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Routledge eBooks

Quantum information

Guolin Wu

Published Oct 8, 2025• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Quantum information stands apart from classical information, rooted in the principles of quantum mechanics and quantum information theory. Quantum states serve as the fundamental unit of quantum information, whose evolution is governed by the laws of quantum mechanics. While some philosophers, such as A. Duwell have argued that there is no quantum information, which is not a new concept and can be described using Shannon information theory, others, like C. M. Caves and C. A. Fuchs have proposed that quantum information represents classical information stored within quantum systems. However, this chapter argues that quantum information exists and is different from classical information from the perspectives of how information exists and how it is transmitted. Quantum information, unlike classical information, can be categorized into two kinds: Ontological quantum information and epistemological quantum information, where the former reflects the inherent state of microscopic particles, which is independent of observation, and the latter describes how we perceive their state through measurements. Finally, this chapter explores the connection between quantum information and quantum reality. Quantum reality refers to the show of the self-identity of quantum entities. Quantum information, on the other hand, is the show of the states and correlative ways of quantum entities, and it coexists with quantum reality.

DOI
10.4324/9781003677987-3

Related papers

Questioning of Quantum Information

WU Guo-lin

Introduction The quantum information theory began to rise in the end of 20th century. The EPR (relation)really is quantum entanglement, Consequently, it makes the concept of information in science expand from classical information theory to quantum information theory, and a new concept of quantum information formed. The primary concept of information faced to new challenges and produced some important philosophical questions. For example, can we set up the concept of quantum information? What is the nature of quantum information? The past common concept of information (the information is the elimination of uncertainty) could be used in quantum information? Whether does the emergence of quantum computation mean to eliminate no-boundaries between the quantum and the classical? My aim in this paper is to discuss these questions. My philosophical analysis focuses, however, on the basic quantum information theory. Methods The research method is analytical philosophy and logic that make quantum conception more clear and accurate. Results and Discussion The concept of information could be set up. fundamentally speaking, it did be supported by the Shannon information theory and further philosophical reflections. According of information theory, (classical) information concept could be set up, and there are two necessary preconditions: (a) the premise is a set of possible events, and they can be described by the probability. (b) the information is the elimination of uncertainty. Fundamentally, quantum information is also satisfied with the family-resemblance two preconditions: (1) Quantum information describes the possibility of microscopic things, and quantum information is the expression of wave function. The wave function describes the state of microscopic particles, and presentation of the possibility of microscopic objects. (2) On the aspect of eliminating the uncertainty, the quantum communication is same as classical communication. The signal receiver once received quantum signals transmitted, and the receiver eliminates the corresponding uncertainty of quantum. Therefore, the quantum information is the elimination of quantum uncertainty, and which is called quantum information I. From two point of views, the possible events and eliminate uncertainty, the quantum information and classical information have family resemblance. Quantum information like Classical information way of transmission, it is delivered by the information source, and is received by recipient through the information channel. Quantum Information is similar to classical information, but more essential difference between them, specifically in the following three aspects: (1) The probability directly describe the possibility of classic events, while wave function (or probability amplitude) describes quantum events in the quantum world, and the absolute square of wave function is corresponded to classical probability. (2)There have the essential difference between qubits (quantum qits) and classical bits. (3) Classical information can be completely cloned or deleted. nevertheless, quantum information is neither cloned (no-cloning), nor removed completely. To my point of view, through the analysis of the process of quantum teleportation, a quantum uncertainty can be divided into three categories: the first is the external uncertainties of microscopic particles; the second the uncertainty of the superposition state; the third the inherent uncertainty of microscopic particles. These three uncertainties can be eliminated by three different ways that are transmission of quantum information, accurate quantum transformations and the creations of quantum entanglement. Therefore we can give the general definition of certainty: a situation (the state of events, things) is of certainty, if they are satisfied with the following conditions: (a) a situation is entirely determined by n events parameters; (b) n parameters of events has an accurate values simultaneously. The existences of quantum states form quantum facts. Quantum states show themselves, and therefore it releases the information to the outside world. For this reason, there have two aspects of quantum state which need to express: existence of quantum state is the quantum fact, here we emphasize "existence"; and quantum state can show to the external world, which is the quantum information, here we emphasize "Show". Hence, quantum information is the show(Zeigt) of quantum state, which is called quantum information II. The nature of quantum information is the show of quantum events and their correlated ways. Quantum information is a kind of certainty and order. Quantum information can be divided into quantum informationⅠand quantum informationⅡ.. Quantum InformationⅠjust only a phenomenonal definition, it does not go deeply into the nature of the information. Therefore, the elimination of uncertainty can not be seen as the nature of quantum information itself . In the process of quantum teleportation, the source of quantum information (such as quantum state , a and b are coefficients) is delivered to the receiver, what is the essence of quantum information? From the point of view of quantum information theory, quantum state represents quantum information, quantum state is the state of quantum system (or microscopic particles) or quantum events. in the quantum state , what quantum states disclose the quantum information does not be the absolute size of quantum information, but the relationship, since the coefficients a and b satisfy the condition , and it do not be important numerical a and b, but between their relative size and relationship, which reflects the correlated ways between a and b. The connotation of quantum InformationⅠand quantum information Ⅱ offers support for the common view of classical information concept. Which is more deeply to disclose the nature of quantum information for both of them? Obviously, quantum information Ⅱ reflects the nature of quantum information. Quantum reality and quantum information are unified. What the wave function expresses is quantum reality. The wave function is unified of quantum information and quantum reality. There is no quantum reality, there is no quantum information. Because of the information and reality are unified, and quantum information different from classical information, so we can deduce that quantum reality is different from classical reality, and quantum computing differs from classical computing. In the classical parallel computing, the value calculated in different circuits respectively, but in parallel quantum computing the value calculated in one circuit, which is the essential difference between classical and quantum parallel computing. Many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics does not mean that the difference between quantum and classical disappears: (1) Superposition in the microscopic world is very different from classical macroscopic physical world, so it is impossible that the superposition principle is fit for quantum world used for the classical world; (2) "To perform a quantum measurement, quantum world can be split up numerous classical world" is not supported by any experience and evidence; (3) Each branches of quantum computing are in quantum states, and quantum states are coherent, holistic, and some even entangled. Nevertheless, it is impossible for classical computing to achieve the quantum computing’s specific features; (4) The essential differences between quantum and the classical are decided by the development history of quantum mechanics and quantum information theory. The differences between quantum and the classical is really established by the quantum theory, concepts and their experiments that include Heisenberg’s matrix mechanics of Schrodinger’s wave equation, uncertainty principle of quantum mechanics and quantum entanglement phenomena and so on. They are completely different from the classical physical theories, concepts and experiments. Figure 1. Quantum information processing (see PDF version for the Figure). Conclusions This fruitful work gives an discussion of quantum concept that is the quantum information is the elimination of quantum uncertainty, which is called quantum information I and quantum information is the show (Zeigt) of quantum state, which is called quantum information II. Quantum information II reflects the nature of quantum information. The nature of quantum information is the show of quantum events and their correlated ways. Acknowledgments This research work of this paper is supported by 2011 the Philosophy and Social Sciences Foundation of the Ministry of Education of P. R. China (Project Number: 11JZD007) " Studies of the development trend of contemporary technological philosophy" . References and Notes Weiner, N., Cybernetics and Society. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1950. Shannon, C. E., The Mathematical Theory of Communication. The Bell System Technical Journal. 1948, Vol.27, pp.379-423, 623-656. Kornwachs K., Jacoby K., Introduction: What’s new about information? In Kornwachs K., Jacoby K.eds. Information. Berlin: Akademic Verlag GmbH. 1996. Bouwmeester, D. Pan, J.-W.，et al. Experimental Quantum Teleportation. Nature. 1997. 390. Bennett C. H. and Di Vinecenzo D. P. quantum information and computation, Nature, 2000, 404. Einstein, A. Podolsky B., and Rosen, N. Can Quantum-Mechanical Description of Physical Reality Be Considered Complete? Physical Review. 1935,47. Nielsen, M. A. Chuang, I. L., Quantum Computation and Quantum Information. Cambridge University Press, 2000. Duwell, A. Quantum information does not exist. Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics，2003, (34). Berta, M. Christandl, M. Colbeck, R., et al. The uncertainty principle in the presence of quantum memory. Nat. Phys., 2010, (6). Caves， M. and Fuchs，C. A. 1996. Quantum information：how much information in a state vector?. preprint quant-ph/9601025. Barrow, J., et al, Science and Ultimate Reality: Quantum Theory, Cosmology and Complexity. Cambridge University Press. 2004. Yongde Zhang, Principles of Quantum Information Physics. Beijing: Science Press. 2006. Wheeler, J. A., At Home in the Universe. New York: Springer-Verlag. 1996. Guolin Wu, Quantum Entanglement And Its Philosophical Meaning, Studies in Dialectics of Nature, 2005, (7). Guolin Wu, A Detailed Philosophical Inquiry of the Quantum Information, Philosophical Researches. 2014, (8). Guolin Wu, Philosophical Connotation of quantum information Technology. Philosophical Trend. 2013, (8).

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Physical Entity As Quantum Information

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Quantum mechanics was reformulated as an information theory involving a generalized kind of information, namely quantum information, in the end of the last century. Quantum mechanics is the most fundamental physical theory referring to all claiming to be physical. Any physical entity turns out to be quantum information in the final analysis. A quantum bit is the unit of quantum information, and it is a generalization of the unit of classical information, a bit, as well as the quantum information itself is a generalization of classical information. Classical information refers to finite series or sets while quantum information, to infinite ones. Quantum information as well as classical information is a dimensionless quantity. Quantum information can be considered as a “bridge” between the mathematical and physical. The standard and common scientific epistemology grants the gap between the mathematical models and physical reality. The conception of truth as adequacy is what is able to transfer “over” that gap. One should explain how quantum information being a continuous transition between the physical and mathematical may refer to truth as adequacy and thus to the usual scientific epistemology and methodology. If it is the overall substance of anything claiming to be physical, one can question how different and dimensional physical quantities appear. Quantum information can be discussed as the counterpart of action. Quantum information is what is conserved, action is what is changed in virtue of the fundamental theorems of Emmy Noether (1918). The gap between mathematical models and physical reality, needing truth as adequacy to be overcome, is substituted by the openness of choice. That openness in turn can be interpreted as the openness of the present as a different concept of truth recollecting Heidegger’s one as “unconcealment” (ἀλήθεια). Quantum information as what is conserved can be thought as the conservation of that openness.

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Quantum mechanics was reformulated as an information theory involving a generalized kind of information, namely quantum information, in the end of the last century. Quantum mechanics is the most fundamental physical theory referring to all claiming to be physical. Any physical entity turns out to be quantum information in the final analysis. A quantum bit is the unit of quantum information, and it is a generalization of the unit of classical information, a bit, as well as the quantum information itself is a generalization of classical information. Classical information refers to finite series or sets while quantum information, to infinite ones. Quantum information as well as classical information is a dimensionless quantity. Quantum information can be considered as a “bridge” between the mathematical and physical. The standard and common scientific epistemology grants the gap between the mathematical models and physical reality. The conception of truth as adequacy is what is able to transfer “over” that gap. One should explain how quantum information being a continuous transition between the physical and mathematical may refer to truth as adequacy and thus to the usual scientific epistemology and methodology. If it is the overall substance of anything claiming to be physical, one can question how different and dimensional physical quantities appear. Quantum information can be discussed as the counterpart of action. Quantum information is what is conserved, action is what is changed in virtue of the fundamental theorems of Emmy Noether (1918). The gap between mathematical models and physical reality, needing truth as adequacy to be overcome, is substituted by the openness of choice. That openness in turn can be interpreted as the openness of the present as a different concept of truth recollecting Heidegger’s one as “unconcealment” (ἀλήθεια). Quantum information as what is conserved can be thought as the conservation of that openness

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In these first few chapters, our aim is to establish a firm grounding so that we can address some fundamental questions regarding information transmission over quantum channels. This area of study has become known as “quantum Shannon theory” in the broader quantum information community, in order to distinguish this topic from other areas of study in quantum information science. In this text, we will use the terms “quantum Shannon theory” and “quantum information theory” somewhat interchangeably. We will begin by briefly overviewing several fundamental aspects of the quantum theory. Our study of the quantum theory, in this chapter and future ones, will be at an abstract level, without giving preference to any particular physical system such as a spin-1/2 particle or a photon. This approach will be more beneficial for the purposes of our study, but, here and there, we will make some reference to actual physical systems to ground us in reality. You may be wondering, what is quantum Shannon theory and why do we name this area of study as such? In short, quantum Shannon theory is the study of the ultimate capability of noisy physical systems, governed by the laws of quantum mechanics, to preserve information and correlations. Quantum information theorists have chosen the name quantum Shannon theory to honor Claude Shannon, who single-handedly founded the field of classical information theory, with a groundbreaking 1948 paper (Shannon, 1948).

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Quantum information theory represents a rich subject of discussion for those interested in the philosphical and foundational issues surrounding quantum mechanics for a simple reason: one can cast its central concerns in terms of a long-familiar question: How does the quantum world differ from the classical one? Moreover, deployment of the concepts of information and computation in novel contexts hints at new (or better) means of understanding quantum mechanics, and perhaps even invites re-assessment of traditional material conceptions of the basic nature of the physical world. In this paper I review some of these philosophical aspects of quantum information theory, begining with an elementary survey of the theory, seeking to highlight some of the principles and heuristics involved. We move on to a discussion of the nature and definition of quantum information and deploy the findings in discussing the puzzles surrounding teleportation. The final two sections discuss, respectively, what one might learn from the development of quantum computation (both about the nature of quantum systems and about the nature of computation) and consider the impact of quantum information theory on the traditional foundational questions of quantum mechanics (treating of the views of Zeilinger, Bub and Fuchs, amongst others).

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Philosophical Aspects of Quantum Information Theory

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Quantum information theory represents a rich subject of discussion for those interested in the philosphical and foundational issues surrounding quantum mechanics for a simple reason: one can cast its central concerns in terms of a long-familiar question: How does the quantum world differ from the classical one? Moreover, deployment of the concepts of information and computation in novel contexts hints at new (or better) means of understanding quantum mechanics, and perhaps even invites re-assessment of traditional material conceptions of the basic nature of the physical world. In this paper I review some of these philosophical aspects of quantum information theory, begining with an elementary survey of the theory, seeking to highlight some of the principles and heuristics involved. We move on to a discussion of the nature and definition of quantum information and deploy the findings in discussing the puzzles surrounding teleportation. The final two sections discuss, respectively, what one might learn from the development of quantum computation (both about the nature of quantum systems and about the nature of computation) and consider the impact of quantum information theory on the traditional foundational questions of quantum mechanics (treating of the views of Zeilinger, Bub and Fuchs, amongst others).

•Nov 25, 2016•53 citations
Quantum information stands apart from classical information, rooted in the principles of quantum mechanics and quantum information theory. Quantum states serve as the fundamental unit of quantum information, whose evolution is governed by the laws of quantum mechanics. While some philosophers, such as A. Duwell have argued that there is no quantum information, which is not a new concept and can be described using Shannon information theory, others, like C. M. Caves and C. A. Fuchs have proposed that quantum information represents classical information stored within quantum systems. However, this chapter argues that quantum information exists and is different from classical information from the perspectives of how information exists and how it is transmitted. Quantum information, unlike classical information, can be categorized into two kinds: Ontological quantum information and epistemological quantum information, where the former reflects the inherent state of microscopic particles, which is independent of observation, and the latter describes how we perceive their state through measurements. Finally, this chapter explores the connection between quantum information and quantum reality. Quantum reality refers to the show of the self-identity of quantum entities. Quantum information, on the other hand, is the show of the states and correlative ways of quantum entities, and it coexists with quantum reality.
Introduction The quantum information theory began to rise in the end of 20th century. The EPR (relation)really is quantum entanglement, Consequently, it makes the concept of information in science expand from classical information theory to quantum information theory, and a new concept of quantum information formed. The primary concept of information faced to new challenges and produced some important philosophical questions. For example, can we set up the concept of quantum information? What is the nature of quantum information? The past common concept of information (the information is the elimination of uncertainty) could be used in quantum information? Whether does the emergence of quantum computation mean to eliminate no-boundaries between the quantum and the classical? My aim in this paper is to discuss these questions. My philosophical analysis focuses, however, on the basic quantum information theory. Methods The research method is analytical philosophy and logic that make quantum conception more clear and accurate. Results and Discussion The concept of information could be set up. fundamentally speaking, it did be supported by the Shannon information theory and further philosophical reflections. According of information theory, (classical) information concept could be set up, and there are two necessary preconditions: (a) the premise is a set of possible events, and they can be described by the probability. (b) the information is the elimination of uncertainty. Fundamentally, quantum information is also satisfied with the family-resemblance two preconditions: (1) Quantum information describes the possibility of microscopic things, and quantum information is the expression of wave function. The wave function describes the state of microscopic particles, and presentation of the possibility of microscopic objects. (2) On the aspect of eliminating the uncertainty, the quantum communication is same as classical communication. The signal receiver once received quantum signals transmitted, and the receiver eliminates the corresponding uncertainty of quantum. Therefore, the quantum information is the elimination of quantum uncertainty, and which is called quantum information I. From two point of views, the possible events and eliminate uncertainty, the quantum information and classical information have family resemblance. Quantum information like Classical information way of transmission, it is delivered by the information source, and is received by recipient through the information channel. Quantum Information is similar to classical information, but more essential difference between them, specifically in the following three aspects: (1) The probability directly describe the possibility of classic events, while wave function (or probability amplitude) describes quantum events in the quantum world, and the absolute square of wave function is corresponded to classical probability. (2)There have the essential difference between qubits (quantum qits) and classical bits. (3) Classical information can be completely cloned or deleted. nevertheless, quantum information is neither cloned (no-cloning), nor removed completely. To my point of view, through the analysis of the process of quantum teleportation, a quantum uncertainty can be divided into three categories: the first is the external uncertainties of microscopic particles; the second the uncertainty of the superposition state; the third the inherent uncertainty of microscopic particles. These three uncertainties can be eliminated by three different ways that are transmission of quantum information, accurate quantum transformations and the creations of quantum entanglement. Therefore we can give the general definition of certainty: a situation (the state of events, things) is of certainty, if they are satisfied with the following conditions: (a) a situation is entirely determined by n events parameters; (b) n parameters of events has an accurate values simultaneously. The existences of quantum states form quantum facts. Quantum states show themselves, and therefore it releases the information to the outside world. For this reason, there have two aspects of quantum state which need to express: existence of quantum state is the quantum fact, here we emphasize "existence"; and quantum state can show to the external world, which is the quantum information, here we emphasize "Show". Hence, quantum information is the show(Zeigt) of quantum state, which is called quantum information II. The nature of quantum information is the show of quantum events and their correlated ways. Quantum information is a kind of certainty and order. Quantum information can be divided into quantum informationⅠand quantum informationⅡ.. Quantum InformationⅠjust only a phenomenonal definition, it does not go deeply into the nature of the information. Therefore, the elimination of uncertainty can not be seen as the nature of quantum information itself . In the process of quantum teleportation, the source of quantum information (such as quantum state , a and b are coefficients) is delivered to the receiver, what is the essence of quantum information? From the point of view of quantum information theory, quantum state represents quantum information, quantum state is the state of quantum system (or microscopic particles) or quantum events. in the quantum state , what quantum states disclose the quantum information does not be the absolute size of quantum information, but the relationship, since the coefficients a and b satisfy the condition , and it do not be important numerical a and b, but between their relative size and relationship, which reflects the correlated ways between a and b. The connotation of quantum InformationⅠand quantum information Ⅱ offers support for the common view of classical information concept. Which is more deeply to disclose the nature of quantum information for both of them? Obviously, quantum information Ⅱ reflects the nature of quantum information. Quantum reality and quantum information are unified. What the wave function expresses is quantum reality. The wave function is unified of quantum information and quantum reality. There is no quantum reality, there is no quantum information. Because of the information and reality are unified, and quantum information different from classical information, so we can deduce that quantum reality is different from classical reality, and quantum computing differs from classical computing. In the classical parallel computing, the value calculated in different circuits respectively, but in parallel quantum computing the value calculated in one circuit, which is the essential difference between classical and quantum parallel computing. Many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics does not mean that the difference between quantum and classical disappears: (1) Superposition in the microscopic world is very different from classical macroscopic physical world, so it is impossible that the superposition principle is fit for quantum world used for the classical world; (2) "To perform a quantum measurement, quantum world can be split up numerous classical world" is not supported by any experience and evidence; (3) Each branches of quantum computing are in quantum states, and quantum states are coherent, holistic, and some even entangled. Nevertheless, it is impossible for classical computing to achieve the quantum computing’s specific features; (4) The essential differences between quantum and the classical are decided by the development history of quantum mechanics and quantum information theory. The differences between quantum and the classical is really established by the quantum theory, concepts and their experiments that include Heisenberg’s matrix mechanics of Schrodinger’s wave equation, uncertainty principle of quantum mechanics and quantum entanglement phenomena and so on. They are completely different from the classical physical theories, concepts and experiments. Figure 1. Quantum information processing (see PDF version for the Figure). Conclusions This fruitful work gives an discussion of quantum concept that is the quantum information is the elimination of quantum uncertainty, which is called quantum information I and quantum information is the show (Zeigt) of quantum state, which is called quantum information II. Quantum information II reflects the nature of quantum information. The nature of quantum information is the show of quantum events and their correlated ways. Acknowledgments This research work of this paper is supported by 2011 the Philosophy and Social Sciences Foundation of the Ministry of Education of P. R. China (Project Number: 11JZD007) " Studies of the development trend of contemporary technological philosophy" . References and Notes Weiner, N., Cybernetics and Society. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1950. Shannon, C. E., The Mathematical Theory of Communication. The Bell System Technical Journal. 1948, Vol.27, pp.379-423, 623-656. Kornwachs K., Jacoby K., Introduction: What’s new about information? In Kornwachs K., Jacoby K.eds. Information. Berlin: Akademic Verlag GmbH. 1996. Bouwmeester, D. Pan, J.-W.，et al. Experimental Quantum Teleportation. Nature. 1997. 390. Bennett C. H. and Di Vinecenzo D. P. quantum information and computation, Nature, 2000, 404. Einstein, A. Podolsky B., and Rosen, N. Can Quantum-Mechanical Description of Physical Reality Be Considered Complete? Physical Review. 1935,47. Nielsen, M. A. Chuang, I. L., Quantum Computation and Quantum Information. Cambridge University Press, 2000. Duwell, A. Quantum information does not exist. Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics，2003, (34). Berta, M. Christandl, M. Colbeck, R., et al. The uncertainty principle in the presence of quantum memory. Nat. Phys., 2010, (6). Caves， M. and Fuchs，C. A. 1996. Quantum information：how much information in a state vector?. preprint quant-ph/9601025. Barrow, J., et al, Science and Ultimate Reality: Quantum Theory, Cosmology and Complexity. Cambridge University Press. 2004. Yongde Zhang, Principles of Quantum Information Physics. Beijing: Science Press. 2006. Wheeler, J. A., At Home in the Universe. New York: Springer-Verlag. 1996. Guolin Wu, Quantum Entanglement And Its Philosophical Meaning, Studies in Dialectics of Nature, 2005, (7). Guolin Wu, A Detailed Philosophical Inquiry of the Quantum Information, Philosophical Researches. 2014, (8). Guolin Wu, Philosophical Connotation of quantum information Technology. Philosophical Trend. 2013, (8).
Quantum mechanics was reformulated as an information theory involving a generalized kind of information, namely quantum information, in the end of the last century. Quantum mechanics is the most fundamental physical theory referring to all claiming to be physical. Any physical entity turns out to be quantum information in the final analysis. A quantum bit is the unit of quantum information, and it is a generalization of the unit of classical information, a bit, as well as the quantum information itself is a generalization of classical information. Classical information refers to finite series or sets while quantum information, to infinite ones. Quantum information as well as classical information is a dimensionless quantity. Quantum information can be considered as a “bridge” between the mathematical and physical. The standard and common scientific epistemology grants the gap between the mathematical models and physical reality. The conception of truth as adequacy is what is able to transfer “over” that gap. One should explain how quantum information being a continuous transition between the physical and mathematical may refer to truth as adequacy and thus to the usual scientific epistemology and methodology. If it is the overall substance of anything claiming to be physical, one can question how different and dimensional physical quantities appear. Quantum information can be discussed as the counterpart of action. Quantum information is what is conserved, action is what is changed in virtue of the fundamental theorems of Emmy Noether (1918). The gap between mathematical models and physical reality, needing truth as adequacy to be overcome, is substituted by the openness of choice. That openness in turn can be interpreted as the openness of the present as a different concept of truth recollecting Heidegger’s one as “unconcealment” (ἀλήθεια). Quantum information as what is conserved can be thought as the conservation of that openness.
Quantum mechanics was reformulated as an information theory involving a generalized kind of information, namely quantum information, in the end of the last century. Quantum mechanics is the most fundamental physical theory referring to all claiming to be physical. Any physical entity turns out to be quantum information in the final analysis. A quantum bit is the unit of quantum information, and it is a generalization of the unit of classical information, a bit, as well as the quantum information itself is a generalization of classical information. Classical information refers to finite series or sets while quantum information, to infinite ones. Quantum information as well as classical information is a dimensionless quantity. Quantum information can be considered as a “bridge” between the mathematical and physical. The standard and common scientific epistemology grants the gap between the mathematical models and physical reality. The conception of truth as adequacy is what is able to transfer “over” that gap. One should explain how quantum information being a continuous transition between the physical and mathematical may refer to truth as adequacy and thus to the usual scientific epistemology and methodology. If it is the overall substance of anything claiming to be physical, one can question how different and dimensional physical quantities appear. Quantum information can be discussed as the counterpart of action. Quantum information is what is conserved, action is what is changed in virtue of the fundamental theorems of Emmy Noether (1918). The gap between mathematical models and physical reality, needing truth as adequacy to be overcome, is substituted by the openness of choice. That openness in turn can be interpreted as the openness of the present as a different concept of truth recollecting Heidegger’s one as “unconcealment” (ἀλήθεια). Quantum information as what is conserved can be thought as the conservation of that openness
In these first few chapters, our aim is to establish a firm grounding so that we can address some fundamental questions regarding information transmission over quantum channels. This area of study has become known as “quantum Shannon theory” in the broader quantum information community, in order to distinguish this topic from other areas of study in quantum information science. In this text, we will use the terms “quantum Shannon theory” and “quantum information theory” somewhat interchangeably. We will begin by briefly overviewing several fundamental aspects of the quantum theory. Our study of the quantum theory, in this chapter and future ones, will be at an abstract level, without giving preference to any particular physical system such as a spin-1/2 particle or a photon. This approach will be more beneficial for the purposes of our study, but, here and there, we will make some reference to actual physical systems to ground us in reality. You may be wondering, what is quantum Shannon theory and why do we name this area of study as such? In short, quantum Shannon theory is the study of the ultimate capability of noisy physical systems, governed by the laws of quantum mechanics, to preserve information and correlations. Quantum information theorists have chosen the name quantum Shannon theory to honor Claude Shannon, who single-handedly founded the field of classical information theory, with a groundbreaking 1948 paper (Shannon, 1948).
Quantum information theory represents a rich subject of discussion for those interested in the philosphical and foundational issues surrounding quantum mechanics for a simple reason: one can cast its central concerns in terms of a long-familiar question: How does the quantum world differ from the classical one? Moreover, deployment of the concepts of information and computation in novel contexts hints at new (or better) means of understanding quantum mechanics, and perhaps even invites re-assessment of traditional material conceptions of the basic nature of the physical world. In this paper I review some of these philosophical aspects of quantum information theory, begining with an elementary survey of the theory, seeking to highlight some of the principles and heuristics involved. We move on to a discussion of the nature and definition of quantum information and deploy the findings in discussing the puzzles surrounding teleportation. The final two sections discuss, respectively, what one might learn from the development of quantum computation (both about the nature of quantum systems and about the nature of computation) and consider the impact of quantum information theory on the traditional foundational questions of quantum mechanics (treating of the views of Zeilinger, Bub and Fuchs, amongst others).
Quantum information theory represents a rich subject of discussion for those interested in the philosphical and foundational issues surrounding quantum mechanics for a simple reason: one can cast its central concerns in terms of a long-familiar question: How does the quantum world differ from the classical one? Moreover, deployment of the concepts of information and computation in novel contexts hints at new (or better) means of understanding quantum mechanics, and perhaps even invites re-assessment of traditional material conceptions of the basic nature of the physical world. In this paper I review some of these philosophical aspects of quantum information theory, begining with an elementary survey of the theory, seeking to highlight some of the principles and heuristics involved. We move on to a discussion of the nature and definition of quantum information and deploy the findings in discussing the puzzles surrounding teleportation. The final two sections discuss, respectively, what one might learn from the development of quantum computation (both about the nature of quantum systems and about the nature of computation) and consider the impact of quantum information theory on the traditional foundational questions of quantum mechanics (treating of the views of Zeilinger, Bub and Fuchs, amongst others).