A Result About the Classification of Quantum Covariance Matrices Based on Their Eigenspectra

Fuente: arXiv
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Autore principale: Avagyan, Arik
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2023
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author Avagyan, Arik
author_facet Avagyan, Arik
contents The set of covariance matrices of a continuous-variable quantum system with a finite number of degrees of freedom is a strict subset of the set of real positive-definite matrices due to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. This has the implication that, in general, not every orthogonal transform of a quantum covariance matrix produces a positive-definite matrix that obeys the uncertainty principle. A natural question thus arises, to find the set of quantum covariance matrices consistent with a given eigenspectrum. For the special class of pure Gaussian states the set of quantum covariance matrices with a given eigenspectrum consists of a single orbit of the action of the orthogonal symplectic group. The eigenspectrum of a covariance matrix of a state in this class is composed of pairs that each multiply to one. Our main contribution is finding a non-trivial class of eigenspectra with the property that the set of quantum covariance matrices corresponding to any eigenspectrum in this class are related by orthogonal symplectic transformations. We show that all non-degenerate eigenspectra with this property must belong to this class, and that the set of such eigenspectra coincides with the class of non-degenerate eigenspectra that identify the physically relevant thermal and squeezing parameters of a Gaussian state.
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id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2308_03439
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A Result About the Classification of Quantum Covariance Matrices Based on Their Eigenspectra
Avagyan, Arik
Quantum Physics
Mathematical Physics
The set of covariance matrices of a continuous-variable quantum system with a finite number of degrees of freedom is a strict subset of the set of real positive-definite matrices due to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. This has the implication that, in general, not every orthogonal transform of a quantum covariance matrix produces a positive-definite matrix that obeys the uncertainty principle. A natural question thus arises, to find the set of quantum covariance matrices consistent with a given eigenspectrum. For the special class of pure Gaussian states the set of quantum covariance matrices with a given eigenspectrum consists of a single orbit of the action of the orthogonal symplectic group. The eigenspectrum of a covariance matrix of a state in this class is composed of pairs that each multiply to one. Our main contribution is finding a non-trivial class of eigenspectra with the property that the set of quantum covariance matrices corresponding to any eigenspectrum in this class are related by orthogonal symplectic transformations. We show that all non-degenerate eigenspectra with this property must belong to this class, and that the set of such eigenspectra coincides with the class of non-degenerate eigenspectra that identify the physically relevant thermal and squeezing parameters of a Gaussian state.
title A Result About the Classification of Quantum Covariance Matrices Based on Their Eigenspectra
topic Quantum Physics
Mathematical Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.03439