A new inequality for the von Neumann entropy (Q2571251)

Von Neumann (quantum) entroy serves as a model for a process analogous to Shannon's (classical) entropy in information theory. In 1973, \textit{E. H. Lieb} and \textit{M. B. Ruskai} [``Proof of the strong subadditivity of quantum-mechanical entropy'', J. Math. Phys. 14, 1938--1941 (1973)] proved that strong subadditivity of von Neumann entropy is a linchpin of quantum coding theory. In this paper, the authors establish a new inequality for von Neumann entropy which is independent of strong subadditivity. This is in contrast to all such previously known inequalities which may be derived from the strong additivity property. Given three constraints on the entropies of cetain reduced states, the authors demonstrate that their inequlity holds for any four-party quantum state.