Adaptive Bayesian and frequentist data processing for quantum tomography

The outcome statistics of an informationally complete quantum measurement for a system in a given state can be used to evaluate the ensemble expectation of any linear operator in the same state, by averaging a function of the outcomes that depends on the specific operator. Here we introduce two novel data-processing strategies, non-linear in the frequencies, which lead to faster convergence to theoretical expectations.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, revised versio

Orthogonality relations in Quantum Tomography

Quantum estimation of the operators of a system is investigated by analyzing its Liouville space of operators. In this way it is possible to easily derive some general characterization for the sets of observables (i.e. the possible quorums) that are measured for the quantum estimation. In particular we analyze the reconstruction of operators of spin systems.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure

On the realization of Bell observables

We show how Bell observables on a bipartite quantum system can be obtained by local observables via a controlled-unitary transformation. For continuous variables this result holds for the Bell observable corresponding to the non-conventional heterodyne measurement on two radiation modes, which is connected through a 50-50 beam-splitter to two local observables given by single-mode homodyne measurements. A simple scheme for a controlled-unitary transformation of continuous variables is also presented, which needs only two squeezers, a parametric downconverter and two beam splitters.Comment: 9 pages, elsart, 1 figur

Added noise in homodyne measurement of field-observables

Homodyne tomography provides a way for measuring generic field-operators. Here we analyze the determination of the most relevant quantities: intensity, field, amplitude and phase. We show that tomographic measurements are affected by additional noise in comparison with the direct detection of each observable by itself. The case of of coherent states has been analyzed in details and earlier estimations of tomographic precision are critically discussed.Comment: Two figures. Submitted to Phys. Lett.

Extremal covariant quantum operations and POVM's

We consider the convex sets of QO's (quantum operations) and POVM's (positive operator valued measures) which are covariant under a general finite-dimensional unitary representation of a group. We derive necessary and sufficient conditions for extremality, and give general bounds for ranks of the extremal POVM's and QO's. Results are illustrated on the basis of simple examples.Comment: 18 pages, to appear on J. Math. Phy

No-signaling, dynamical independence, and the local observability principle

Within a general operational framework I show that a-causality at a distance of "local actions" (the so-called "no-signaling") is a direct consequence of commutativity of local transformations, i.e. of dynamical independence. On the other hand, the tensor product of Quantum Mechanics is not just a consequence of such dynamical independence, but needs in addition the Local Observability Principle.Comment: Presented at the conference "Theory and Technology in Quantum Information, Communication, Computation and Cryptography", Trieste SISSA, June 2006. Submitted to J. Phys. A. Math. Ge

Physics as Quantum Information Processing: Quantum Fields as Quantum Automata

Can we reduce Quantum Field Theory (QFT) to a quantum computation? Can physics be simulated by a quantum computer? Do we believe that a quantum field is ultimately made of a numerable set of quantum systems that are unitarily interacting? A positive answer to these questions corresponds to substituting QFT with a theory of quantum cellular automata (QCA), and the present work is examining this hypothesis. These investigations are part of a large research program on a "quantum-digitalization" of physics, with Quantum Theory as a special theory of information, and Physics as emergent from the same quantum-information processing. A QCA-based QFT has tremendous potential advantages compared to QFT, being quantum "ab-initio" and free from the problems plaguing QFT due to the continuum hypothesis. Here I will show how dynamics emerges from the quantum processing, how the QCA can reproduce the Dirac-field phenomenology at large scales, and the kind of departures from QFT that that should be expected at a Planck-scale discreteness. I will introduce the notions of linear field quantum automaton and local-matrix quantum automaton, in terms of which I will provide the solution to the Feynman's problem about the possibility of simulating a Fermi field with a quantum computer.Comment: This version: further improvements in notation. Added reference. Work presented at the conference "Foundations of Probability and Physics-6" (FPP6) held on 12-15 June 2011 at the Linnaeus University, Vaaxjo, Sweden. Many new results, e.g. Feynman problem of qubit-ization of Fermi fields solved

Operational Axioms for Quantum Mechanics

The mathematical formulation of Quantum Mechanics in terms of complex Hilbert space is derived for finite dimensions, starting from a general definition of "physical experiment" and from five simple Postulates concerning "experimental accessibility and simplicity". For the infinite dimensional case, on the other hand, a C*-algebra representation of physical transformations is derived, starting from just four of the five Postulates via a Gelfand-Naimark-Segal (GNS) construction. The present paper simplifies and sharpens the previous derivation in version 1. The main ingredient of the axiomatization is the postulated existence of "faithful states" that allows one to calibrate the experimental apparatus. Such notion is at the basis of the operational definitions of the scalar product and of the "transposed" of a physical transformation. What is new in the present paper with respect to quant-ph/0603011 is the operational deduction of an involution corresponding to the "complex-conjugation" for effects, whose extension to transformations allows to define the "adjoint" of a transformation when the extension is composition-preserving.Comment: New improvements have been made. Work presented at the conference "Foundations of Probability and Physics-4, Quantum Theory: Reconsideration of Foundations-3" held on 4-9 June at the International Centre for Mathematical Modelling in Physics, Engineering and Cognitive Sciences, Vaxjo University, Sweden. Also contains an errata to "How to Derive the Hilbert-Space Formulation of Quantum Mechanics From Purely Operational Axioms", quant-ph/060301