Mixed state holonomies (Q1611318)

After the interest in the geometric phases, starting with the Berry phase, \textit{A. Uhlmann} tried to introduce mixed state holonomy [Rep. Math. Phys. 24, 229-240 (1986; Zbl 0644.46058)]. Using the Bures distances, \textit{A. Uhlmann} [in: Nonlinear, deformed, and irreversible Quantum systems, H.-D. Doebner et al. (eds), Word Scientific, Singapore, 296-302 (1995; Zbl 0891.46051)] has produced explicit formulas for the geometric phase on cyclic evolution on geodesic spherical triangles, the vertices of which are associated with mixed two-level systems. In connection also with mixed state holonomy \textit{E. Sjöqvist, A. K. Pati, A. Ekert, J. S. Anandan, M. Ericsson, D. K. L. Oi} and \textit{V. Vedral} [Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, No. 14, 2845-2849 (2000)] provided another formulation of the geometric phase in the experimental set up of quantum interferometry. In the paper under consideration, Slater points out that the two methodologies of Uhlmann and Sjöqvist at all yield inequivalent outputs for geometric phase, more precisely for the so called visibility. Slater also drew out the same conclusion analyzing both predictions of Sjöqvist et al. and Uhlmann [\textit{A. Uhlmann}, From the rotation group to quantum algebra, Symmetries in Science VI, B. Gruber et al (ed.), Plenum, New-York, 741-748 (1993; Zbl 0871.46042)] for unitary evolution of spin one-half systems over circular paths. Slater also underlines a third disagreement in the predictions of Uhlmann and Sjöqvist at all referring to the unitary circular evolution of some particular \(k\)-level Gibbsian states.