On the infimum problem of Hilbert space effects (Q862700)

The so-called quantum effects are represented by Hilbert space operators which are positive and bounded by the identity. The usual order coming from the notion of positivity of operators gives a partial order on the set \(E(H)\) of all effects on the complex Hilbert space \(H\). In recent years, the problem of characterizing the pairs of elements of \(E(H)\) which have an infimum has attracted the attention of several researchers. In the present paper, the authors give a solution of the problem, presenting the following two results. (1) If \(A,B\in E(H)\) are injective, then \(A\wedge B\) exists if and only if \(A\) and \(B\) are comparable. (2) If \(A,B\in E(H)\) and \(A\) is not injective, then \(A\wedge B\) exists if and only if \(A\) and \(B\) are local-comparable (a concept defined in the paper).