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

Two constructions of approximately symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measures

Xiwang Cao, Jiafu Mi, Shanding Xu

Published Jun 1, 2017• 13 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measures (SIC-POVMs) have many applications in quantum information. However, it is not easy to construct SIC-POVMs and there are only a few known classes of them, and we do not even know whether there exists an infinite class of them, thus constructing approximately symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measures (ASIC-POVMs) has its own meaning. In this paper, we use character sums over finite fields to present two constructions of ASIC-POVMs. We show that there are some classes of infinite families of ASIC-POVMs by using some special functions over finite fields.

DOI
10.1063/1.4985153

Related papers

Two new constructions of approximately symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measures

Wang Gang, Min-Yao Niu, Fang‐Wei Fu

A symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measure (SIC-POVM) is a POVM in [Formula: see text] consisting of [Formula: see text] positive operators of rank one such that all of whose Hermite inner products are equal. SIC-POVMs are important in quantum information theory, which have many applications in quantum state tomography, quantum cryptography and basic research in quantum mechanics. However, it is very difficult to construct SIC-POVMs. Therefore, many scholars have focused on approximately symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measures (ASIC-POVMs) for which the Hermite inner products are close to equal. In this paper, two new constructions of ASIC-POVMs are provided by using character sums and some special functions over finite fields.

International Journal of Quantum Information•Apr 1, 2019•1 citation

New constructions of approximately symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measures by character sums over Galois rings

Wang Gang, You Gao, Mingyue Xie +1 more

Abstract In quantum information theory, symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measures (SIC-POVMs) are related to quantum state tomography, quantum cryptography and foundational studies. It is difficult to construct SIC-POVMs and remains unknown whether SIC-POVMs exist for infinitely dimension. Therefore, researchers have proposed the solution to construct approximately symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measures (ASIC-POVMs). This paper proposes a construction of ASIC-POVMs using character sums over Galois rings. The dimension of this ASIC-POVMs is q-1, where q is a prime power. Also, our constructions include partial results about ASIC-POVMs constructed by X. Cao et al (X. Cao, J. Mi and S. Xu: Two constructions of approximately symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measures. J. Math. Phys., 58(6), 062201 (2017)). Mathematics Subject Classification (2020) 81P15 · 81P45

Quantum Information Processing•Feb 14, 2025•0 citations

Construction of $\varepsilon_{d}$-ASIC-POVMs via $2$-to-$1$ PN functions and the Li bound

Cao, Meng, Xiantao Deng

Symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measures (SIC-POVMs) in finite dimension $d$ are a particularly attractive case of informationally complete POVMs (IC-POVMs), which consist of $d^{2}$ subnormalized projectors with equal pairwise fidelity. However, it is difficult to construct SIC-POVMs, and it is not even clear whether there exists an infinite family of SIC-POVMs. To realize some possible applications in quantum information processing, Klappenecker et al. [37] introduced an approximate version of SIC-POVMs called approximately symmetric informationally complete POVMs (ASIC-POVMs). In this paper, we construct a class of $\varepsilon_{d}$-ASIC-POVMs in dimension $d=q$ and a class of $\varepsilon_{d}$-ASIC-POVMs in dimension $d=q+1$, respectively, where $q$ is a prime power. We prove that all $2$-to-$1$ perfect nonlinear (PN) functions can be used for constructing $\varepsilon_{q}$-ASIC-POVMs. We show that the set of vectors corresponding to the $\varepsilon_{q}$-ASIC-POVM forms a biangular frame. The construction of $\varepsilon_{q+1}$-ASIC-POVMs is based on a multiplicative character sum estimate called the Li bound. We show that the set of vectors corresponding to the $\varepsilon_{q+1}$-ASIC-POVM forms an asymptotically optimal codebook. We characterize "how close" the $\varepsilon_{q}$-ASIC-POVMs (resp. $\varepsilon_{q+1}$-ASIC-POVMs) are from being SIC-POVMs of dimension $q$ (resp. dimension $q+1$). Finally, we explain the significance of constructing $\varepsilon_{d}$-ASIC-POVMs.

arXiv:2310.06418•Oct 10, 2023•0 citations

Construction of all general symmetric informationally complete measurements

Gilad Gour, Amir Kalev

We construct the set of all general (i.e. not necessarily rank 1) symmetric informationally complete (SIC) positive operator valued measures (POVMs). In particular, we show that any orthonormal basis of a real vector space of dimension corresponds to some general SIC POVM and vice versa. Our constructed set of all general SIC POVMs contains weak SIC POVMs for which each POVM element can be made arbitrarily close to a multiple times the identity. On the other hand, it remains open if for all finite dimensions our constructed family contains a rank 1 SIC POVM.

Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical•Aug 4, 2014•104 citations

What Are the Minimal Conditions Required to Define a Symmetric Informationally Complete Generalized Measurement?

Isabelle Jianing Geng, Kimberly Golubeva, Gilad Gour

Symmetric informationally complete (SIC) positive operator valued measures (POVMs) are a class of quantum measurements which, in addition to being informationally complete, satisfy three conditions: (1) every POVM element is rank one, (2) the Hilbert-Schmidt inner product between any two distinct elements is constant, and (3) the trace of each element is constant. The third condition is often overlooked, since it may give the impression that it follows trivially from the second. We show that this condition cannot be removed, as it leads to two distinct values for the trace of an element of the POVM. This observation has led us to define a broader class of measurements which we call semi-SIC POVMs. In dimension two, we show that semi-SIC POVMs exist, and we construct the entire family. In higher dimensions, we characterize key properties and applications of semi-SIC POVMs, and note that the proof of their existence remains open.

arXiv:2007.10483•Physical Review Letters•Mar 8, 2021•18 citations

Operational Symmetric Informationally Complete Positive Operator-Valued Measures

Jake Lyons

In this work, we generalise an object that has proved interesting to both the pure and applied mathematician alike. Specifically, symmetric informationally complete positive operator valued measures (SIC-POVMs) were first encountered in the study finite tight frames, where they provide examples of complex equiangular tight frames. Then, the quantum information theory community discovered their own utility for these objects, for they provided a particularly useful example of a generalised measurement of a quantum system, a type of positive operator valued measure. In particular, they have proven useful to quantum state tomography and for probing quantum foundations. SIC-POVMs are collections of rank-one orthogonal projections acting on finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces and operational SIC-POVMs are their arbitrary rank counterparts. In this thesis, we cover necessary background on the standard quantum formalism, define SIC-POVMs and outline how they have been constructed up until this point via the orbit of the Weyl-Heisenberg group, which motivates Zauner’s conjecture. We go on to discuss generalised operational SIC-POVMs and give some new theorems that classify them. We then show that an infinite family of operational SIC-POVMs can be obtained via the representation theory of the symmetric group. Possibly shedding light on the unproven Zauner’s conjecture, we prove that an element of this infinite family cannot be generated via an orbit of the Weyl-Heisenberg group. We finish by describing the relation between these operational SIC-POVMs and Bell inequalities.

•Jul 14, 2026•0 citations
Symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measures (SIC-POVMs) have many applications in quantum information. However, it is not easy to construct SIC-POVMs and there are only a few known classes of them, and we do not even know whether there exists an infinite class of them, thus constructing approximately symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measures (ASIC-POVMs) has its own meaning. In this paper, we use character sums over finite fields to present two constructions of ASIC-POVMs. We show that there are some classes of infinite families of ASIC-POVMs by using some special functions over finite fields.
A symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measure (SIC-POVM) is a POVM in [Formula: see text] consisting of [Formula: see text] positive operators of rank one such that all of whose Hermite inner products are equal. SIC-POVMs are important in quantum information theory, which have many applications in quantum state tomography, quantum cryptography and basic research in quantum mechanics. However, it is very difficult to construct SIC-POVMs. Therefore, many scholars have focused on approximately symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measures (ASIC-POVMs) for which the Hermite inner products are close to equal. In this paper, two new constructions of ASIC-POVMs are provided by using character sums and some special functions over finite fields.
Abstract In quantum information theory, symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measures (SIC-POVMs) are related to quantum state tomography, quantum cryptography and foundational studies. It is difficult to construct SIC-POVMs and remains unknown whether SIC-POVMs exist for infinitely dimension. Therefore, researchers have proposed the solution to construct approximately symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measures (ASIC-POVMs). This paper proposes a construction of ASIC-POVMs using character sums over Galois rings. The dimension of this ASIC-POVMs is q-1, where q is a prime power. Also, our constructions include partial results about ASIC-POVMs constructed by X. Cao et al (X. Cao, J. Mi and S. Xu: Two constructions of approximately symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measures. J. Math. Phys., 58(6), 062201 (2017)). Mathematics Subject Classification (2020) 81P15 · 81P45
Construction of εd\varepsilon_{d}εd​-ASIC-POVMs via 222-to-111 PN functions and the Li bound
Symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measures (SIC-POVMs) in finite dimension ddd are a particularly attractive case of informationally complete POVMs (IC-POVMs), which consist of d2d^{2}d2 subnormalized projectors with equal pairwise fidelity. However, it is difficult to construct SIC-POVMs, and it is not even clear whether there exists an infinite family of SIC-POVMs. To realize some possible applications in quantum information processing, Klappenecker et al. [37] introduced an approximate version of SIC-POVMs called approximately symmetric informationally complete POVMs (ASIC-POVMs). In this paper, we construct a class of εd\varepsilon_{d}εd​-ASIC-POVMs in dimension d=qd=qd=q and a class of εd\varepsilon_{d}εd​-ASIC-POVMs in dimension d=q+1d=q+1d=q+1, respectively, where qqq is a prime power. We prove that all 222-to-111 perfect nonlinear (PN) functions can be used for constructing εq\varepsilon_{q}εq​-ASIC-POVMs. We show that the set of vectors corresponding to the εq\varepsilon_{q}εq​-ASIC-POVM forms a biangular frame. The construction of εq+1\varepsilon_{q+1}εq+1​-ASIC-POVMs is based on a multiplicative character sum estimate called the Li bound. We show that the set of vectors corresponding to the εq+1\varepsilon_{q+1}εq+1​-ASIC-POVM forms an asymptotically optimal codebook. We characterize "how close" the εq\varepsilon_{q}εq​-ASIC-POVMs (resp. εq+1\varepsilon_{q+1}εq+1​-ASIC-POVMs) are from being SIC-POVMs of dimension qqq (resp. dimension q+1q+1q+1). Finally, we explain the significance of constructing εd\varepsilon_{d}εd​-ASIC-POVMs.
We construct the set of all general (i.e. not necessarily rank 1) symmetric informationally complete (SIC) positive operator valued measures (POVMs). In particular, we show that any orthonormal basis of a real vector space of dimension corresponds to some general SIC POVM and vice versa. Our constructed set of all general SIC POVMs contains weak SIC POVMs for which each POVM element can be made arbitrarily close to a multiple times the identity. On the other hand, it remains open if for all finite dimensions our constructed family contains a rank 1 SIC POVM.
Symmetric informationally complete (SIC) positive operator valued measures (POVMs) are a class of quantum measurements which, in addition to being informationally complete, satisfy three conditions: (1) every POVM element is rank one, (2) the Hilbert-Schmidt inner product between any two distinct elements is constant, and (3) the trace of each element is constant. The third condition is often overlooked, since it may give the impression that it follows trivially from the second. We show that this condition cannot be removed, as it leads to two distinct values for the trace of an element of the POVM. This observation has led us to define a broader class of measurements which we call semi-SIC POVMs. In dimension two, we show that semi-SIC POVMs exist, and we construct the entire family. In higher dimensions, we characterize key properties and applications of semi-SIC POVMs, and note that the proof of their existence remains open.
In this work, we generalise an object that has proved interesting to both the pure and applied mathematician alike. Specifically, symmetric informationally complete positive operator valued measures (SIC-POVMs) were first encountered in the study finite tight frames, where they provide examples of complex equiangular tight frames. Then, the quantum information theory community discovered their own utility for these objects, for they provided a particularly useful example of a generalised measurement of a quantum system, a type of positive operator valued measure. In particular, they have proven useful to quantum state tomography and for probing quantum foundations. SIC-POVMs are collections of rank-one orthogonal projections acting on finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces and operational SIC-POVMs are their arbitrary rank counterparts. In this thesis, we cover necessary background on the standard quantum formalism, define SIC-POVMs and outline how they have been constructed up until this point via the orbit of the Weyl-Heisenberg group, which motivates Zauner’s conjecture. We go on to discuss generalised operational SIC-POVMs and give some new theorems that classify them. We then show that an infinite family of operational SIC-POVMs can be obtained via the representation theory of the symmetric group. Possibly shedding light on the unproven Zauner’s conjecture, we prove that an element of this infinite family cannot be generated via an orbit of the Weyl-Heisenberg group. We finish by describing the relation between these operational SIC-POVMs and Bell inequalities.