Neumann position measurement model and show that their projections onto H are commutative POVMs. Then, we make some observations on the concept of Naimark dilation and its connections with the integral representation of commutative POVMs. Finally, we introduce a partial order relation in the set of Naimark dilations, show that there is a minimal element and that it is unique. Minimality is a consequence of the partial ordered structure and coincides with the usual definition of minimal Naimark dilation. In passing, we use Naimark’s theorem in order to prove some well known properties of positive operator valued measures.
We use Naimark's dilation theorem in order to characterize the joint measurability of two POVMs. Then, we analyze the joint measurability of two commutative POVMs F1F_1F1​ and F2F_2F2​ which are the smearing of two self-adjoint operators A1A_1A1​ and A2A_2A2​ respectively. We prove that the compatibility of F1F_1F1​ and F2F_2F2​ is connected to the existence of two compatible self-adjoint dilations A1+A_1^+A1+​ and A2+A_2^+A2+​ of A1A_1A1​ and A2A_2A2​ respectively. As a corollary we prove that each couple of self-adjoint operators can be dilated to a couple of compatible self-adjoint operators. Next, we analyze the joint measurability of the unsharp position and momentum observables and show that it provides a master example of the scheme we propose. Finally, we give a sufficient condition for the compatibility of two effects.
We obtain a formal characterization of the compatibility or otherwise of a set of positive-operator-valued measures (POVMs) via their Naimark extensions. We show that a set of POVMs is jointly measurable if and only if there exists a single Naimark extension, specified by a fixed ancilla state on the same ancilla Hilbert space, that maps them to a set of commuting projective measurements (PVMs). We use our result to obtain an easily checkable sufficient condition for the compatibility of a pair of dichotomic observables in any dimension. This in turn leads to a characterization of the compatibility regions for some important classes of observables including a pair of unsharp qubit observables. Finally, we also outline as to how our result provides an alternate approach to quantifying the incompatibility of a general set of quantum measurements.
In many a traditional physics textbook, a quantum measurement is defined as a projective measurement represented by a Hermitian operator. In quantum information theory, however, the concept of a measurement is dealt with in complete generality and we are therefore forced to confront the more general notion of positive-operator valued measures (POVMs), which suffice to describe all measurements that can be implemented in quantum experiments. We study the (in)compatibility of such POVMs and show that quantum theory realizes all possible (in)compatibility relations among sets of POVMs. This is in contrast to the restricted case of projective measurements for which commutativity is essentially equivalent to compatibility. Our result therefore points out a fundamental feature with respect to the (in)compatibility of quantum observables that has no analog in the case of projective measurements.
We consider positive operator valued measures whose image is the bounded operators acting on an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space, and we relax, when possible, the usual assumption of positivity of the operator valued measure seen in the quantum information theory literature. We define the Radon-Nikodym derivative of a positive operator valued measure with respect to a complex measure induced by a given quantum state; this derivative does not always exist when the Hilbert space is infinite dimensional in so much as its range may include unbounded operators. We define integrability of a positive quantum random variable with respect to a positive operator valued measure. Emphasis is put on the structure of operator valued measures, and we develop positive operator valued versions of the Lebesque decomposition theorem and Johnson's atomic and nonatomic decomposition theorem. Beyond these generalizations, we make connections between absolute continuity and the "cleanness" relation defined on positive operator valued measures as well as to the notion of atomic and nonatomic measures.