Quantum effects, sequential independence and majorization (Q716412)

A quantum effect is a positive Hilbert space contraction operator. If \({E_i}\), \(i = 1,\dots,n\), are \(n\) quantum effects on some Hilbert space \(H\), then their sequential product is the operator \( E_n\circ E_{n-1}\circ \dots \circ E_1 = E_n^{1/2}E_{n-1}^{1/2}\dots E_2^{1/2}E_1E_2^{1/2}\circ\dots \circ E_{n-1}^{1/2}E_n^{1/2}\). It is proved that the quantum effects \(E_i\), \(1\leq i \leq n\), are sequentially independent [cf.\ \textit{S. Gudder} and \textit{G. Nagy}, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 130, No.~4, 1125--1130 (2002; Zbl 1016.47020)] if and only if \(\Pi_i E_{r_i}^{1/2} \geq 0\) for every permutation \(r_1r_2\dots r_n\) of the set \(S_n = \{1,2,\dots ,n\}\). The sequential independence of the effects \(E_i\), \(1\leq i\leq n\), implies \(E_n\circ E_{n-1}\circ\dots \circ E_{j+1} \circ E_j \circ \dots \circ E_1 = (E_n\circ E_{n-1}\circ \dots \circ E_{j+1})\circ E_j\circ \dots \circ E_1\) for every \(j\), \(1\leq j\leq n\). It is also proved that, if there exists an effect \(E_j\), \(1\leq j\leq n\), such that \(E_j \leq (E_n\circ E_{n-1}\dots \circ E_{j+1}) \circ E_j \circ\dots \circ E_1\), then the effects \({E_i}\) are sequentially independent and satisfy \(E_j = E_n\circ E_{n-1}\circ\dots \circ E_1 = \Pi_i E_i\).