![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images//topicimages/noimage.gif)
Channel-state duality
Encyclopedia
In quantum information theory, the channel-state duality refers to the correspondence between quantum channel
s and quantum states (described by density matrices
). Phrased differently, the duality is the isomorphism between completely positive maps (channels) from A to Cn×n, where A is a C*-algebra and Cn×n denotes the n×n complex entries, and positive linear functionals (state
s) on the tensor product
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/3/1/3318847-1.gif)
, in the Schrödinger picture, is a completely positive (CP for short) linear map
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/3/1/3318847-2.gif)
that takes a state of system 1 to a state of system 2. Next we describe the dual state corresponding to Φ.
Let Ei j denote the matrix unit whose ij-th entry is 1 and zero elsewhere. The (operator) matrix
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/3/1/3318847-3.gif)
is called the Choi matrix of Φ. By Choi's theorem on completely positive maps
, Φ is CP if and only if ρΦ is positive (semidefinite). One can view ρΦ as a density matrix, and therefore the state dual to Φ.
The duality between channels and states refers to the map
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/3/1/3318847-4.gif)
a linear bijection. This map is also called Jamiołkowski isomorphism or Choi–Jamiołkowski isomorphism.
Quantum channel
In quantum information theory, a quantum channel is a communication channel which can transmit quantum information, as well as classical information. An example of quantum information is the state of a qubit...
s and quantum states (described by density matrices
Density matrix
In quantum mechanics, a density matrix is a self-adjoint positive-semidefinite matrix of trace one, that describes the statistical state of a quantum system...
). Phrased differently, the duality is the isomorphism between completely positive maps (channels) from A to Cn×n, where A is a C*-algebra and Cn×n denotes the n×n complex entries, and positive linear functionals (state
State (functional analysis)
In functional analysis, a state on a C*-algebra is a positive linear functional of norm 1. The set of states of a C*-algebra A, sometimes denoted by S, is always a convex set. The extremal points of S are called pure states...
s) on the tensor product
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/3/1/3318847-1.gif)
Details
Let H1 and H2 be (finite dimensional) Hilbert spaces. The family of linear operators acting on Hi will be denoted by L(Hi). Consider two quantum systems, indexed by 1 and 2, whose states are density matrices in L(Hi) respectively. A quantum channelQuantum channel
In quantum information theory, a quantum channel is a communication channel which can transmit quantum information, as well as classical information. An example of quantum information is the state of a qubit...
, in the Schrödinger picture, is a completely positive (CP for short) linear map
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/3/1/3318847-2.gif)
that takes a state of system 1 to a state of system 2. Next we describe the dual state corresponding to Φ.
Let Ei j denote the matrix unit whose ij-th entry is 1 and zero elsewhere. The (operator) matrix
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/3/1/3318847-3.gif)
is called the Choi matrix of Φ. By Choi's theorem on completely positive maps
Choi's theorem on completely positive maps
In mathematics, Choi's theorem on completely positive maps is a result that classifies completely positive maps between finite-dimensional C*-algebras...
, Φ is CP if and only if ρΦ is positive (semidefinite). One can view ρΦ as a density matrix, and therefore the state dual to Φ.
The duality between channels and states refers to the map
![](http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/formulas/3/1/3318847-4.gif)
a linear bijection. This map is also called Jamiołkowski isomorphism or Choi–Jamiołkowski isomorphism.