Consider a joint quantum state of a system and its environment. A measurement on the environment induces a decomposition of the system state. Using algorithmic information theory, we define the preparation information of a pure or mixed state in a given decomposition. We then define an optimal decomposition as a decomposition for which the average preparation information is minimal. The average preparation information for an optimal decomposition characterizes the system–environment correlations. We discuss properties and applications of the concepts introduced above and give several examples.Consider a joint quantum state of a system and its environment. A measurement on the environment induces a decomposition of the system state. Using algorithmic information theory, we define the preparation information of a pure or mixed state in a given decomposition. We then define an optimal decomposition as a decomposition for which the average preparation information is minimal. The average preparation information for an optimal decomposition characterizes the system–environment correlations. We discuss properties and applications of the concepts introduced above and give several examples.

arXiv:quant-ph/0002027Journal of Modern OpticsOct 1, 20004 citations

Average quantum coherence of pure-state decomposition

Ming‐Jing Zhao, Teng Ma, Rajesh Pereira

We study the average quantum coherence over the pure state decompositions of a mixed quantum state. An upper bound of the average quantum coherence is provided, and sufficient conditions for the saturation of the upper bound are shown. These sufficient conditions always hold for two- and three-dimensional systems. This provides a tool to estimate the average coherence experimentally by measuring only the diagonal elements, which remarkably requires less measurements compared with state tomography. We then describe the pure state decompositions of the qubit state in the Bloch sphere geometrically. For any given qubit state, the optimal pure state decomposition achieving the maximal average quantum coherence as well as three other pure state decompositions are shown in the Bloch sphere. The order relations among their average quantum coherence are invariant for any coherence measure. The results presented in this paper are universal and suitable for all coherence measures.We study the average quantum coherence over the pure state decompositions of a mixed quantum state. An upper bound of the average quantum coherence is provided, and sufficient conditions for the saturation of the upper bound are shown. These sufficient conditions always hold for two- and three-dimensional systems. This provides a tool to estimate the average coherence experimentally by measuring only the diagonal elements, which remarkably requires less measurements compared with state tomography. We then describe the pure state decompositions of the qubit state in the Bloch sphere geometrically. For any given qubit state, the optimal pure state decomposition achieving the maximal average quantum coherence as well as three other pure state decompositions are shown in the Bloch sphere. The order relations among their average quantum coherence are invariant for any coherence measure. The results presented in this paper are universal and suitable for all coherence measures.

arXiv:2105.02382Physical Review AApr 29, 20217 citations

Two-qubit correlations revisited: average mutual information, relevant (and useful) observables and an application to remote state preparation

Paolo Giorda, Michele Allegra

Abstract Understanding how correlations can be used for quantum communication protocols is a central goal of quantum information science. While many authors have linked the global measures of correlations such as entanglement or discord to the performance of specific protocols, in general the latter may require only correlations between specific observables. In this work, we first introduce a general measure of correlations for two-qubit states, based on the classical mutual information between local observables. Our measure depends on the state’s purity and the symmetry in the correlation distribution, according to which we provide a classification of maximally mixed marginal states (MMMS). We discuss the complementarity relation between correlations and coherence. By focusing on a simple yet paradigmatic example, i.e. the remote state preparation protocol, we introduce a method to systematically define the proper protocol-tailored measures of the correlations. The method is based on the identification of those correlations that are relevant (useful) for the protocol. On the one hand, the approach allows the role of the symmetry of the correlation distribution to be discussed in determining the efficiency of the protocol, both for MMMS and general two-qubit quantum states, and on the other hand, it allows an optimized protocol for non-MMMS to be devised, which is more efficient with respect to the standard one. Overall, our findings clarify how the key resources in simple communication protocols are the purity of the state used and the symmetry of the correlation distribution.Abstract Understanding how correlations can be used for quantum communication protocols is a central goal of quantum information science. While many authors have linked the global measures of correlations such as entanglement or discord to the performance of specific protocols, in general the latter may require only correlations between specific observables. In this work, we first introduce a general measure of correlations for two-qubit states, based on the classical mutual information between local observables. Our measure depends on the state’s purity and the symmetry in the correlation distribution, according to which we provide a classification of maximally mixed marginal states (MMMS). We discuss the complementarity relation between correlations and coherence. By focusing on a simple yet paradigmatic example, i.e. the remote state preparation protocol, we introduce a method to systematically define the proper protocol-tailored measures of the correlations. The method is based on the identification of those correlations that are relevant (useful) for the protocol. On the one hand, the approach allows the role of the symmetry of the correlation distribution to be discussed in determining the efficiency of the protocol, both for MMMS and general two-qubit quantum states, and on the other hand, it allows an optimized protocol for non-MMMS to be devised, which is more efficient with respect to the standard one. Overall, our findings clarify how the key resources in simple communication protocols are the purity of the state used and the symmetry of the correlation distribution.

arXiv:1606.02197Journal of Physics A Mathematical and TheoreticalMay 3, 201710 citations

A necessary and sufficient condition for optimal decompositions

T. Prager

An important measure of bipartite entanglement is the entanglement of formation, which is defined as the minimum average pure state entanglement of all decompositions realizing a given state. A decomposition which achieves this minimum is called an optimal decomposition. However, as for the entanglement of formation, there is not much known about the structure of such optimal decompositions, except for some special cases, like states of two qubits or isotropic states. Here we present a necessary and sufficient condition for a set of pure states of a finite dimensional bipartite system to form an optimal decomposition. This condition is well suited to treat the question, whether the entanglement of formation is additive or not.An important measure of bipartite entanglement is the entanglement of formation, which is defined as the minimum average pure state entanglement of all decompositions realizing a given state. A decomposition which achieves this minimum is called an optimal decomposition. However, as for the entanglement of formation, there is not much known about the structure of such optimal decompositions, except for some special cases, like states of two qubits or isotropic states. Here we present a necessary and sufficient condition for a set of pure states of a finite dimensional bipartite system to form an optimal decomposition. This condition is well suited to treat the question, whether the entanglement of formation is additive or not.

arXiv:quant-ph/0106030Jun 6, 20011 citation

Entanglement of Formation of an Arbitrary State of Two Qubits

William K. Wootters

The entanglement of a pure state of a pair of quantum systems is defined as the entropy of either member of the pair. The entanglement of formation of a mixed state $\ensuremath{\rho}$ is the minimum average entanglement of an ensemble of pure states that represents \ensuremath{\rho}. An earlier paper conjectured an explicit formula for the entanglement of formation of a pair of binary quantum objects (qubits) as a function of their density matrix, and proved the formula for special states. The present paper extends the proof to arbitrary states of this system and shows how to construct entanglement-minimizing decompositions.The entanglement of a pure state of a pair of quantum systems is defined as the entropy of either member of the pair. The entanglement of formation of a mixed state $\ensuremath{\rho}$ is the minimum average entanglement of an ensemble of pure states that represents \ensuremath{\rho}. An earlier paper conjectured an explicit formula for the entanglement of formation of a pair of binary quantum objects (qubits) as a function of their density matrix, and proved the formula for special states. The present paper extends the proof to arbitrary states of this system and shows how to construct entanglement-minimizing decompositions.

arXiv:quant-ph/9709029Physical Review LettersMar 9, 19988,283 citations

General Mixed-State Quantum Data Compression With and Without Entanglement Assistance

Zahra Baghali Khanian, Andreas Winter

We consider the most general finite-dimensional quantum mechanical information source, which is given by a quantum system $A$ that is correlated with a reference system $R$ . The task is to compress $A$ in such a way as to reproduce the joint source state $\rho ^{AR}$ at the decoder with asymptotically high fidelity. This includes Schumacher’s original quantum source coding problem of a pure state ensemble and that of a single pure entangled state, as well as general mixed state ensembles. Here, we determine the optimal compression rate (in qubits per source system) in terms of the Koashi-Imoto decomposition of the source into a classical, a quantum, and a redundant part. The same decomposition yields the optimal rate in the presence of unlimited entanglement between compressor and decoder, and indeed the full region of feasible qubit-ebit rate pairs.We consider the most general finite-dimensional quantum mechanical information source, which is given by a quantum system$A$that is correlated with a reference system$R$. The task is to compress$A$in such a way as to reproduce the joint source state$\rho ^{AR}$at the decoder with asymptotically high fidelity. This includes Schumacher’s original quantum source coding problem of a pure state ensemble and that of a single pure entangled state, as well as general mixed state ensembles. Here, we determine the optimal compression rate (in qubits per source system) in terms of the Koashi-Imoto decomposition of the source into a classical, a quantum, and a redundant part. The same decomposition yields the optimal rate in the presence of unlimited entanglement between compressor and decoder, and indeed the full region of feasible qubit-ebit rate pairs.

arXiv:1912.08506IEEE Transactions on Information TheoryJan 18, 202217 citations

We consider the most general finite-dimensional quantum mechanical information source, which is given by a quantum system

A

that is correlated with a reference system

R

. The task is to compress

A

in such a way as to reproduce the joint source state

\rho ^{AR}

at the decoder with asymptotically high fidelity. This includes Schumacher’s original quantum source coding problem of a pure state ensemble and that of a single pure entangled state, as well as general mixed state ensembles. Here, we determine the optimal compression rate (in qubits per source system) in terms of the Koashi-Imoto decomposition of the source into a classical, a quantum, and a redundant part. The same decomposition yields the optimal rate in the presence of unlimited entanglement between compressor and decoder, and indeed the full region of feasible qubit-ebit rate pairs.