Double Covariance Model for Entangled Quantum States: Gaussian Reduction to Second Order Covariances

Abstract

We propose a novel approach to the problem of interconnecting the probabilistic formalisms of classical and quantum physics, focusing on its most challenging aspect: the classical probabilistic generation of entangled states. We show that the statistics encoded in the density operators of composite quantum systems correspond to fourth-order classical statistics. Specifically, to generate a density operator, one must consider the covariance of a random covariance operator. We term this framework the Double Covariance Model (DCM). This double covariance possesses a non-trivial internal structure that arises from the interplay between two distinct time scales, combining temporal and statistical covariances. In this article, we exploit a well-known property of Gaussian processes: the second-order moment determines the moments of higher orders, specifically the fourth-order moment. This Gaussian reduction simplifies the DCM by reducing it to second-order statistics. Utilizing (circular) Gaussian processes simplifies and generalizes the DCM construction for entangled states, rendering it mathematically rigorous. Furthermore, it clarifies the classical probabilistic meaning of concurrence, a foundational quantitative measure of entanglement.