Unspeakable quantum information

No verbal explanation can indicate a direction in space or the orientation of a coordinate system. Only material objects can do it. In this article we consider the use of a set of spin-\half particles in an entangled state for indicating a direction, or a hydrogen atom in a Rydberg state for transmitting a Cartesian frame. Optimal strategies are derived for the emission and detection of the quantum signals.Comment: to appear in "Quantum Theory: Reconsideration of Foundations", ed. by A. Khrennikov; series ``Math. Modelling in Physics, Engineering and Cognitive Sciences'' V\"axj\"o Univ. Press (2002) - requires sprocl.st

Weak limits for quantum random walks

We formulate and prove a general weak limit theorem for quantum random walks in one and more dimensions. With $X_n$ denoting position at time $n$, we show that $X_n/n$ converges weakly as $n \to \infty$ to a certain distribution which is absolutely continuous and of bounded support. The proof is rigorous and makes use of Fourier transform methods. This approach simplifies and extends certain preceding derivations valid in one dimension that make use of combinatorial and path integral methods

Covariant quantum measurements may not be optimal

Quantum particles, such as spins, can be used for communicating spatial directions to observers who share no common coordinate frame. We show that if the emitter's signals are the orbit of a group, then the optimal detection method may not be a covariant measurement (contrary to widespread belief). It may be advantageous for the receiver to use a different group and an indirect estimation method: first, an ordinary measurement supplies redundant numerical parameters; the latter are then used for a nonlinear optimal identification of the signal.Comment: minor corrections, to appear in J. Mod. Opt. (proc. of Gdansk conf.

A de Finetti Representation Theorem for Quantum Process Tomography

In quantum process tomography, it is possible to express the experimenter's prior information as a sequence of quantum operations, i.e., trace-preserving completely positive maps. In analogy to de Finetti's concept of exchangeability for probability distributions, we give a definition of exchangeability for sequences of quantum operations. We then state and prove a representation theorem for such exchangeable sequences. The theorem leads to a simple characterization of admissible priors for quantum process tomography and solves to a Bayesian's satisfaction the problem of an unknown quantum operation.Comment: 10 page

Bounded Entanglement Entropy in the Quantum Ising Model

Funder: University of CambridgeAbstract: A rigorous proof is presented of the boundedness of the entanglement entropy of a block of spins for the ground state of the one-dimensional quantum Ising model with sufficiently strong transverse field. This is proved by a refinement of the stochastic geometric arguments in the earlier work by Grimmett et al. (J Stat Phys 131:305–339, 2008). The proof utilises a transformation to a model of classical probability called the continuum random-cluster model. Our method of proof is fairly robust, and applies also to certain disordered systems

Entanglement in the quantum Ising model

We study the asymptotic scaling of the entanglement of a block of spins for the ground state of the one-dimensional quantum Ising model with transverse field. When the field is sufficiently strong, the entanglement grows at most logarithmically in the number of spins. The proof utilises a transformation to a model of classical probability called the continuum random-cluster model, and is based on a property of the latter model termed ratio weak-mixing. Our proof applies equally to a large class of disordered interactions