Pure matrix states on operator systems (Q703627)

Given an operator system \(V\), denote by \(\text{CP}_k(V)\) the set of completely positive maps \(\varphi:V\rightarrow M_k(\mathbb{C})\), and by \(S_k(V)\) the set of elements of \(\text{CP}_k(V)\) which are unital (the latter being called matrix states). A map \(\psi\in \text{CP}_k(V)\) is pure if \(\varphi\leq_{cp}\psi\) implies \(\varphi=t\psi\) for some \(t\in[0,1]\). The author notes that a consequence of Choquet's theorem is that \(\text{CP}_k(V)=\overline{\text{co}} \{\varphi\in\text{CP}_k(V): \varphi\) is pure\(\}\), the closure in the point-wise topology. Then, the main theorem in the paper shows that pure elements of \(\text{CP}_k(V)\) are exactly the multiples (in the non-commutative convexity sense) of pure matrix states; more precisely, given \(\psi\in\text{CP}_k(V)\) pure, there exist \(m\in\mathbb{N}\), \(\varphi\in S_m(V)\), \(\gamma\in M_{m,k}(\mathbb{C})\) such that \(m\leq k\), \(\varphi\) is pure, and \(\psi=\gamma^*\varphi \gamma\). Thus, sums of such convex combinations form a dense subset of \(\text{CP}_k(V)\). The theorem is then used to provide a simplified proof of a result of \textit{C. Webster} and \textit{S. Winkler} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 351, No. 1, 307--322 (1999; Zbl 0908.47042)], using only classical methods in the convexity part of the proof. The last part of the paper is devoted to characterize some properties of pure matrix states, and to give some concrete examples in the case \(\dim V=3\). As the author points out, even in finite dimensional cases it is nontrivial to determine whether a matrix state is pure.