Operational axioms for diagonalizing states

zbMATH Open1477.81012arXiv1506.00380MaRDI QIDQ5015191FDOQ5015191

Authors: Giulio Chiribella, Carlo Maria Scandolo 

Publication date: 6 December 2021

Abstract: In quantum theory every state can be diagonalized, i.e. decomposed as a convex combination of perfectly distinguishable pure states. This elementary structure plays an ubiquitous role in quantum mechanics, quantum information theory, and quantum statistical mechanics, where it provides the foundation for the notions of majorization and entropy. A natural question then arises: can we reconstruct these notions from purely operational axioms? We address this question in the framework of general probabilistic theories, presenting a set of axioms that guarantee that every state can be diagonalized. The first axiom is Causality, which ensures that the marginal of a bipartite state is well defined. Then, Purity Preservation states that the set of pure transformations is closed under composition. The third axiom is Purification, which allows to assign a pure state to the composition of a system with its environment. Finally, we introduce the axiom of Pure Sharpness, stating that for every system there exists at least one pure effect occurring with unit probability on some state. For theories satisfying our four axioms, we show a constructive algorithm for diagonalizing every given state. The diagonalization result allows us to formulate a majorization criterion that captures the convertibility of states in the operational resource theory of purity, where random reversible transformations are regarded as free operations.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1506.00380

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Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Quantum state spaces, operational and probabilistic concepts (81P16)

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Cited In (9)

• Thermodynamics and the structure of quantum theory
• Microcanonical thermodynamics in general physical theories
• On defining the Hamiltonian beyond quantum theory
• General probabilistic theories: an introduction
• Pseudo standard entanglement structure cannot be distinguished from standard entanglement structure
• Categorical probabilistic theories
• Diagonal harmonious state representations
• On the origin of nonclassicality in single systems
• Purity through factorisation

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