We present a new one-parameter family of extremal positive maps on the three-dimensional matrix algebra. The new elements are characterized as mappings that preserve a one-dimensional orthogonal projector.
A Class of Extremal Positive Maps in 3×3 Matrix Algebras
A new method of analysing positive bistochastic maps on the algebra of complex matrices [Formula: see text] has been proposed. By identifying the set of such maps with a convex set of linear operators on [Formula: see text], one can employ techniques from the theory of compact semigroups to obtain results concerning asymptotic properties of positive maps. It turns out that the idempotent elements play a crucial role in classifying the convex set into subsets, in which representations of extremal positive maps are to be found. It has been shown that all positive bistochastic maps, extremal in the set of all positive maps of [Formula: see text], that are not Jordan isomorphisms of [Formula: see text] are represented by matrices that fall into two possible categories, determined by the simplest idempotent matrices: one by the zero matrix, and the other by a one-dimensional orthogonal projection. Some norm conditions for matrices representing possible extremal maps have been specified and examples of maps from both categories have been brought up, based on the results published previously.
We present a general characterization of k-positivity for a positive map in terms of the estimation of the Ky Fan norm of the matrix constructed from the Kraus operators of the associated completely positive map. Combining this with the result given by Takasaki and Tomiyama we construct a family of positive maps between matrix algebras of different dimensions depending on a parameter. The estimate bounds on the parameter to obtain the k-positivity are better than those derived from the spectral conditions considered by Chruściński and Kossakowski. We further look with special attention at the case where we give the precise bound for the regions of decomposability.