Quantum measurements with prescribed symmetry

We introduce a method to determine whether a given generalised quantum measurement is isolated or it belongs to a family of measurements having the same prescribed symmetry. The technique proposed reduces to solving a linear system of equations in some relevant cases. As consequence, we provide a simple derivation of the maximal family of Symmetric Informationally Complete measurements (SIC)-POVM in dimension 3. Furthermore, we show that the following remarkable geometrical structures are isolated, so that free parameters cannot be introduced: (a) maximal sets of mutually unbiased bases in prime power dimensions from 4 to 16, (b) SIC-POVM in dimensions from 4 to 16 and (c) contextuality Kochen-Specker sets in dimension 3, 4 and 6, composed of 13, 18 and 21 vectors, respectively.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure

Bott - Borel - Weil Construction For Quantum Supergroup Uq(gl(m|n))

The finite dimensional irreducible representations of the quantum supergroup $U_q(gl(m|n))$ are constructed geometrically using techniques from the Bott - Borel - Weil theory and vector coherent states.Comment: Latex, 22 page

Extreme points of the set of density matrices with positive partial transpose

We present a necessary and sufficient condition for a finite dimensional density matrix to be an extreme point of the convex set of density matrices with positive partial transpose with respect to a subsystem. We also give an algorithm for finding such extreme points and illustrate this by some examples.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Discrete phase-space structure of nn-qubit mutually unbiased bases

We work out the phase-space structure for a system of $n$ qubits. We replace the field of real numbers that label the axes of the continuous phase space by the finite field \Gal{2^n} and investigate the geometrical structures compatible with the notion of unbiasedness. These consist of bundles of discrete curves intersecting only at the origin and satisfying certain additional properties. We provide a simple classification of such curves and study in detail the four- and eight-dimensional cases, analyzing also the effect of local transformations. In this way, we provide a comprehensive phase-space approach to the construction of mutually unbiased bases for $n$ qubits.Comment: Title changed. Improved version. Accepted for publication in Annals of Physic

On the irreducible components of moduli schemes for affine spherical varieties

We give a combinatorial description of all affine spherical varieties with prescribed weight monoid $\Gamma$. As an application, we obtain a characterization of the irreducible components of Alexeev and Brion's moduli scheme $\mathrm M_\Gamma$ for such varieties. Moreover, we find several sufficient conditions for $\mathrm M_\Gamma$ to be irreducible and exhibit several examples where $\mathrm M_\Gamma$ is reducible. Finally, we provide examples of non-reduced $\mathrm M_\Gamma$.Comment: v4: 26 pages, final versio