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Paul B. Slater

Publications and source records attributed to Paul B. Slater.

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Bures Measures over the Spaces of Two and Three-Dimensional Density Matrices

Due to considerable recent interest in the use of density matrices for a wide variety of purposes, including quantum computation, we present a general method for their parameterizations in terms of Euler angles. We assert that this is of more fundamental importance than (as several people have remarked to us) ``just another parameterization of the density matrix.'' There are several uses to which this methodology can be put. One that has received particular attention is in the construction of certain distinguished (Bures) measures on the $(n^2 -1)$-dimensional convex sets of $n \times n$ density matrices.

quant-ph↗

Essentially All Gaussian Two-Party Quantum States are a priori Nonclassical but Classically Correlated

Duan, Giedke, Cirac and Zoller (quant-ph/9908056) and, independently, Simon (quant-ph/9909044) have recently found necessary and sufficient conditions for the separability (classical correlation) of the Gaussian two-party (continuous variable) states. Duan et al remark that their criterion is based on a "much stronger bound" on the total variance of a pair of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen-type operators than is required simply by the uncertainty relation. Here, we seek to formalize and test this particular assertion in both classical and quantum-theoretic frameworks. We first attach to these states the classical a priori probability (Jeffreys' prior), proportional to the volume element of the Fisher information metric on the Riemannian manifold of Gaussian (quadrivariate normal) probability distributions. Then, numerical evidence indicates that more than ninety-nine percent of the Gaussian two-party states do, in fact, meet the more stringent criterion for separability. We collaterally note that the prior probability assigned to the classical states, that is those having positive Glauber-Sudarshan P-representations, is less than one-thousandth of one percent. We, then, seek to attach as a measure to the Gaussian two-party states, the volume element of the associated (quantum-theoretic) Bures (minimal monotone) metric. Our several extensive analyses, then, persistently yield probabilities of separability and classicality that are, to very high orders of accuracy, unity and zero, respectively, so the two apparently quite distinct (classical and quantum-theoretic) forms of analysis are rather remarkably consistent in their findings.

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High-Temperature Expansions of Bures and Fisher Information Priors

For certain infinite and finite-dimensional thermal systems, we obtain --- incorporating quantum-theoretic considerations into Bayesian thermostatistical investigations of Lavenda --- high-temperature expansions of priors over inverse temperature beta induced by volume elements ("quantum Jeffreys' priors) of Bures metrics. Similarly to Lavenda's results based on volume elements (Jeffreys' priors) of (classical) Fisher information metrics, we find that in the limit beta -> 0, the quantum-theoretic priors either conform to Jeffreys' rule for variables over [0,infinity], by being proportional to 1/beta, or to the Bayes-Laplace principle of insufficient reason, by being constant. Whether a system adheres to one rule or to the other appears to depend upon its number of degrees of freedom.

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Hall Normalization Constants for the Bures Volumes of the n-State Quantum Systems

We report the results of certain integrations of quantum-theoretic interest, relying, in this regard, upon recently developed parameterizations of Boya et al of the n x n density matrices, in terms of squared components of the unit (n-1)-sphere and the n x n unitary matrices. Firstly, we express the normalized volume elements of the Bures (minimal monotone) metric for n = 2 and 3, obtaining thereby "Bures prior probability distributions" over the two- and three-state systems. Then, as an essential first step in extending these results to n > 3, we determine that the "Hall normalization constant" (C_{n}) for the marginal Bures prior probability distribution over the (n-1)-dimensional simplex of the n eigenvalues of the n x n density matrices is, for n = 4, equal to 71680/pi^2. Since we also find that C_{3} = 35/pi, it follows that C_{4} is simply equal to 2^{11} C_{3}/pi. (C_{2} itself is known to equal 2/pi.) The constant C_{5} is also found. It too is associated with a remarkably simple decompositon, involving the product of the eight consecutive prime numbers from 2 to 23. We also preliminarily investigate several cases, n > 5, with the use of quasi-Monte Carlo integration. We hope that the various analyses reported will prove useful in deriving a general formula (which evidence suggests will involve the Bernoulli numbers) for the Hall normalization constant for arbitrary n. This would have diverse applications, including quantum inference and universal quantum coding.

quant-ph↗

A priori Probabilities of Separable Quantum States

Zyczkowski, Horodecki, Sanpera, and Lewenstein (ZHSL) recently proposed a ``natural measure'' on the N-dimensional quantum systems (quant-ph/9804024), but expressed surprise when it led them to conclude that for N = 2 x 2, disentangled (separable) systems are more probable (0.632) in nature than entangled ones. We contend, however, that ZHSL's (rejected) intuition has, in fact, a sound theoretical basis, and that the a priori probability of disentangled 2 x 2 systems should more properly be viewed as (considerably) less than 0.5. We arrive at this conclusion in two quite distinct ways, the first based on classical and the second, quantum considerations. Both approaches, however, replace (in whole or part) the ZHSL (product) measure by ones based on the volume elements of monotone metrics, which in the classical case amounts to adopting the Jeffreys' prior of Bayesian theory. Only the quantum-theoretic analysis (which yields the smallest probabilities of disentanglement) uses the minimum number of parameters possible, N^2 - 1, as opposed to N^2 + N - 1 (although this "over-parameterization", as recently indicated by Byrd, should be avoidable). However, despite substantial computation, we are not able to obtain precise estimates of these probabilities, and the need for additional (possibly supercomputer) analyses is indicated (particularly so, for higher-dimensional quantum systems, such as the 2 x 3 we also study here).

quant-ph↗

Volume Elements of Monotone Metrics on the n x n Density Matrices as Densities-of-States for Thermodynamic Purposes. I

Among the monotone metrics on the (n^{2} - 1)-dimensional convex set of n x n density matrices, as Petz and Sudar have recently elaborated, there are a minimal (Bures) and a maximal one. We examine the proposition that it is physically meaningful to treat the volume elements of these metrics as densities-of-states for thermodynamic purposes. In the n = 2 (spin-1/2) case, use of the maximal monotone metric, in fact, does lead to the adoption of the Langevin (and not the Brillouin) functions, thus, completely conforming with a recent probabilistic argument of Lavenda. Brody and Hughston also arrived at the Langevin function in an analysis based on the Fubini-Study metric. It is a matter of some interest, however, that in the first (subsequently modified) version of their paper, they had reported a different result, one fully consistent with the alternative use of the minimal monotone metric. In this part I of our investigation, we first study scenarios involving partially entangled spin-1/2 particles (n = 4, 6,...) and then a certain three-level extension of the two-level systems. In part II, we examine, in full generality, and with some limited analytical success, the cases n = 3 and 4.

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Volume Elements of Monotone Metrics on the n x n Density Matrices as Densities-of-States for Thermodynamic Purposes. II

We derive explicit expressions for the volume elements of both the minimal and maximal monotone metrics over the (n^{2} - 1)-dimensional convex set of n x n density matrices for the cases n = 3 and 4. We make further progress for the specific n = 3 maximal-monotone case, by taking the limit of a certain ratio of integration results, obtained using an orthogonal set of eight coordinates. By doing so, we find remarkably simple marginal probability distributions based on the corresponding volume element, which we then use for thermodynamic purposes. We, thus, find a spin-1 analogue of the Langevin function. In the fully general n = 4 situation, however, we are impeded in making similar progress by the inability to diagonalize a 3 x 3 Hermitian matrix and thereby obtain an orthogonal set of coordinates to use in the requisite integrations.

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SU(N) x S_{m}-Invariant Eigenspaces of N^{m} x N^{m} Mean Density Matrices

We extend to additional probability measures and scenarios, certain of the recent results of Krattenthaler and Slater (quant-ph/9612043), whose original motivation was to obtain quantum analogs of seminal work on universal data compression of Clarke and Barron. KS obtained explicit formulas for the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the 2^m x 2^m density matrices derived by averaging the m-fold tensor products with themselves of the 2 x 2 density matrices. The weighting was done with respect to a one-parameter (u) family of probability distributions, all the members of which are spherically-symmetric (SU(2)-invariant) over the ``Bloch sphere'' of two-level quantum systems. For u = 1/2, one obtains the normalized volume element of the minimal monotone (Bures) metric. In this paper, analyses parallel to those of KS are conducted, based on an alternative "natural" measure on the density matrices recently proposed by Zyczkowski, Horodecki, Sanpera, and Lewenstein (quant-ph/9804024). The approaches of KS and that based on ZHSL are found to yield [1 + m/2] identical SU(2) x S_{m}-invariant eigenspaces (but not coincident eigenvalues for m > 3). Companion results, based on the SU(3) form of the ZHSL measure, are obtained for the twofold and threefold tensor products of the 3 x 3 density matrices. We find a rather remarkable limiting procedure (selection rule) for recovering from these analyses, the (permutationally-symmetrized) multiplets of SU(3) constructed from two or three particles. We also analyze the scenarios (all for m = 2) N = 2 x 3, N= 2 x 3 x 2, N= 3 x 2 x 2 and N = 4 and, in addition, generalize the ZHSL measure, so that it incorporates a family of (symmetric) Dirichlet distributions (rather than simply the uniform distribution), defined on the (N-1)-dimensional simplex of eigenvalues.

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Comparative Noninformativities of Quantum Priors Based on Monotone Metrics

We consider a family of prior probability distributions of particular interest, all being defined on the three-dimensional convex set of two-level quantum systems. Each distribution is, following recent work of Petz and Sudar, taken to be proportional to the volume element of a monotone metric on that Riemannian manifold. We apply an entropy-based test (a variant of one recently developed by Clarke) to determine which of two priors is more noninformative in nature. This involves converting them to posterior probability distributions based on some set of hypothesized outcomes of measurements of the quantum system in question. It is, then, ascertained whether or not the original relative entropy (Kullback-Leibler distance) between a pair of priors increases or decreases when one of them is exchanged with its corresponding posterior. The findings lead us to assert that the maximal monotone metric yields the most noninformative (prior) distribution and the minimal monotone (that is, the Bures) metric, the least. Our conclusions both agree and disagree, in certain respects, with ones recently reached by Hall, who relied upon a less specific test criterion than our entropy-based one.

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Exact Eigenanalyses of Certain N^m x N^m Density Matrices

We apply and extend recent results of Krattenthaler and Slater (quant-ph/9612043), who sought quantum analogs of seminal work on universal data compression of Clarke and Barron. KS obtained explicit formulas for the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the 2^m x 2^m density matrices gotten by averaging the m-fold tensor products with themselves of the 2 x 2 density matrices. The weighting was done with respect to a one-parameter family of probability distributions, all the members of which are spherically-symmetric over the "Bloch sphere" of two-level quantum systems. This family includes the normalized volume element of the minimal monotone (Bures) metric. In this letter, we conduct parallel analyses (for m =2,3,4), based on a natural measure on the density matrices recently proposed by Zyczkowski, Horodecki, Sanpera and Lewenstein (quant-ph/9804024) and find interesting similarities and differences with the findings of KS. In addition, we are able to obtain exact analogous results, based on the measure of ZHSL, for the twofold tensor products of the 3 x 3 density matrices.

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Bures Metrics for Certain High-Dimensional Quantum Systems

Hubner's formula for the Bures (statistical distance) metric is applied to both a one-parameter and a two-parameter series (n=2,...,7) of sets of 2^n x 2^n density matrices. In the doubly-parameterized series, the sets are comprised of the n-fold tensor products --- corresponding to n independent, identical quantum systems --- of the 2 x 2 density matrices with real entries. The Gaussian curvatures of the corresponding Bures metrics are found to be constants (4/n). In the second series of 2^n x 2^n density matrices studied, the singly-parameterized sets are formed --- following a study of Krattenthaler and Slater --- by averaging with respect to a certain Gibbs distribution, the n-fold tensor products of the 2 x 2 density matrices with complex entries. For n = 100, we are also able to compute the Bures distance between two arbitrary (not necessarily neighboring) density matrices in this particular series, making use of the eigenvalue formulas of Krattenthaler and Slater, together with the knowledge that the 2^n x 2^n density matrices in this series commute.

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A Quantum-Theoretic Analog for a Pair of Noncommuting Observables of the Semiclassical Brillouin Function

We study, with the use of numerical integration, a noncommutative extension of a quantum-theoretic model (an alternative to the semiclassical Brillouin function), recently presented by Brody and Hughston and, independently, Slater, for the thermodynamic behavior of a spin-1/2 particle. Differences between the (broadly similar) predictions yielded by this extended model and those obtained from its conventional (semiclassical/Jaynesian) entropy-maximization counterpart are examined.

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Bayesian Thermostatistical Analyses of Two-Level Complex and Quaternionic Systems

The three and five-dimensional convex sets of two-level complex and quaternionic quantum systems are studied in the Bayesian thermostatistical framework introduced by Lavenda. Associated with a given parameterization of each such set is a quantum Fisher (Helstrom) information matrix. The square root of its determinant (adopting an ansatz of Harold Jeffreys) provides a reparameterization-invariant prior measure over the set. Both such measures can be properly normalized and their univariate marginal probability distributions (which serve as structure functions) obtained. Gibbs (posterior) probability distributions can then be found, using Poisson's integral representation of the modified spherical Bessel functions. The square roots of the (classical) Fisher information of these Gibbs distributions yield (unnormalized) priors over the inverse temperature parameters.

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Quantum Statistical Thermodynamics of Two-Level Systems

We study four distinct families of Gibbs canonical distributions defined on the standard complex, quaternionic, real and classical (nonquantum) two-level systems. The structure function or density of states for any two-level system is a simple power (1, 3, 0 or -1) of the length of its polarization vector, while the magnitude of the energy of the system, in all four cases, is the negative of the logarithm of the determinant of the corresponding two-dimensional density matrix. Functional relationships (proportional to ratios of gamma functions) are found between the average polarizations with respect to the Gibbs distributions and the effective polarization temperature parameters. In the standard complex case, this yields an interesting alternative, meeting certain probabilistic requirements recently set forth by Lavenda, to the more conventional (hyperbolic tangent) Brillouin function of paramagnetism (which, Lavenda argues, fails to meet such specifications).

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Asymptotic Redundancies for Universal Quantum Coding

Clarke and Barron have recently shown that the Jeffreys' invariant prior of Bayesian theory yields the common asymptotic (minimax and maximin) redundancy of universal data compression in a parametric setting. We seek a possible analogue of this result for the two-level {\it quantum} systems. We restrict our considerations to prior probability distributions belonging to a certain one-parameter family, $q(u)$, $-\infty < u < 1$. Within this setting, we are able to compute exact redundancy formulas, for which we find the asymptotic limits. We compare our quantum asymptotic redundancy formulas to those derived by naively applying the classical counterparts of Clarke and Barron, and find certain common features. Our results are based on formulas we obtain for the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of $2^n \times 2^n$ (Bayesian density) matrices, $ζ_{n}(u)$. These matrices are the weighted averages (with respect to $q(u)$) of all possible tensor products of $n$ identical $2 \times 2$ density matrices, representing the two-level quantum systems. We propose a form of {\it universal} coding for the situation in which the density matrix describing an ensemble of quantum signal states is unknown. A sequence of $n$ signals would be projected onto the dominant eigenspaces of $\ze_n(u)$.

math.PR↗