LOCC distinguishability of unilaterally transformable quantum states

Abstract

We consider the question of perfect local distinguishability of mutually orthogonal bipartite quantum states, with the property that every state can be specified by a unitary operator acting on the local Hilbert space of Bob. We show that if the states can be exactly discriminated by one-way LOCC where Alice goes first, then the unitary operators can also be perfectly distinguished by an orthogonal measurement on Bob's Hilbert space. We give examples of sets of N<=d maximally entangled states in $d \otimes d$ for d=4,5,6 that are not perfectly distinguishable by one-way LOCC. Interestingly for d=5,6 our examples consist of four and five states respectively. We conjecture that these states cannot be perfectly discriminated by two-way LOCC.Comment: Revised version, new proofs added; to appear in New Journal of Physic