arXiv subjects

Nengkun Yu

Publications and source records attributed to Nengkun Yu.

79 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2012

Bounds on the distance between a unital quantum channel and the convex hull of unitary channels, with applications to the asymptotic quantum Birkhoff conjecture

Motivated by the recent resolution of Asymptotic Quantum Birkhoff Conjecture (AQBC), we attempt to estimate the distance between a given unital quantum channel and the convex hull of unitary channels. We provide two lower bounds on this distance by employing techniques from quantum information and operator algebras, respectively. We then show how to apply these results to construct some explicit counterexamples to AQBC. We also point out an interesting connection between the Grothendieck's inequality and AQBC.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2012

Termination of Nondeterministic Quantum Programs

We define a language-independent model of nondeterministic quantum programs in which a quantum program consists of a finite set of quantum processes. These processes are represented by quantum Markov chains over the common state space. An execution of a nondeterministic quantum program is modeled by a sequence of actions of individual processes. These actions are described by super-operators on the state Hilbert space. At each step of an execution, a process is chosen nondeterministically to perform the next action. A characterization of reachable space and a characterization of diverging states of a nondeterministic quantum program are presented. We establish a zero-one law for termination probability of the states in the reachable space of a nondeterministic quantum program. A combination of these results leads to a necessary and sufficient condition for termination of nondeterministic quantum programs. Based on this condition, an algorithm is found for checking termination of nondeterministic quantum programs within a fixed finite-dimensional state space. A striking difference between nondeterministic classical and quantum programs is shown by example: it is possible that each of several quantum programs simulates the same classical program which terminates with probability 1, but the nondeterministic program consisting of them terminates with probability 0 due to the interference carried in the execution of them.

cs.LO↗

arXiv2011

Verification of Quantum Programs

This paper develops verification methodology for quantum programs, and the contribution of the paper is two-fold: 1. Sharir, Pnueli and Hart [SIAM J. Comput. 13(1984)292-314] presented a general method for proving properties of probabilistic programs, in which a probabilistic program is modeled by a Markov chain and an assertion on the output distribution is extended into an invariant assertion on all intermediate distributions. Their method is essentially a probabilistic generalization of the classical Floyd inductive assertion method. In this paper, we consider quantum programs modeled by quantum Markov chains which are defined by super-operators. It is shown that the Sharir-Pnueli-Hart method can be elegantly generalized to quantum programs by exploiting the Schrödinger-Heisenberg duality between quantum states and observables. In particular, a completeness theorem for the Sharir-Pnueli-Hart verification method of quantum programs is established. 2. As indicated by the completeness theorem, the Sharir-Pnueli-Hart method is in principle effective for verifying all properties of quantum programs that can be expressed in terms of Hermitian operators (observables). But it is not feasible for many practical applications because of the complicated calculation involved in the verification. For the case of finite-dimensional state spaces, we find a method for verification of quantum programs much simpler than the Sharir-Pnueli-Hart method by employing the matrix representation of super-operators and Jordan decomposition of matrices. In particular, this method enables us to compute easily the average running time and even to analyze some interesting long-run behaviors of quantum programs in a finite-dimensional state space.

cs.LO↗

arXiv2010

Model-Checking Linear-Time Properties of Quantum Systems

We define a formal framework for reasoning about linear-time properties of quantum systems in which quantum automata are employed in the modeling of systems and certain closed subspaces of state (Hilbert) spaces are used as the atomic propositions about the behavior of systems. We provide an algorithm for verifying invariants of quantum automata. Then automata-based model-checking technique is generalized for the verification of safety properties recognizable by reversible automata and omega-properties recognizable by reversible Buechi automata.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2010

Any $2\otimes n$ subspace is locally distinguishable

A subspace of a multipartite Hilbert space is called \textit{locally indistinguishable} if any orthogonal basis of this subspace cannot be perfectly distinguished by local operations and classical communication. Previously it was shown that any $m\otimes n$ bipartite system such that $m>2$ and $n>2$ has a locally indistinguishable subspace. However, it has been an open problem since 2005 whether there is a locally indistinguishable bipartite subspace with a qubit subsystem. We settle this problem by showing that any $2\otimes n$ bipartite subspace is locally distinguishable in the sense it contains a basis perfectly distinguishable by LOCC. As an interesting application, we show that any quantum channel with two Kraus operations has optimal environment-assisted classical capacity.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2009

The Tensor Rank of the Tripartite State $\ket{W}^{\otimes n}$}

Tensor rank refers to the number of product states needed to express a given multipartite quantum state. Its non-additivity as an entanglement measure has recently been observed. In this note, we estimate the tensor rank of multiple copies of the tripartite state $\ket{W}=\tfrac{1}{\sqrt{3}}(\ket{100}+\ket{010}+\ket{001})$. Both an upper bound and a lower bound of this rank are derived. In particular, it is proven that the tensor rank of $\ket{W}^{\otimes 2}$ is seven, thus resolving a previously open problem. Some implications of this result are discussed in terms of transformation rates between $\ket{W}^{\otimes n}$ and multiple copies of the state $\ket{GHZ}=\tfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(\ket{000}+\ket{111})$.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2009

Optimal Simulation of a Perfect Entangler

A $2\otimes 2$ unitary operation is called a perfect entangler if it can generate a maximally entangled state from some unentangled input. We study the following question: How many runs of a given two-qubit entangling unitary operation is required to simulate some perfect entangler with one-qubit unitary operations as free resources? We completely solve this problem by presenting an analytical formula for the optimal number of runs of the entangling operation. Our result reveals an entanglement strength of two-qubit unitary operations.

quant-ph↗