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MiS Preprint
83/2011
Geometry of the set of mixed quantum states: An apophatic approach
Ingemar Bengtsson, Stephan Weis and Karol Życzkowski
Abstract
The set of quantum states consists of density matrices of order $N$, which are hermitian, positive and normalized by the trace condition. We analyze the structure of this set in the framework of the Euclidean geometry naturally arising in the space of hermitian matrices. For $N=2$ this set is the Bloch ball, embedded in $\mathbb R^3$. For $N \geq 3$ this set of dimensionality $N^2-1$ has a much richer structure. We study its properties and at first advocate an apophatic approach, which concentrates on characteristics not possessed by this set. We also apply more constructive techniques and analyze two dimensional cross-sections and projections of the set of quantum states. They are dual to each other. At the end we make some remarks on certain dimension dependent properties.
Ingemar Bengtsson, Stephan Weis and Karol Zyczkowski
Geometry of the set of mixed quantum states : an apophatic approach
In: Geometric methods in physics : XXX Workshop, Bialowieza, Poland, June 26 to July 2, 2011 / Piotr Kielanowski (ed.) Basel : Springer, 2013. - pp. 175-197 (Trends in mathematics)
