Elie Wolfe

Identifying nonconvexity in the sets of limited-dimension quantum correlations

Quantum theory is known to be nonlocal in the sense that separated parties can perform measurements on a shared quantum state to obtain correlated probability distributions, which cannot be achieved if the parties share only classical randomness. Here we find that the set of distributions compatible with sharing quantum states subject to some sufficiently restricted dimension is neither convex nor a superset of the classical distributions. We examine the relationship between quantum distributions associated with a dimensional constraint and classical distributions associated with limited shared randomness. We prove that quantum correlations are convex for certain finite dimension in certain Bell scenarios and that they sometimes offer a dimensional advantage in realizing local distributions. We also consider if there exist Bell scenarios where the set of quantum correlations is never convex with finite dimensionality.

Quantum bounds for inequalities involving marginal expectation values

We review, correct, and develop an algorithm which determines arbitrary Quantum Bounds, based on the seminal work of Tsirelson [Lett. Math. Phys. 4, 93 (1980)]. The potential of this algorithm is demonstrated by deriving both new number-valued Quantum Bounds, as well as identifying a new class of function-valued Quantum Bounds. Those results facilitate an 8-dimensional Volume Analysis of Quantum Mechanics which extends the work of Cabello [PRA 72 (2005)]. We contrast the Quantum Volume defined be these new bounds to that of Macroscopic Locality, defined by the inequalities corresponding to the first level of the hierarchy of Navascues et al [NJP 10 (2008)], proving our function-valued Quantum Bounds to be more complete.

Deriving robust noncontextuality inequalities from algebraic proofs of the Kochen–Specker theorem: the Peres–Mermin square

When a measurement is compatible with each of two other measurements that are incompatible with one another, these define distinct contexts for the given measurement. The Kochen-Specker theorem rules out models of quantum theory that satisfy a particular assumption of context-independence: that sharp measurements are assigned outcomes both deterministically and independently of their context. This notion of noncontextuality is not suited to a direct experimental test because realistic measurements always have some degree of unsharpness due to noise. However, a generalized notion of noncontextuality has been proposed that is applicable to any experimental procedure, including unsharp measurements, but also preparations as well, and for which a quantum no-go result still holds. According to this notion, the model need only specify a probability distribution over the outcomes of a measurement in a context-independent way, rather than specifying a particular outcome. It also implies novel constraints of context-independence for the representation of preparations. In this article, we describe a general technique for translating proofs of the Kochen-Specker theorem into inequality constraints on realistic experimental statistics, the violation of which witnesses the impossibility of a noncontextual model. We focus on algebraic state-independent proofs, using the Peres-Mermin square as our illustrative example. Our technique yields the necessary and sufficient conditions for a particular set of correlations (between the preparations and the measurements) to admit a noncontextual model. The inequalities thus derived are demonstrably robust to noise. We specify how experimental data must be processed in order to achieve a test of these inequalities. We also provide a criticism of prior proposals for experimental tests of noncontextuality based on the Peres-Mermin square.

Multipartite Composition of Contextuality Scenarios

Contextuality is a particular quantum phenomenon that has no analogue in classical probability theory. Given two independent systems, a natural question is how to represent such a situation as a single test space. In other words, how separate contextuality scenarios combine into a joint scenario. Under the premise that the the allowed probabilistic models satisfy the No Signalling principle, Foulis and Randall defined the unique possible way to compose two contextuality scenarios. When composing strictly-more than two test spaces, however, a variety of possible composition methods have been conceived. Nevertheless, all these formally-distinct composition methods appear to give rise to observationally equivalent scenarios, in the sense that the different compositions all allow precisely the same sets of classical and quantum probabilistic models. This raises the question of whether this property of invariance-under-composition-method is special to classical and quantum probabilistic models, or if it generalizes to other probabilistic models as well, our particular focus being

Certifying separability in symmetric mixed states of N qubits, and superradiance.

\mathcal {Q}_1

All the noncontextuality inequalities for arbitrary prepare-and-measure experiments with respect to any fixed set of operational equivalences

Q1 models.

The inflation technique solves completely the classical inference problem

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