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

Role of information theoretic uncertainty relations in quantum theory

Petr Jizba B, Jacob Dunningham, Jaewoo Joo

Published Apr 1, 2015• 35 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Uncertainty relations based on information theory for both discrete and continuous distribution functions are briefly reviewed. We extend these results to account for (differential) Rényi entropy and its related entropy power. This allows us to find a new class of information-theoretic uncertainty relations (ITURs). The potency of such uncertainty relations in quantum mechanics is illustrated with a simple two-energy-level model where they outperform both the usual Robertson–Schrödinger uncertainty relation and Shannon entropy based uncertainty relation. In the continuous case the ensuing entropy power uncertainty relations are discussed in the context of heavy tailed wave functions and Schrödinger cat states. Again, improvement over both the Robertson–Schrödinger uncertainty principle and Shannon ITUR is demonstrated in these cases. Further salient issues such as the proof of a generalized entropy power inequality and a geometric picture of information-theoretic uncertainty relations are also discussed.

Related papers

New class of entropy-power-based uncertainty relations

Petr Jizba B, A Hayes, Jacob Dunningham

We use the concept of entropy power to introduce a new one-parameter class of information-theoretic uncertainty relations. This class constitutes an infinite hierarchy of uncertainty relations, which allows to determine the shape of the underlying information-distribution function by measuring the relevant entropy powers. The efficiency of such uncertainty relations in quantum mechanics is illustrated with two examples: superpositions of two squeezed states and the Lévy-type heavy-tailed wave function. Improvement over both the variance-based and Shannon entropy based uncertainty relations is demonstrated in both these cases.

Journal of Physics Conference Series•Aug 1, 2017•1 citation

Entropy-power uncertainty relations: towards a tight inequality for all Gaussian pure states

Anaelle Hertz, Michael G Jabbour, Nicolas J. Cerf

Abstract We show that a proper expression of the uncertainty relation for a pair of canonically-conjugate continuous variables relies on entropy power, a standard notion in Shannon information theory for real-valued signals. The resulting entropy-power uncertainty relation is equivalent to the entropic formulation of the uncertainty relation due to Bialynicki-Birula and Mycielski, but can be further extended to rotated variables. Hence, based on a reasonable assumption, we give a partial proof of a tighter form of the entropy-power uncertainty relation taking correlations into account and provide extensive numerical evidence of its validity. Interestingly, it implies the generalized (rotation-invariant) Schrödinger–Robertson uncertainty relation exactly as the original entropy-power uncertainty relation implies Heisenberg relation. It is saturated for all Gaussian pure states, in contrast with hitherto known entropic formulations of the uncertainty principle.

arXiv:1702.07286•Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical•Aug 9, 2017•18 citations

Uncertainty relations in terms of generalized entropies derived from information diagrams

Alexey E. Rastegin

Abstract Entropic uncertainty relations are studied from the conceptual viewpoint and in the context of various applications. Providing as tight inequalities as possible is thus an important issue. Measurements of special types are indispensable in quantum information science. Their structure allows us to estimate the index of coincidence. Uncertainty relations follow an estimation of entropies at the given index of coincidence. Relations of such a kind are a known issue in information theory. It concerns links between different information measures. Information diagrams are a tool to study relations between two utilized characteristics. A search for improved inequalities uses the index of coincidence as the abscissa and the entropy of interest as the ordinate. This approach before dealt with standard information functions assigned to the Shannon entropy. But generalized entropies often reveal new links between information measures. This paper applies the method of information diagrams to the Rényi and Tsallis entropies. Such entropies and related information functions have found use in quantum information theory. Improved estimates of the Tsallis and Rényi entropies at the given index of coincidence are obtained. Hence, new entropic uncertainty relations for specific types of measurements follow. They include mutually unbiased bases, symmetric informationally complete measurements, and equiangular tight frames.

arXiv:2305.18005•Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical•Jul 3, 2025•10 citations

From Rényi Entropy Power to Information Scan of Quantum States

Petr Jizba B, Jacob Dunningham, Martin Prokš

In this paper, we generalize the notion of Shannon's entropy power to the Rényi-entropy setting. With this, we propose generalizations of the de Bruijn identity, isoperimetric inequality, or Stam inequality. This framework not only allows for finding new estimation inequalities, but it also provides a convenient technical framework for the derivation of a one-parameter family of Rényi-entropy-power-based quantum-mechanical uncertainty relations. To illustrate the usefulness of the Rényi entropy power obtained, we show how the information probability distribution associated with a quantum state can be reconstructed in a process that is akin to quantum-state tomography. We illustrate the inner workings of this with the so-called "cat states", which are of fundamental interest and practical use in schemes such as quantum metrology. Salient issues, including the extension of the notion of entropy power to Tsallis entropy and ensuing implications in estimation theory, are also briefly discussed.

arXiv:2102.09415•Entropy•Mar 12, 2021•6 citations

Uncertainty relations: a small zoo of remarkable inequalities discovered since 1927

V. V. Dodonov

A concise review of various mathematical formulations of the uncertainty relations in quantum mechanics discovered since 1927 is given. Besides the traditional Heisenberg inequality, the modifications made by Schrödinger and Robertson, as well as generalizations to sets of several noncommuting operators, are considered. The "entropic" inequalities and "local" uncertainty relations, together with inequalities which connect the so-called total width and the mean peak width of a wave function, are discussed. Inequalities for the products of higher order moments of the coordinate and momentum are presented. Inequalities making the uncertainty relations more accurate when the "purity" of a quantum state is fixed are demonstrated. Diverse formulations of the energy-time uncertainty relations are considered.

quant-pharXiv:2603.07293•Revista Brasileira de Ensino de Física•Mar 10, 2026•1 citation

Continuous-variable entropic uncertainty relations

Anaelle Hertz, Nicolas J. Cerf

Abstract Uncertainty relations are central to quantum physics. While they were originally formulated in terms of variances, they have later been successfully expressed with entropies following the advent of Shannon information theory. Here, we review recent results on entropic uncertainty relations involving continuous variables, such as position x and momentum p . This includes the generalization to arbitrary (not necessarily canonically-conjugate) variables as well as entropic uncertainty relations that take x - p correlations into account and admit all Gaussian pure states as minimum uncertainty states. We emphasize that these continuous-variable uncertainty relations can be conveniently reformulated in terms of entropy power, a central quantity in the information-theoretic description of random signals, which makes a bridge with variance-based uncertainty relations. In this review, we take the quantum optics viewpoint and consider uncertainties on the amplitude and phase quadratures of the electromagnetic field, which are isomorphic to x and p , but the formalism applies to all such variables (and linear combinations thereof) regardless of their physical meaning. Then, in the second part of this paper, we move on to new results and introduce a tighter entropic uncertainty relation for two arbitrary vectors of intercommuting continuous variables that takes correlations into account. It is proven conditionally on reasonable assumptions. Finally, we present some conjectures for new entropic uncertainty relations involving more than two continuous variables.

arXiv:1809.01052•Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical•Feb 1, 2019•76 citations
Uncertainty relations based on information theory for both discrete and continuous distribution functions are briefly reviewed. We extend these results to account for (differential) Rényi entropy and its related entropy power. This allows us to find a new class of information-theoretic uncertainty relations (ITURs). The potency of such uncertainty relations in quantum mechanics is illustrated with a simple two-energy-level model where they outperform both the usual Robertson–Schrödinger uncertainty relation and Shannon entropy based uncertainty relation. In the continuous case the ensuing entropy power uncertainty relations are discussed in the context of heavy tailed wave functions and Schrödinger cat states. Again, improvement over both the Robertson–Schrödinger uncertainty principle and Shannon ITUR is demonstrated in these cases. Further salient issues such as the proof of a generalized entropy power inequality and a geometric picture of information-theoretic uncertainty relations are also discussed.
We use the concept of entropy power to introduce a new one-parameter class of information-theoretic uncertainty relations. This class constitutes an infinite hierarchy of uncertainty relations, which allows to determine the shape of the underlying information-distribution function by measuring the relevant entropy powers. The efficiency of such uncertainty relations in quantum mechanics is illustrated with two examples: superpositions of two squeezed states and the Lévy-type heavy-tailed wave function. Improvement over both the variance-based and Shannon entropy based uncertainty relations is demonstrated in both these cases.
Abstract We show that a proper expression of the uncertainty relation for a pair of canonically-conjugate continuous variables relies on entropy power, a standard notion in Shannon information theory for real-valued signals. The resulting entropy-power uncertainty relation is equivalent to the entropic formulation of the uncertainty relation due to Bialynicki-Birula and Mycielski, but can be further extended to rotated variables. Hence, based on a reasonable assumption, we give a partial proof of a tighter form of the entropy-power uncertainty relation taking correlations into account and provide extensive numerical evidence of its validity. Interestingly, it implies the generalized (rotation-invariant) Schrödinger–Robertson uncertainty relation exactly as the original entropy-power uncertainty relation implies Heisenberg relation. It is saturated for all Gaussian pure states, in contrast with hitherto known entropic formulations of the uncertainty principle.
Abstract Entropic uncertainty relations are studied from the conceptual viewpoint and in the context of various applications. Providing as tight inequalities as possible is thus an important issue. Measurements of special types are indispensable in quantum information science. Their structure allows us to estimate the index of coincidence. Uncertainty relations follow an estimation of entropies at the given index of coincidence. Relations of such a kind are a known issue in information theory. It concerns links between different information measures. Information diagrams are a tool to study relations between two utilized characteristics. A search for improved inequalities uses the index of coincidence as the abscissa and the entropy of interest as the ordinate. This approach before dealt with standard information functions assigned to the Shannon entropy. But generalized entropies often reveal new links between information measures. This paper applies the method of information diagrams to the Rényi and Tsallis entropies. Such entropies and related information functions have found use in quantum information theory. Improved estimates of the Tsallis and Rényi entropies at the given index of coincidence are obtained. Hence, new entropic uncertainty relations for specific types of measurements follow. They include mutually unbiased bases, symmetric informationally complete measurements, and equiangular tight frames.
In this paper, we generalize the notion of Shannon's entropy power to the Rényi-entropy setting. With this, we propose generalizations of the de Bruijn identity, isoperimetric inequality, or Stam inequality. This framework not only allows for finding new estimation inequalities, but it also provides a convenient technical framework for the derivation of a one-parameter family of Rényi-entropy-power-based quantum-mechanical uncertainty relations. To illustrate the usefulness of the Rényi entropy power obtained, we show how the information probability distribution associated with a quantum state can be reconstructed in a process that is akin to quantum-state tomography. We illustrate the inner workings of this with the so-called "cat states", which are of fundamental interest and practical use in schemes such as quantum metrology. Salient issues, including the extension of the notion of entropy power to Tsallis entropy and ensuing implications in estimation theory, are also briefly discussed.
A concise review of various mathematical formulations of the uncertainty relations in quantum mechanics discovered since 1927 is given. Besides the traditional Heisenberg inequality, the modifications made by Schrödinger and Robertson, as well as generalizations to sets of several noncommuting operators, are considered. The "entropic" inequalities and "local" uncertainty relations, together with inequalities which connect the so-called total width and the mean peak width of a wave function, are discussed. Inequalities for the products of higher order moments of the coordinate and momentum are presented. Inequalities making the uncertainty relations more accurate when the "purity" of a quantum state is fixed are demonstrated. Diverse formulations of the energy-time uncertainty relations are considered.
Abstract Uncertainty relations are central to quantum physics. While they were originally formulated in terms of variances, they have later been successfully expressed with entropies following the advent of Shannon information theory. Here, we review recent results on entropic uncertainty relations involving continuous variables, such as position x and momentum p . This includes the generalization to arbitrary (not necessarily canonically-conjugate) variables as well as entropic uncertainty relations that take x - p correlations into account and admit all Gaussian pure states as minimum uncertainty states. We emphasize that these continuous-variable uncertainty relations can be conveniently reformulated in terms of entropy power, a central quantity in the information-theoretic description of random signals, which makes a bridge with variance-based uncertainty relations. In this review, we take the quantum optics viewpoint and consider uncertainties on the amplitude and phase quadratures of the electromagnetic field, which are isomorphic to x and p , but the formalism applies to all such variables (and linear combinations thereof) regardless of their physical meaning. Then, in the second part of this paper, we move on to new results and introduce a tighter entropic uncertainty relation for two arbitrary vectors of intercommuting continuous variables that takes correlations into account. It is proven conditionally on reasonable assumptions. Finally, we present some conjectures for new entropic uncertainty relations involving more than two continuous variables.