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Chinese Physics B

New construction of mutually unbiased bases for odd-dimensional state space

Chenghong 成红 Wang 王, Kun Wang, Zhu‐Jun Zheng

Published May 6, 2024• 0 citations
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Abstract

Abstract We study the construction of mutually unbiased bases in Hilbert space for composite dimensions d which are not prime powers. We explore the results for composite dimensions which are true for prime power dimensions. We then provide a method for selecting mutually unbiased vectors from the eigenvectors of generalized Pauli matrices to construct mutually unbiased bases. In particular, we present four mutually unbiased bases in ℂ15.

DOI
10.1088/1674-1056/ad47ae

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Abstract We study the construction of mutually unbiased bases in Hilbert space for composite dimensions d which are not prime powers. We explore the results for composite dimensions which are true for prime power dimensions. We then provide a method for selecting mutually unbiased vectors from the eigenvectors of generalized Pauli matrices to construct mutually unbiased bases. In particular, we present four mutually unbiased bases in ℂ15.
Two orthonormal bases in the complex space of dimension d, are said to be mutually unbiased if the square of the magnitude of the inner product of any vector from one basis with any vector in other basis is equal to the reciprocal of the dimension d. Mutually unbiased bases are used for optimal state determination of mixed quantum states. It is known that in any dimension d, the number of mutually unbiased bases is at most d+1. Ivanovic found a complete set of mutually unbiased bases for prime dimensions. His construction was generalized by Wootters and Fields for prime power dimensions. There is a strong connection between maximally commuting bases of orthogonal unitary matrices and mutually unbiased bases. Based on this connection, there exits a constructive proof of the existence of a complete set of mutually unbiased bases for prime power dimensions. This thesis is an exploration on construction of mutually unbiased bases.
Mutually unbiased bases generalize the X , Y and Z qubit bases. They possess numerous applications in quantum information science. It is well known that in prime power dimensions N = p m (with p prime and m a positive integer), there exists a maximal set of N + 1 mutually unbiased bases. In the present paper, we derive an explicit expression for those bases, in terms of the (operations of the) associated finite field (Galois division ring) of N elements. This expression is shown to be equivalent to the expressions previously obtained by Ivanovic ( 1981 J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 14 3241 ) in odd prime dimensions, and Wootters and Fields (1989 Ann. Phys. 191 363) in odd prime power dimensions. In even prime power dimensions, we derive a new explicit expression for the mutually unbiased bases. The new ingredients of our approach are, basically, the following: we provide a simple expression of the generalized Pauli group in terms of the additive characters of the field, and we derive an exact groupal composition law between the elements of the commuting subsets of the generalized Pauli group, renormalized by a well-chosen phase-factor.
We present a construction method for complete sets of cyclic mutually unbiased bases (MUBs) in Hilbert spaces of even prime-power dimensions. In comparison to the usual complete sets of MUBs, complete cyclic sets possess the additional property of being generated by a single unitary operator. The construction method is based on the idea of obtaining a partition of multi-qubit Pauli operators into maximal commuting sets of operators with the help of a suitable element of the Clifford group. As a consequence, we explicitly obtain complete sets of cyclic MUBs generated by a single element of the Clifford group in dimensions 2 m for m = 1, 2, …, 24.
We present a detailed computational and algebraic study of Mutually Unbiased Bases (MUBs) in finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces, with a particular focus on dimensions 2, 3, 4, and the challenging case of 6. Starting from the Hadamard-phase parametrization, we derive explicit analytical conditions for mutual unbiasedness in dimension 4, providing a tractable system of trigonometric constraints on the phase parameters. We then explore a tensor-product construction via Pauli operators, highlighting the algebraic and group-theoretical origin of MUBs in two-qubit systems, and demonstrating how these constructions yield a complete set of 5 MUBs in dimension 4. Extending our approach, we investigate the Fourier-family method in dimension 6, where the absence of a prime-power structure imposes strong rigidity constraints and limits the known constructions to sets of 3 MUBs. We provide a systematic computational framework for testing candidate phase vectors, bridging the gap between analytical insight and numerical exploration. Finally, we generalize the discussion to arbitrary prime-power dimensions, emphasizing the role of finite-field structures, Heisenberg-Weyl operators, and discrete symmetries in generating complete sets of MUBs. Our work offers a transparent, line-by-line verification methodology, highlighting both the geometric and algebraic richness of MUBs, and clarifying why certain dimensions resist full analytical constructions. This study serves as a comprehensive resource for researchers seeking both theoretical understanding and practical construction of MUBs in quantum information science.
Mutually unbiased bases is an important topic in the recent quantum system \nresearches. Although there is much work in this area, many problems \nrelated to mutually unbiased bases are still open. For example, constructing \na complete set of mutually unbiased bases in the Hilbert spaces with composite \ndimensions has not been achieved yet. This thesis defines a weaker \nconcept than mutually unbiased bases in the Hilbert spaces with composite \ndimensions. We call this concept, weak mutually unbiased bases. There is \na duality between such bases and the geometry of the phase space Zd × Zd, \nwhere d is the phase space dimension. To show this duality we study the \nproperties of lines through the origin in Zd × Zd, then we explain the correspondence \nbetween the properties of these lines and the properties of the \nweak mutually unbiased bases. We give an explicit construction of a complete \nset of weak mutually unbiased bases in the Hilbert space Hd, where \nd is odd and d = p1p2; p1, p2 are prime numbers. We apply the concept of \nweak mutually unbiased bases in the context of quantum tomography and \nquantum cryptography.
Maximal sets of mutually unbiased bases are useful throughout quantum physics, both in a foundational context and for applications. To date, it remains unknown if complete sets of mutually unbiased bases exist in Hilbert spaces of dimensions different from a prime power, i.e. in composite dimensions such as six or ten. Fourteen mathematically equivalent formulations of the existence problem are presented. We comprehensively summarise analytic, computer-aided and numerical results relevant to the case of composite dimensions. Known modifications of the existence problem are reviewed and potential solution strategies are outlined.