Pati and Braunstein defined a deleting machine and showed the impossibility of deleting one of two identical copies of an unknown quantum state. So far, no one has defined two non-identical copies of a quantum state, of course no one has discussed the impossibility of deleting one of two non-identical copies of an unknown quantum state. In this paper, we define $u|ψ>$ and $U|ψ>$ , where $u$ and $U$ are any unitary operators, as two unitary copies of a quantum state $|ψ>$ , and show that it is impossible to delete one of two unitary copies of an unknown state.Pati and Braunstein defined a deleting machine and showed the impossibility of deleting one of two identical copies of an unknown quantum state. So far, no one has defined two non-identical copies of a quantum state, of course no one has discussed the impossibility of deleting one of two non-identical copies of an unknown quantum state. In this paper, we define $u|ψ>$ and $U|ψ>$, where $u$ and $U$ are any unitary operators, as two unitary copies of a quantum state $|ψ>$, and show that it is impossible to delete one of two unitary copies of an unknown state.

quant-pharXiv:2606.24522Jun 24, 20260 citations

Some analogies between quantum cloning and quantum deleting

Daowen Qiu

We further verify the impossibility of deleting an arbitrary unknown quantum state, and also show it is impossible to delete two nonorthogonal quantum states as a consequence of unitarity of quantum mechanics. A quantum approximate (deterministic) deleting machine and a probabilistic (exact) deleting machine are constructed. The estimation for the global fidelity characterizing the efficiency of the quantum approximate deleting is given. We then demonstrate that unknown nonorthogonal states chosen from a set with their multiple copies can evolve into a linear superposition of multiple deletions and failure branches by a unitary process if and only if the states are linearly independent. It is notable that the proof for necessity is somewhat different from Pati's [Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 2849 (1999)]. Another deleting machine for the input states that are unnecessarily linearly independent is also presented. The bounds on the success probabilities of these deleting machines are derived. So we expound some preliminary analogies between quantum cloning and deleting.We further verify the impossibility of deleting an arbitrary unknown quantum state, and also show it is impossible to delete two nonorthogonal quantum states as a consequence of unitarity of quantum mechanics. A quantum approximate (deterministic) deleting machine and a probabilistic (exact) deleting machine are constructed. The estimation for the global fidelity characterizing the efficiency of the quantum approximate deleting is given. We then demonstrate that unknown nonorthogonal states chosen from a set with their multiple copies can evolve into a linear superposition of multiple deletions and failure branches by a unitary process if and only if the states are linearly independent. It is notable that the proof for necessity is somewhat different from Pati's [Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 2849 (1999)]. Another deleting machine for the input states that are unnecessarily linearly independent is also presented. The bounds on the success probabilities of these deleting machines are derived. So we expound some preliminary analogies between quantum cloning and deleting.

Physical Review AApr 15, 200215 citations

Comparison of two unknown pure quantum states

Stephen M. Barnett, Anthony Chefles, Igor Jex

arXiv:quant-ph/0202087Physics Letters AJan 21, 200380 citations

Impossibility of Quantum Cloning

Nicolas Gisin

Springer eBooksJan 1, 20140 citations

Impossible to conjugate or reflect an unknown quantum state via a unitary evolution

Dafa Li

The no-cloning theorem, the no-deleting theorem, and other no-go theorems play a crucial role in quantum mechanics and quantum information. In this paper, we show that it is impossible to conjugate or reflect an unknown quantum state or conjugate or reflect the bit-flip (the phase-flip) of an unknown state via a universally unitary evolution. We also indicate that the partial conjugating operations are not anti-unitary and it is impossible to universally partially conjugate an unknown state via a unitary evolution. We compute the fidelities of the optimal physical approximations to conjugating and conjugating the bit-flip and phase-flip operations.The no-cloning theorem, the no-deleting theorem, and other no-go theorems play a crucial role in quantum mechanics and quantum information. In this paper, we show that it is impossible to conjugate or reflect an unknown quantum state or conjugate or reflect the bit-flip (the phase-flip) of an unknown state via a universally unitary evolution. We also indicate that the partial conjugating operations are not anti-unitary and it is impossible to universally partially conjugate an unknown state via a unitary evolution. We compute the fidelities of the optimal physical approximations to conjugating and conjugating the bit-flip and phase-flip operations.

quant-pharXiv:2609.11536Sep 11, 20260 citations

u|ψ>

and

U|ψ>

, where

u

and

U

are any unitary operators, as two unitary copies of a quantum state

|ψ>

, and show that it is impossible to delete one of two unitary copies of an unknown state.