On the infimum problem of Hilbert space effects

Yuan Li, Hong-Ke Du

The quantum effects for a physical system can be described by the set E(H) of positive operators on a complex Hilbert space H that are bounded above by the identity operator I. The infimum problem of Hilbert space effects is to find under what condition the infimum A∧B exists for two quantum effects A and B∊E(H). The problem has been studied in different contexts by Kadison, Gudder, Moreland, and Ando. In this Note, using the method of the spectral theory of operators, we give a affirmative answer of a conjecture of [S. Gudder, J. Math. Phys. 37, 2637–2642 (1996)]. In addition, some properties of generalized infimum A⨅B were considered.

Timothy J. Moreland, Stanley Gudder

Roberto Giuntini, Antonio Ledda, Francesco Paoli

Aurelian Gheondea, Stanley Gudder, Peter Jonas

The quantum effects for a physical system can be described by the set E(H) of positive operators on a complex Hilbert space H that are bounded above by the identity operator. While a general effect may be unsharp, the collection of sharp effects is described by the set of orthogonal projections P(H)⊆E(H). Under the natural order, E(H) becomes a partially ordered set that is not a lattice if dimH⩾2. A physically significant and useful characterization of the pairs A,B∊E(H) such that the infimum A∧B exists is called the infimum problem. We show that A∧P exists for all A∊E(H), P∊P(H) and give an explicit expression for A∧P. We also give a characterization of when A∧(I−A) exists in terms of the location of the spectrum of A. We present a counterexample which shows that a recent conjecture concerning the infimum problem is false. Finally, we compare our results with the work of Ando on the infimum problem.

Anil Kumar Karn

Yuan Li, Xiu-Hong Sun, Zhengli Chen

The quantum effects for a physical system can be described by the set E(H) of positive operators on a complex Hilbert space H that are bounded above by the identity operator I. For A, B∊E(H), the operation of sequential product A∘B=A1∕2BA1∕2 was proposed as a model for sequential quantum measurements. A nice investigation of properties of the sequential product has been carried over [Gudder, S. and Nagy, G., “Sequential quantum measurements,” J. Math. Phys. 42, 5212 (2001)]. In this note, we extend some results of this reference. In particular, a gap in the proof of Theorem 3.2 in this reference is overcome. In addition, some properties of generalized infimum A⨅B are studied.