Nonlocality of orthogonal product basis quantum states

Abstract

We study the local indistinguishability of mutually orthogonal product basis quantum states in the high-dimensional quantum system. In the quantum system of $\mathbb{C}^d\otimes\mathbb{C}^d$, where $d$ is odd, Zhang \emph{et al} have constructed $d^2$ orthogonal product basis quantum states which are locally indistinguishable in [Phys. Rev. A. {\bf 90}, 022313(2014)]. We find a subset contains with $6d-9$ orthogonal product states which are still locally indistinguishable. Then we generalize our method to arbitrary bipartite quantum system $\mathbb{C}^m\otimes\mathbb{C}^n$. We present a small set with only $3(m+n)-9$ orthogonal product states and prove these states are LOCC indistinguishable. Even though these $3(m+n)-9$ product states are LOCC indistinguishable, they can be distinguished by separable measurements. This shows that separable operations are strictly stronger than the local operations and classical communication.