Entropy of Quantum Measurements

Abstract

If $a$ is a quantum effect and $\rho$ is a state, we define the $\rho$-entropy $S_a(\rho )$ which gives the amount of uncertainty that a measurement of $a$ provides about $\rho$. The smaller $S_a(\rho )$ is, the more information a measurement of $a$ gives about $\rho$. In Section~2, we provide bounds on $S_a(\rho )$ and show that if $a+b$ is an effect, then $S_{a+b}(\rho )\ge S_a(\rho )+S_b(\rho )$. We then prove a result concerning convex mixtures of effects. We also consider sequential products of effects and their $\rho$-entropies. In Section~3, we employ $S_a(\rho )$ to define the $\rho$-entropy $S_A(\rho )$ for an observable $A$. We show that $S_A(\rho )$ directly provides the $\rho$-entropy $S_\iscript (\rho )$ for an instrument $\iscript$. We establish bounds for $S_A(\rho )$ and prove characterizations for when these bounds are obtained. These give simplified proofs of results given in the literature. We also consider $\rho$-entropies for measurement models, sequential products of observables and coarse-graining of observables. Various examples that illustrate the theory are provided.