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Benjamin Schumacher

Publications and source records attributed to Benjamin Schumacher.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv1999

Optimal signal ensembles

Classical messages can be sent via a noisy quantum channel in various ways, corresponding to various choices of signal states of the channel. Previous work by Holevo and by Schumacher and Westmoreland relates the capacity of the channel to the properties of the signal ensemble. Here we describe some properties characterizing the ensemble that maximizes the capacity, using the relative entropy "distance" between density operators to give the results a geometric flavor.

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arXiv1997

Quantum privacy and quantum coherence

We derive a simple relation between a quantum channel's capacity to convey coherent (quantum) information and its usefulness for quantum cryptography.

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arXiv1997

Information-theoretic approach to quantum error correction and reversible measurement

Quantum operations provide a general description of the state changes allowed by quantum mechanics. The reversal of quantum operations is important for quantum error-correcting codes, teleportation, and reversing quantum measurements. We derive information-theoretic conditions and equivalent algebraic conditions that are necessary and sufficient for a general quantum operation to be reversible. We analyze the thermodynamic cost of error correction and show that error correction can be regarded as a kind of ``Maxwell demon,'' for which there is an entropy cost associated with information obtained from measurements performed during error correction. A prescription for thermodynamically efficient error correction is given.

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arXiv1997

Information transmission through a noisy quantum channel

Noisy quantum channels may be used in many information carrying applications. We show that different applications may result in different channel capacities. Upper bounds on several of these capacities are proved. These bounds are based on the coherent information, which plays a role in quantum information theory analogous to that played by the mutual information in classical information theory. Many new properties of the coherent information and entanglement fidelity are proved. Two non-classical features of the coherent information are demonstrated: the failure of subadditivity, and the failure of the pipelining inequality. Both properties arise as a consequence of quantum entanglement, and give quantum information new features not found in classical information theory. The problem of a noisy quantum channel with a classical observer measuring the environment is introduced, and bounds on the corresponding channel capacity proved. These bounds are always greater than for the unobserved channel. We conclude with a summary of open problems.

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arXiv1996

Sending quantum entanglement through noisy channels

This paper addresses some general questions of quantum information theory arising from the transmission of quantum entanglement through (possibly noisy) quantum channels. A pure entangled state is prepared of a pair of systems $R$ and $Q$, after which $Q$ is subjected to a dynamical evolution given by the superoperator $\superop^{Q}$. Two interesting quantities can be defined for this process: the entanglement fidelity $F_{e}$ and the entropy production $S_{e}$. It turns out that neither of these quantities depends in any way on the system $R$, but only on the initial state and dynamical evolution of $Q$. $F_{e}$ and $S_{e}$ are related to various other fidelities and entropies, and are connected by an inequality reminiscent of the Fano inequality of classical information theory. Some insight can be gained from these techniques into the security of quantum cryptographic protocols and the nature of quantum error-correcting codes.

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arXiv1996

Quantum data processing and error correction

This paper investigates properties of noisy quantum information channels. We define a new quantity called {\em coherent information} which measures the amount of quantum information conveyed in the noisy channel. This quantity can never be increased by quantum information processing, and it yields a simple necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of perfect quantum error correction.

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arXiv1996

A General Fidelity Limit for Quantum Channels

We derive a general limit on the fidelity of a quantum channel conveying an ensemble of pure states. Unlike previous results, this limit applies to arbitrary coding and decoding schemes, including nonunitary decoding. This establishes the converse of the quantum noiseless coding theorem for all such schemes.

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arXiv1995

Purification of Noisy Entanglement and Faithful Teleportation via Noisy Channels

Two separated observers, by applying local operations to a supply of not-too-impure entangled states ({\em e.g.} singlets shared through a noisy channel), can prepare a smaller number of entangled pairs of arbitrarily high purity ({\em e.g.} near-perfect singlets). These can then be used to faithfully teleport unknown quantum states from one observer to the other, thereby achieving faithful transfrom one observer to the other, thereby achieving faithful transmission of quantum information through a noisy channel. We give upper and lower bounds on the yield $D(M)$ of pure singlets ($\ket{Ψ^-}$) distillable from mixed states $M$, showing $D(M)>0$ if $\bra{Ψ^-}M\ket{Ψ^-}>\half$.

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arXiv1995

Concentrating Partial Entanglement by Local Operations

If two separated observers are supplied with entanglement, in the form of $n$ pairs of particles in identical partly-entangled pure states, one member of each pair being given to each observer; they can, by local actions of each observer, concentrate this entanglement into a smaller number of maximally-entangled pairs of particles, for example Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen singlets, similarly shared between the two observers. The concentration process asymptotically conserves {\em entropy of entanglement}---the von Neumann entropy of the partial density matrix seen by either observer---with the yield of singlets approaching, for large $n$, the base-2 entropy of entanglement of the initial partly-entangled pure state. Conversely, any pure or mixed entangled state of two systems can be produced by two classically-communicating separated observers, drawing on a supply of singlets as their sole source of entanglement.

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