Optimal commuting approximation of Hermitian operators

E. V. Damaskinskii, Vladimir Sergeevich Yarunin

Joshua M. Courtney

Multivariate quantum signal processing (M-QSP) has recently been shown to be applicable for non-Hermitian Hamiltonian simulation, opening several problems regarding the optimization landscape, angle-finding, and constant-factor analysis. We resolve several of these problems here. We find the anti-Hermitian query complexity $d_I = Θ(\betaI T + \log(1/\varepsilon)/\log\log(1/\varepsilon))$ to be tight, established via Chebyshev coefficient bounds, modified Bessel function asymptotics, and Lambert~$W$ inversion. Fast-forwarding to $d_I = \mathcal{O}(\sqrt{\betaI T})$ is impossible in the bivariate polynomial model, though a linear state-dependent improvement to $d_I = \mathcal{O} β_{\mathrm{eff}} T + \log(1/\varepsilon)/\log\log(1/\varepsilon))$ is achievable. The optimization landscape of M-QSP admits spurious local minima, but a warm-start basin guarantee ensures the two-stage algorithm converges. CRC-exploiting block peeling reduces angle-finding from $\mathcal{O}(d^3)$ to $\mathcal{O}(d^2)$ classical operations, and optimized error allocation yields a leading constant of approximately~$2$ relative to the information-theoretic lower bound. A constant-ratio condition extends to non-identical signal operators, enabling time-dependent non-Hermitian simulation with query complexity $\mathcal{O}(\int_0^T(\alphaR(s) + \betaI(s))\,ds + \log(1/\varepsilon)/\log\log(1/\varepsilon))$. Block-encoding overhead $e^{-2\betaI T}$ holds across all function classes within the walk-operator oracle model, and dilational methods (Schrödingerization) achieve the walk-operator barrier. A precisely characterized direct-access construction achieves the intrinsic barrier $e^{-2ωT}$ (with $ω< \betaI$ for non-commuting Hamiltonians) on a restricted domain, though extension to the full bitorus remains open.

Stephen Mark Barnett, David Thomas Pegg

It has long been believed that no Hermitian optical phase operator exists. However, such an operator can be constructed from the phase states. We demonstrate that its properties are precisely in accord with the results of semiclassical and phenomenological approaches when such approximate methods are valid. We find that the number-phase commutator differs from that originally postulated by Dirac. This difference allows the consistent use of the commutator for inherently quantum states. It also leads to the correct periodic phase behaviour of the Poisson bracket in the classical regime.

M. L. Arroyo Carrasco, H. M. Moya-Cessa

It is shown that, departing from Dirac's intensity - phase commutator, a Hermitian operator can be found, conjugate to the number operator, N. We also show that this operator is equivalent to that given by Turski.