Separable approximations of density matrices of composite quantum systems

We investigate optimal separable approximations (decompositions) of states rho of bipartite quantum systems A and B of arbitrary dimensions MxN following the lines of Ref. [M. Lewenstein and A. Sanpera, Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 2261 (1998)]. Such approximations allow to represent in an optimal way any density operator as a sum of a separable state and an entangled state of a certain form. For two qubit systems (M=N=2) the best separable approximation has a form of a mixture of a separable state and a projector onto a pure entangled state. We formulate a necessary condition that the pure state in the best separable approximation is not maximally entangled. We demonstrate that the weight of the entangled state in the best separable approximation in arbitrary dimensions provides a good entanglement measure. We prove in general for arbitrary M and N that the best separable approximation corresponds to a mixture of a separable and an entangled state which are both unique. We develop also a theory of optimal separable approximations for states with positive partial transpose (PPT states). Such approximations allow to decompose any density operator with positive partial transpose as a sum of a separable state and an entangled PPT state. We discuss procedures of constructing such decompositions.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure

Non-separable AF-algebras

We give two pathological phenomena for non-separable AF-algebras which do not occur for separable AF-algebras. One is that non-separable AF-algebras are not determined by their Bratteli diagrams, and the other is that there exists a non-separable AF-algebra which is prime but not primitive.Comment: 8 page

Some strongly bounded classes of Banach spaces

We show that the classes of separable reflexive Banach spaces and of spaces with separable dual are strongly bounded. This gives a new proof of a recent result of E. Odell and Th. Schlumprecht, asserting that there exists a separable reflexive Banach space containing isomorphic copies of every separable uniformly convex Banach spaces.Comment: 10 page

Genericity of Fr\'echet smooth spaces

If a separable Banach space contains an isometric copy of every separable reflexive Fr\'echet smooth Banach space, then it contains an isometric copy of every separable Banach space. The same conclusion holds if we consider separable Banach spaces with Fr\'echet smooth dual space. This improves a result of G. Godefroy and N. J. Kalton.Comment: 34 page