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arXiv:quant-ph/9808009 · Journal of Physics A Mathematical and General

Fisher information in quantum statistics

Ole Eiler Barndorff-Nielsen, Richard David Gill

Published Jun 9, 2000• 208 citations

Abstract

Braunstein and Caves (Braunstein S L and Caves C M 1994 Phys. Rev. Lett. 72 3439-43) proposed to use Helstrom's quantum information number to define, meaningfully, a metric on the set of all possible states of a given quantum system. They showed that the quantum information is nothing other than the maximal Fisher information in a measurement of the quantum system, maximized over all possible measurements. Combining this fact with classical statistical results, they argued that the quantum information determines the asymptotically optimal rate at which neighbouring states on some smooth curve can be distinguished, based on arbitrary measurements on n identical copies of the given quantum system. We show that the measurement which maximizes the Fisher information typically depends on the true, unknown, state of the quantum system. We close the resulting loophole in the argument by showing that one can still achieve the same, optimal, rate of distinguishability, by a two-stage adaptive measurement procedure. When we consider states lying not on a smooth curve, but on a manifold of higher dimension, the situation becomes much more complex. We show that the notion of `distinguishability of close-by states' depends strongly on the measurement resources one allows oneself, and on a further specification of the task at hand. The quantum information matrix no longer seems to play a central role.

DOI: 10.1088/0305-4470/33/24/306

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Braunstein and Caves (Braunstein S L and Caves C M 1994 Phys. Rev. Lett. 72 3439-43) proposed to use Helstrom's quantum information number to define, meaningfully, a metric on the set of all possible states of a given quantum system. They showed that the quantum information is nothing other than the maximal Fisher information in a measurement of the quantum system, maximized over all possible measurements. Combining this fact with classical statistical results, they argued that the quantum information determines the asymptotically optimal rate at which neighbouring states on some smooth curve can be distinguished, based on arbitrary measurements on n identical copies of the given quantum system. We show that the measurement which maximizes the Fisher information typically depends on the true, unknown, state of the quantum system. We close the resulting loophole in the argument by showing that one can still achieve the same, optimal, rate of distinguishability, by a two-stage adaptive measurement procedure. When we consider states lying not on a smooth curve, but on a manifold of higher dimension, the situation becomes much more complex. We show that the notion of `distinguishability of close-by states' depends strongly on the measurement resources one allows oneself, and on a further specification of the task at hand. The quantum information matrix no longer seems to play a central role.

We deal with the maximization of classical Fisher information in a quantum system depending on an unknown parameter. This problem has been raised by physicists, who defined [Helstrom (1967) Phys. Lett. A 25 101–102] a quantum counterpart of classical Fisher information, which has been found to constitute an upper bound for classical information itself [Braunstein and Caves (1994) Phys. Rev. Lett. 72 3439–3443]. It has then become of relevant interest among statisticians, who investigated the relations between classical and quantum information and derived a condition for equality in the particular case of two-dimensional pure state systems [Barndorff-Nielsen and Gill (2000) J. Phys. A 33 4481–4490]. In this paper we show that this condition holds even in the more general setting of two-dimensional mixed state systems. We also derive the expression of the maximum Fisher information achievable and its relation with that attainable in pure states.

We deal with the maximization of classical Fisher information in a quantum system depending on an unknown parameter. This problem has been raised by physicists, who defined [Helstrom (1967) Phys. Lett. A 25 101–102] a quantum counterpart of classical Fisher information, which has been found to constitute an upper bound for classical information itself [Braunstein and Caves (1994) Phys. Rev. Lett. 72 3439–3443]. It has then become of relevant interest among statisticians, who investigated the relations between classical and quantum information and derived a condition for equality in the particular case of two-dimensional pure state systems [Barndorff-Nielsen and Gill (2000) J. Phys. A 33 4481–4490]. In this paper we show that this condition holds even in the more general setting of two-dimensional mixed state systems. We also derive the expression of the maximum Fisher information achievable and its relation with that attainable in pure states. 1. Introduction. Quantum

Niels Bohr supposedly said that if quantum mechanics did not make you dizzy then you did not understand it. I think that the same can be said about statistical inference. Robert D. Cousins In this chapter we quantify how easy it may be too distinguish probability distributions from each other (a discussion that was started in Chapter 2). The issue is a very practical one and arises whenever one is called upon to make a decision based on imperfect data. There is no unique answer because everything depends on the data – the l 1 -distance appears if there has been just one sampling of the distributions, the relative entropy governs the approach to the ‘true’ distribution as the number of samplings goes to infinity, and so on. The quantum case is even subtler. A quantum state always stands ready to produce a large variety of classical probability distributions, depending on the choice of measurement procedure. It is no longer possible to distinguish pure states from each other with certainty, unless they are orthogonal. The basic idea behind the quantum distinguishability measures is the same as that which allowed us, in Section 5.3, to relate the Fubini–Study metric to the Fisher–Rao metric. We will optimize over all possible measurements. Classical distinguishability measures If a distance function has an operational significance as a measure of statistical distinguishability, then we expect it to be monotone (and decreasing) under general stochastic maps. Coarse graining means that information is being discarded, and this cannot increase distinguishability.

Observations or measurements taken of a quantum system (a small number of fundamental particles) are inherently random. If the state of the system depends on unknown parameters, then the distribution of the outcome depends on these parameters too, and statistical inference problems result. Often one has a choice of what measurement to take, corresponding to different experimental set-ups or settings of measurement apparatus. This leads to a design problem--which measurement is best for a given statistical problem. This paper gives an introduction to this field in the most simple of settings, that of estimating the state of a spin-half particle given n independent copies of the particle. We show how in some cases asymptotically optimal measurements can be constructed. Other cases present interesting open problems, connected to the fact that for some models, quantum Fisher information is in some sense non-additive. In physical terms, we have non-locality without entanglement.

Observations or measurements taken of a quantum system (a small number of fundamental particles) are inherently random.If the state of the system depends on unknown parameters, then the distribution of the outcome depends on these parameters too, and statistical inference problems result.Often one has a choice of what measurement to take, corresponding to different experimental set-ups or settings of measurement apparatus.This leads to a design problem-which measurement is best for a given statistical problem.This paper gives an introduction to this field in the most simple of settings, that of estimating the state of a spin-half particle given n independent copies of the particle.We show how in some cases asymptotically optimal measurements can be constructed.Other cases present interesting open problems, connected to the fact that for some models, quantum Fisher information is in some sense non-additive.In physical terms, we have non-locality without entanglement.