Systems of imprimitivity for the Clifford group

It is known that if the dimension is a perfect square the Clifford group can be represented by monomial matrices. Another way of expressing this result is to say that when the dimension is a perfect square the standard representation of the Clifford group has a system of imprimitivity consisting of one dimensional subspaces. We generalize this result to the case of an arbitrary dimension. Let k be the square-free part of the dimension. Then we show that the standard representation of the Clifford group has a system of imprimitivity consisting of $k$ -dimensional subspaces. To illustrate the use of this result we apply it to the calculation of SIC-POVMs (symmetric informationally complete positive operator valued measures), constructing exact solutions in dimensions 8 (hand-calculation) as well as 12 and 28 (machine-calculation).It is known that if the dimension is a perfect square the Clifford group can be represented by monomial matrices. Another way of expressing this result is to say that when the dimension is a perfect square the standard representation of the Clifford group has a system of imprimitivity consisting of one dimensional subspaces. We generalize this result to the case of an arbitrary dimension. Let k be the square-free part of the dimension. Then we show that the standard representation of the Clifford group has a system of imprimitivity consisting of $k$-dimensional subspaces. To illustrate the use of this result we apply it to the calculation of SIC-POVMs (symmetric informationally complete positive operator valued measures), constructing exact solutions in dimensions 8 (hand-calculation) as well as 12 and 28 (machine-calculation).

arXiv:1210.1055Quantum Information and ComputationMar 1, 201410 citations

On SIC-POVMs in Prime Dimensions

Steven T. Flammia

The generalized Pauli group and its normalizer, the Clifford group, have a rich mathematical structure which is relevant to the problem of constructing symmetric informationally complete POVMs (SIC-POVMs). To date, every known SIC-POVM fiducial vector is an eigenstate of an order 3 unitary in the Clifford group. I show that every order 3 unitary in prime dimensions p > 3 lies in the same conjugacy class of the Clifford group and construct a class representative for all such dimensions. It follows that if even one such SIC-POVM fiducial vector is an eigenvector of such a unitary, then all of them are (for a given such dimension). I also conjecture that in all dimensions d, the number of conjugacy classes is bounded above by 3 and depends only on d mod 9, and I support this claim with numerical evidence.The generalized Pauli group and its normalizer, the Clifford group, have a rich mathematical structure which is relevant to the problem of constructing symmetric informationally complete POVMs (SIC-POVMs). To date, every known SIC-POVM fiducial vector is an eigenstate of an order 3 unitary in the Clifford group. I show that every order 3 unitary in prime dimensions p > 3 lies in the same conjugacy class of the Clifford group and construct a class representative for all such dimensions. It follows that if even one such SIC-POVM fiducial vector is an eigenvector of such a unitary, then all of them are (for a given such dimension). I also conjecture that in all dimensions d, the number of conjugacy classes is bounded above by 3 and depends only on d mod 9, and I support this claim with numerical evidence.

May 4, 200645 citations

On SIC-POVMs in prime dimensions

Steven T. Flammia

The generalized Pauli group and its normalizer, the Clifford group, have a rich mathematical structure which is relevant to the problem of constructing symmetric informationally complete POVMs (SIC-POVMs). To date, almost every known SIC-POVM fiducial vector is an eigenstate of a ‘canonical’ unitary in the Clifford group. I show that every canonical unitary in prime dimensions p > 3 lies in the same conjugacy class of the Clifford group and give a class representative for all such dimensions. It follows that if even one such SIC-POVM fiducial vector is an eigenvector of such a unitary, then all of them are (for a given such dimension). I also conjecture that in all dimensions d , the number of conjugacy classes is bounded above by 3 and depends only on d mod9, and I support this claim with computer computations in all dimensions <48.The generalized Pauli group and its normalizer, the Clifford group, have a rich mathematical structure which is relevant to the problem of constructing symmetric informationally complete POVMs (SIC-POVMs). To date, almost every known SIC-POVM fiducial vector is an eigenstate of a ‘canonical’ unitary in the Clifford group. I show that every canonical unitary in prime dimensions p > 3 lies in the same conjugacy class of the Clifford group and give a class representative for all such dimensions. It follows that if even one such SIC-POVM fiducial vector is an eigenvector of such a unitary, then all of them are (for a given such dimension). I also conjecture that in all dimensions d , the number of conjugacy classes is bounded above by 3 and depends only on d mod9, and I support this claim with computer computations in all dimensions <48.

arXiv:quant-ph/0605050Journal of Physics A Mathematical and GeneralOct 10, 200650 citations

A remarkable representation of the Clifford group

Ingemar Bengtsson

The finite Heisenberg group knows when the dimension of Hilbert space is a square number. Remarkably, it then admits a representation such that the entire Clifford group --- the automorphism group of the Heisenberg group --- is represented by monomial phase-permutation matrices. This has a beneficial influence on the amount of calculation that must be done to find Symmetric Informationally Complete POVMs. I make some comments on the equations obeyed by the absolute values of the components of the SIC vectors, and on the fact that the representation partly suggests a preferred tensor product structure.The finite Heisenberg group knows when the dimension of Hilbert space is a square number. Remarkably, it then admits a representation such that the entire Clifford group --- the automorphism group of the Heisenberg group --- is represented by monomial phase-permutation matrices. This has a beneficial influence on the amount of calculation that must be done to find Symmetric Informationally Complete POVMs. I make some comments on the equations obeyed by the absolute values of the components of the SIC vectors, and on the fact that the representation partly suggests a preferred tensor product structure.

arXiv:1202.3559Feb 16, 20120 citations

A remarkable representation of the Clifford group

Ingemar Bengtsson, Andrei Yu. Khrennikov, Gregg S. Jaeger +2 more

The finite Heisenberg group knows when the dimension of Hilbert space is a square number. Remarkably, it then admits a representation such that the entire Clifford group—the automorphism group of the Heisenberg group—is represented by monomial phase‐permutation matrices. This has a beneficial influence on the amount of calculation that must be done to find Symmetric Informationally Complete POVMs. I make some comments on the equations obeyed by the absolute values of the components of the SIC vectors, and on the fact that the representation partly suggests a preferred tensor product structure.The finite Heisenberg group knows when the dimension of Hilbert space is a square number. Remarkably, it then admits a representation such that the entire Clifford group—the automorphism group of the Heisenberg group—is represented by monomial phase‐permutation matrices. This has a beneficial influence on the amount of calculation that must be done to find Symmetric Informationally Complete POVMs. I make some comments on the equations obeyed by the absolute values of the components of the SIC vectors, and on the fact that the representation partly suggests a preferred tensor product structure.

AIP conference proceedingsJan 1, 20111 citation

Symmetric informationally complete–positive operator valued measures and the extended Clifford group

D. M. Appleby

We describe the structure of the extended Clifford group [defined to be the group consisting of all operators, unitary and antiunitary, which normalize the generalized Pauli group (or Weyl–Heisenberg group as it is often called)]. We also obtain a number of results concerning the structure of the Clifford group proper (i.e., the group consisting just of the unitary operators which normalize the generalized Pauli group). We then investigate the action of the extended Clifford group operators on symmetric informationally complete–positive operator valued measures (or SIC–POVMs) covariant relative to the action of the generalized Pauli group. We show that each of the fiducial vectors which has been constructed so far (including all the vectors constructed numerically by Renes et al.) is an eigenvector of one of a special class of order 3 Clifford unitaries. This suggests a strengthening of a conjecture of Zauner’s. We give a complete characterization of the orbits and stability groups in dimensions 2–7. Finally, we show that the problem of constructing fiducial vectors may be expected to simplify in the infinite sequence of dimensions 7,13,19,21,31,… . We illustrate this point by constructing exact expressions for fiducial vectors in dimensions 7 and 19.We describe the structure of the extended Clifford group [defined to be the group consisting of all operators, unitary and antiunitary, which normalize the generalized Pauli group (or Weyl–Heisenberg group as it is often called)]. We also obtain a number of results concerning the structure of the Clifford group proper (i.e., the group consisting just of the unitary operators which normalize the generalized Pauli group). We then investigate the action of the extended Clifford group operators on symmetric informationally complete–positive operator valued measures (or SIC–POVMs) covariant relative to the action of the generalized Pauli group. We show that each of the fiducial vectors which has been constructed so far (including all the vectors constructed numerically by Renes et al.) is an eigenvector of one of a special class of order 3 Clifford unitaries. This suggests a strengthening of a conjecture of Zauner’s. We give a complete characterization of the orbits and stability groups in dimensions 2–7. Finally, we show that the problem of constructing fiducial vectors may be expected to simplify in the infinite sequence of dimensions 7,13,19,21,31,… . We illustrate this point by constructing exact expressions for fiducial vectors in dimensions 7 and 19.

arXiv:quant-ph/0412001Journal of Mathematical PhysicsApr 15, 2005304 citations

k

-dimensional subspaces. To illustrate the use of this result we apply it to the calculation of SIC-POVMs (symmetric informationally complete positive operator valued measures), constructing exact solutions in dimensions 8 (hand-calculation) as well as 12 and 28 (machine-calculation).