arXiv subjects

Ian George

Publications and source records attributed to Ian George.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Conditional contraction coefficients and their applications to quantum networks

Contraction coefficients quantify the loss of distinguishability induced by a channel and provide a strong form of the data-processing inequality. While standard contraction coefficients ignore auxiliary quantum systems, existing extensions based on complete contraction coefficients require the compared states to have identical reference marginals. In this work, we introduce conditional contraction coefficients, a novel family that incorporates arbitrary quantum reference systems by subtracting the distinguishability already present in the reference system. We develop a general framework for contraction coefficients with such quantum side information, including the corresponding strong-data-processing-inequality (SDPI) constants, expansion coefficients, and relative contraction coefficients. For the trace distance, we show that the optimization can be restricted to orthogonal input states. For the quantum relative entropy, we prove that its conditional contraction coefficient is exactly equal to the contraction coefficient of the conditional mutual information, extending the classical correspondence between relative-entropy contraction and mutual-information contraction to the setting with quantum side information. More generally, we identify structural properties of divergences required for these results and discuss extensions beyond the relative entropy. These results establish a unified framework for analyzing information contraction in quantum network settings, where quantum side information and distributed correlations are intrinsic features of the information-processing task. Applications include an extension of the Polyanskiy-Wu bounds on mutual information contraction, new perspectives on mixing times, and fundamental limits on quantum memories.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Communication Advantages from Quantum Dense Network Coding

A central problem in quantum information theory is understanding how quantum resources can be used to communicate information more efficiently than classical resources. We introduce quantum dense network coding -- a protocol that transmits the output of a non-Boolean function to a receiver using provably half as many qubits as bits for each sender by not transmitting the entirety of the function inputs. We show this advantage requires both shared entanglement and quantum communication, is robust to noise, and the gap in success probability between quantum and classical communication can be amplified exponentially in the number of senders. Finally, we show that dense network coding gives rise to a novel, information-theoretically secure, quantum cryptographic protocol, which we call measurement-device-independent quantum key growing.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Tight Contraction Rates for Primitive Channels under Quantum $f$-Divergences

Data-processing inequalities capture the phenomenon that two probability distributions can only become less distinguishable under any common post-processing. For more fine-grained inequalities, one turns to strong data-processing inequality (SDPI) constants, which give the strongest inequalities for a given channel and reference state for a fixed measure of distinguishability. These quantities have been used to quantify the rate at which time-homogeneous Markov chains contract towards a fixed point both in the classical and quantum setting. In this work, we establish that quantum $f$-divergences satisfy a local reverse Pinsker inequality, which implies the asymptotic contraction rate of a primitive channel to its stationary state is upper bounded by the SDPI constant of any non-commutative $\chi^2$-divergence. Using quantum-detailed balance, we establish a sufficient condition for these bounds to be tight. Finally, we apply these results to Petz, Matsumoto, and Hirche-Tomamichel $f$-divergences, establishing new and strengthening previously known results.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Local Distinguishability of Multipartite Orthogonal Quantum States: Generalized and Simplified

In a seminal work [PRL85.4972], Walgate, Short, Hardy, and Vedral prove in finite dimensions that for every pair of pure multipartite orthogonal quantum states, there exists a one-way local operations and classical communication (LOCC) protocol that perfectly distinguishes the pair. We extend this result to infinite dimensions with a simpler proof. For states on $\mathbb{C}^{d_A \times d_A} \otimes \mathbb{C}^{d_B \times d_B}$, we strengthen this existence result by constructing an $O(d_A^2 d_B^2)$-time algorithm that specifies such a perfect one-way LOCC protocol. Finally, we establish the equivalence between Walgate et al.'s result and the fact that the one-shot environment-assisted classical capacity of every quantum channel is at least 1 bit per channel use, thereby clarifying the literature on these notions. At the core of all of these results is the fact that every operator with vanishing trace admits a basis where its diagonal entries are all zero.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Information Contraction under $(\varepsilon,\delta)$-Differentially Private Mechanisms

The distinguishability quantified by information measures after being processed by a private mechanism has been a useful tool in studying various statistical and operational tasks while ensuring privacy. To this end, standard data-processing inequalities and strong data-processing inequalities (SDPI) are employed. Most of the previously known and even tight characterizations of contraction of information measures, including total variation distance, hockey-stick divergences, and $f$-divergences, are applicable for $(\varepsilon,0)$-local differential private (LDP) mechanisms. In this work, we derive both linear and non-linear strong data-processing inequalities for hockey-stick divergence and $f$-divergences that are valid for all $(\varepsilon,\delta)$-LDP mechanisms even when $\delta \neq 0$. Our results either generalize or improve the previously known bounds on the contraction of these distinguishability measures.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2025

Non-Linear Strong Data-Processing for Quantum Hockey-Stick Divergences

Data-processing is a desired property of classical and quantum divergences and information measures. In information theory, the contraction coefficient measures how much the distinguishability of quantum states decreases when they are transmitted through a quantum channel, establishing linear strong data-processing inequalities (SDPI). However, these linear SDPI are not always tight and can be improved in most of the cases. In this work, we establish non-linear SDPI for quantum hockey-stick divergence for noisy channels that satisfy a certain noise criterion. We also note that our results improve upon existing linear SDPI for quantum hockey-stick divergences and also non-linear SDPI for classical hockey-stick divergence. We define $F_\gamma$ curves generalizing Dobrushin curves for the quantum setting while characterizing SDPI for the sequential composition of heterogeneous channels. In addition, we derive reverse-Pinsker type inequalities for $f$-divergences with additional constraints on hockey-stick divergences. We show that these non-linear SDPI can establish tighter finite mixing times that cannot be achieved through linear SDPI. Furthermore, we find applications of these in establishing stronger privacy guarantees for the composition of sequential private quantum channels when privacy is quantified by quantum local differential privacy.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

The Generalized Interval Polynomial of a Poset

For any finite poset we define a generating polynomial counting upsets, downsets, and their intersection. We investigate the behaviour of this polynomial with respect to poset operations, show that it distinguishes series-parallel posets, and comment on connections to the causal set approach to quantum gravity.

math.CO↗

arXiv2025

A Unified Approach to Quantum Contraction and Correlation Coefficients

The maximal correlation coefficient measures the linear correlation in a bipartite distribution and contraction coefficients measure how much information is lost under a noisy channel. Remarkably, Raginsky established a close relation between these two concepts by showing that the $\chi^2$ contraction coefficient equals the maximal correlation coefficient of the joint input/output distribution of the channel. In quantum theory, several generalizations of these concepts have been proposed, but none recover all the classical properties. Here we construct a framework in which the classical theory extends to the quantum setting. We introduce families of quantum maximal correlation coefficients and show that many impose limits on converting quantum states under local operations. We establish a family of quantum contraction coefficients are efficiently computable, yielding a generic efficient algorithm for mixing times of quantum channels with a full rank fixed point. Furthermore, we establish a quantum analogue of Raginsky's classical correspondence that relates these two families of quantities. To do this, we develop the operator-theoretic approach to Petz's family of non-commutative $L^{2}(p)$ spaces that extend the data processing inequality for variance to quantum theory.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Quantum Doeblin Coefficients: Interpretations and Applications

In classical information theory, the Doeblin coefficient of a classical channel provides an efficiently computable upper bound on the total-variation contraction coefficient of the channel, leading to what is known as a strong data-processing inequality. Here, we investigate quantum Doeblin coefficients as a generalization of the classical concept. In particular, we define various new quantum Doeblin coefficients, one of which has several desirable properties, including concatenation and multiplicativity, in addition to being efficiently computable. We also develop various interpretations of two of the quantum Doeblin coefficients, including representations as minimal singlet fractions, exclusion values, reverse max-mutual and oveloH informations, reverse robustnesses, and hypothesis testing reverse mutual and oveloH informations. Our interpretations of quantum Doeblin coefficients as either entanglement-assisted or unassisted exclusion values are particularly appealing, indicating that they are proportional to the best possible error probabilities one could achieve in state-exclusion tasks by making use of the channel. We also outline various applications of quantum Doeblin coefficients, ranging from limitations on quantum machine learning algorithms that use parameterized quantum circuits (noise-induced barren plateaus), on error mitigation protocols, on the sample complexity of noisy quantum hypothesis testing, and on mixing, distinguishability, and decoupling times of time-varying channels. All of these applications make use of the fact that quantum Doeblin coefficients appear in upper bounds on various trace-distance contraction coefficients of a channel. Furthermore, in all of these applications, our analysis using Doeblin coefficients provides improvements of various kinds over contributions from prior literature, both in terms of generality and being efficiently computable.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Experimental asymmetric relativistic zero-knowledge proofs with unconditional security

Zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) are widely applied in digital economies, such as cryptocurrencies and smart contracts, for establishing trust and privacy between untrusted parties. Classical ZKPs rely on computational assumptions and are vulnerable to quantum attacks. While a recent advance suggests quantum-sound symmetric relativistic ZKPs for the graph three-coloring problem without computational assumptions, the high round complexity, which leads to unachievable runtime and overall randomness cost, renders them impractical for real-life deployment. To overcome this, we develop an efficient asymmetric relativistic ZKP protocol using relativistic bit commitments, and prove its quantum soundness by relating it to the nonlocal Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (CHSH) game. Our protocol achieves a linear relationship between the round complexity and the number of edges, and thus significantly improves practical feasibility. In addition, we implement a proof-of-principle experiment which completes all interactive rounds in about 0.22 seconds and requires an overall randomness cost of 430.81 MB. Our work illustrates the powerful potential of integrating special relativity with quantum theory in trustless cryptography, paving the way for robust applications against quantum attacks in distrustful Internet environments.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Divergence Inequalities with Applications in Ergodic Theory

The data processing inequality is central to information theory and motivates the study of monotonic divergences. However, it is not clear operationally we need to consider all such divergences. We establish a simple method for Pinsker inequalities as well as general bounds in terms of $\chi^{2}$-divergences for twice-differentiable $f$-divergences. These tools imply new relations for input-dependent contraction coefficients. We use these relations to show for many $f$-divergences the rate of contraction of a time homogeneous Markov chain is characterized by the input-dependent contraction coefficient of the $\chi^{2}$-divergence. This is efficient to compute and the fastest it could converge for a class of divergences. We show similar ideas hold for mixing times. Moreover, we extend these results to the Petz $f$-divergences in quantum information theory, albeit without any guarantee of efficient computation. These tools may have applications in other settings where iterative data processing is relevant.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2024

Capacities of Entanglement Distribution From a Central Source

Distribution of entanglement is an essential task in quantum information processing and the realization of quantum networks. In our work, we theoretically investigate the scenario where a central source prepares an N-partite entangled state and transmits each entangled subsystem to one of N receivers through noisy quantum channels. The receivers are then able to perform local operations assisted by unlimited classical communication to distill target entangled states from the noisy channel output. In this operational context, we define the EPR distribution capacity and the GHZ distribution capacity of a quantum channel as the largest rates at which Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) states and Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) states can be faithfully distributed through the channel, respectively. We establish lower and upper bounds on the EPR distribution capacity by connecting it with the task of assisted entanglement distillation. We also construct an explicit protocol consisting of a combination of a quantum communication code and a classical-post-processing-assisted entanglement generation code, which yields a simple achievable lower bound for generic channels. As applications of these results, we give an exact expression for the EPR distribution capacity over two erasure channels and bounds on the EPR distribution capacity over two generalized amplitude damping channels. We also bound the GHZ distribution capacity, which results in an exact characterization of the GHZ distribution capacity when the most noisy channel is a dephasing channel.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Finite-size analysis of prepare-and-measure and decoy-state QKD via entropy accumulation

An important goal in quantum key distribution (QKD) is the task of providing a finite-size security proof without the assumption of collective attacks. For prepare-and-measure QKD, one approach for obtaining such proofs is the generalized entropy accumulation theorem (GEAT), but thus far it has only been applied to study a small selection of protocols. In this work, we present techniques for applying the GEAT in finite-size analysis of generic prepare-and-measure protocols, with a focus on decoy-state protocols. In particular, we present an improved approach for computing entropy bounds for decoy-state protocols, which has the dual benefits of providing tighter bounds than previous approaches (even asymptotically) and being compatible with methods for computing min-tradeoff functions in the GEAT. Furthermore, we develop methods to incorporate some improvements to the finite-size terms in the GEAT, and implement techniques to automatically optimize the min-tradeoff function. Our approach also addresses some numerical stability challenges specific to prepare-and-measure protocols, which were not addressed in previous works.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Online learning of a panoply of quantum objects

In many quantum tasks, there is an unknown quantum object that one wishes to learn. An online strategy for this task involves adaptively refining a hypothesis to reproduce such an object or its measurement statistics. A common evaluation metric for such a strategy is its regret, or roughly the accumulated errors in hypothesis statistics. We prove a sublinear regret bound for learning over general subsets of positive semidefinite matrices via the regularized-follow-the-leader algorithm and apply it to various settings where one wishes to learn quantum objects. For concrete applications, we present a sublinear regret bound for learning quantum states, effects, channels, interactive measurements, strategies, co-strategies, and the collection of inner products of pure states. Our bound applies to many other quantum objects with compact, convex representations. In proving our regret bound, we establish various matrix analysis results useful in quantum information theory. This includes a generalization of Pinsker's inequality for arbitrary positive semidefinite operators with possibly different traces, which may be of independent interest and applicable to more general classes of divergences.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Orthogonality Broadcasting and Quantum Position Verification

The no-cloning theorem leads to information-theoretic security in various quantum cryptographic protocols. However, this security typically derives from a possibly weaker property that classical information encoded in certain quantum states cannot be broadcast. To formally capture this property, we introduce the study of "orthogonality broadcasting." When attempting to broadcast the orthogonality of two different qubit bases, we establish that the power of classical and quantum communication is equivalent. However, quantum communication is shown to be strictly more powerful for broadcasting orthogonality in higher dimensions. We then relate orthogonality broadcasting to quantum position verification and provide a new method for establishing error bounds in the no pre-shared entanglement model that can address protocols previous methods could not. Our key technical contribution is an uncertainty relation that uses the geometric relation of the states that undergo broadcasting rather than the non-commutative aspect of the final measurements.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Finite-Size Security for Discrete-Modulated Continuous-Variable Quantum Key Distribution Protocols

Discrete-Modulated (DM) Continuous-Variable Quantum Key Distribution (CV-QKD) protocols are promising candidates for commercial implementations of quantum communication networks due to their experimental simplicity. While tight security analyses in the asymptotic limit exist, proofs in the finite-size regime are still subject to active research. We present a composable finite-size security proof against independently and identically distributed collective attacks for a general DM CV-QKD protocol. We introduce a new energy testing theorem to bound the effective dimension of Bob's system and rigorously prove security within Renner's epsilon-security framework and address the issue of acceptance sets in protocols and their security proof. We want to highlight, that our method also allows for nonunique acceptance statistics, which is necessary in practise. Finally, we extend and apply a numerical security proof technique to calculate tight lower bounds on the secure key rate. To demonstrate our method, we apply it to a quadrature phase-shift keying protocol, both for untrusted, ideal and trusted nonideal detectors. The results show that our security proof method yields secure finite-size key rates under experimentally viable conditions up to at least 72km transmission distance.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Modulation Graphs in Popular Music

In this paper, graph theory is used to explore the musical notion of tonal modulation, in theory and application. We define (pivot) modulation graphs based on the common scales used in popular music. Properties and parameters of these graphs are discussed. We also investigate modulation graphs for the canon of Lennon-McCartney songs in the works of The Beatles. Our approach may provide composers with mathematical insights into pivot modulation.

cs.SD↗

arXiv2023

The Round Complexity of Local Operations and Classical Communication (LOCC) in Random-Party Entanglement Distillation

A powerful operational paradigm for distributed quantum information processing involves manipulating pre-shared entanglement by local operations and classical communication (LOCC). The LOCC round complexity of a given task describes how many rounds of classical communication are needed to complete the task. Despite some results separating one-round versus two-round protocols, very little is known about higher round complexities. In this paper, we revisit the task of one-shot random-party entanglement distillation as a way to highlight some interesting features of LOCC round complexity. We first show that for random-party distillation in three qubits, the number of communication rounds needed in an optimal protocol depends on the entanglement measure used; for the same fixed state some entanglement measures need only two rounds to maximize whereas others need an unbounded number of rounds. In doing so, we construct a family of LOCC instruments that require an unbounded number of rounds to implement. We then prove explicit tight lower bounds on the LOCC round number as a function of distillation success probability. Our calculations show that the original W-state random distillation protocol by Fortescue and Lo is essentially optimal in terms of round complexity.

quant-ph↗