Non-disturbance for fuzzy quantum measurements (Q2565797)

Let \(X\) and \(Y\) be two quantum measurements. The following three non-disturbance criteria have ben introduced in the quantum measurement theory. (1) The probability of an established value of \(Y\) is unchanged by the later occurrence of a value of \(X\). (2) The probability of occurrence of a \(Y\) value is unchanged by a preceding execution of \(X\). (3) If \(p\) and \(q\) are \(X\) and \(Y\) values, respectively, then the probability of \(p\) followed by \(q\) coincides with the probability of \(q\) followed by \(p\). The criteria are studied in case of \(X\) and \(Y\) being discrete POV measures. In other words, \(X\) and \(Y\) are described by a sequence \((A_i)\) and \((B_i)\), respectively, where \(A_i,B_i\) are positive contractions acting on a Hilbert space such that \(\sum_iA_i=\sum_iB_i=1\). \(X\) and \(Y\) are called compatible if \(A_iB_j=B_jA_i\) for all \(i,j\). Conditions (1)--(3) are formulated for this case in a mathematically rigorous manner. It is proved that (1) is equivalent to the fact that \(X\) and \(Y\) are compatible and \(Y\) is a projection valued measure (i.e. a sharp measurement). Further, it is shown that compatibility of \(X\) and \(Y\) is a sufficient but not necessary condition for (2). Finally, condition (3) is proved to be equivalent to compatibility of \(X\) and \(Y\). It had been previously known that conditions (1)--(3) are all equivalent to compatibility provided that \(X\) and \(Y\) are projection valued measures. It demonstrates that the situation for unsharp measurements is more delicate and that condition (3) seems to be most convenient criterion for non-disturbance of quantum measurements.