A function of positive type can be defined as a positive functional on a convolution algebra of a locally compact group. In the case where the group is abelian, by Bochners theorem a function of positive type is, up to normalization, the Fourier transform of a probability measure. Therefore, considering the group of translations on phase space, a suitably normalized phase-space function of positive type can be regarded as a realization of a classical state. Thus, it may be called a function of classical positive type. Replacing the ordinary convolution on phase space with the twisted convolution, one obtains a noncommutative algebra of functions whose positive functionals we may call functions of quantum positive type. In fact, by a quantum version of Bochners theorem, a continuous function of quantum positive type is, up to normalization, the (symplectic) Fourier transform of a Wigner quasi-probability distribution; hence, it can be regarded as a phase-space realization of a quantum state. Playing with functions of positive type, classical and quantum, one is led in a natural way to consider a class of semigroups of operators, the classical-quantum semigroups. The physical meaning of these mathematical objects is unveiled via quantization, so obtaining a class of quantum dynamical semigroups that, borrowing terminology from quantum information science, may be called classical-noise semigroups.
Quantum mechanics can be formulated in terms of phase-space functions, according to Wigners approach. A generalization of this approach consists in replacing the density operators of the standard formulation with suitable functions, the so-called generalized Wigner functions or (group-covariant) tomograms, obtained by means of group-theoretical methods. A typical problem arising in this context is to express the evolution of a quantum system in terms of tomograms. In the case of a (suitable) open quantum system, the dynamics can be described by means of a quantum dynamical semigroup in disguise, namely, by a semigroup of operators acting on tomograms rather than on density operators. We focus on a special class of quantum dynamical semigroups, the twirling semigroups, that have interesting applications, e.g., in quantum information science. The disguised counterparts of the twirling semigroups, i.e., the corresponding semigroups acting on tomograms, form a class of semigroups of operators that we call tomographic semigroups. We show that the twirling semigroups and the tomographic semigroups can be encompassed in a unique theoretical framework, a class of semigroups of operators including also the probability semigroups of classical probability theory, so achieving a deeper insight into both the mathematical and the physical aspects of the problem.
The set of quantum Gaussian channels acting on one bosonic mode can be classified according to the action of the group of Gaussian unitaries. We look for bounds on the classical capacity for channels belonging to such a classification. Lower bounds can be efficiently calculated by restricting to Gaussian encodings, for which we provide analytical expressions.
We define an interesting class of semigroups of operators in Banach spaces, namely, the randomly generated semigroups. This class contains as a remarkable subclass a special type of quantum dynamical semigroups introduced by Kossakowski in the early 1970s. Each randomly generated semigroup is associated, in a natural way, with a pair formed by a representation or an antirepresentation of a locally compact group in a Banach space and by a convolution semigroup of probability measures on this group. Examples of randomly generated semigroups having important applications in physics are briefly illustrated.
Adopting a purely group-theoretical point of view, we consider the star product of functions which is associated, in a natural way, with a square integrable (in general, projective) representation of a locally compact group. Next, we show that for this (implicitly defined) star product explicit formulae can be provided. Two significant examples are studied in detail: the group of translations on phase space and the one-dimensional affine group. The study of the first example leads to the Groenewold-Moyal star product. In the second example, the link with wavelet analysis is clarified.
We study the robustness of geometric phase in the presence of parametric noise. For that purpose we consider a simple case study, namely a semiclassical particle which moves adiabatically along a closed loop in a static magnetic field acquiring the Dirac phase. Parametric noise comes from the interaction with a classical environment which adds a Brownian component to the path followed by the particle. After defining a gauge invariant Dirac phase, we discuss the first and second moments of the distribution of the Dirac phase angle coming from the noisy trajectory.
We consider the Schmidt decomposition of a bipartite density operator induced by the Hilbert-Schmidt scalar product, and we study the relation between the Schmidt coefficients and entanglement. First, we define the Schmidt equivalence classes of bipartite states. Each class consists of all the density operators (in a given bipartite Hilbert space) sharing the same set of Schmidt coefficients. Next, we review the role played by the Schmidt coefficients with respect to the separability criterion known as the `realignment or `computable cross norm criterion; in particular, we highlight the fact that this criterion relies only on the Schmidt equivalence class of a state. Then, the relevance -- with regard to the characterization of entanglement -- of the `symmetric polynomials in the Schmidt coefficients and a new family of separability criteria that generalize the realignment criterion are discussed. Various interesting open problems are proposed.
Inspired by the `computable cross norm or `realignment criterion, we propose a new point of view about the characterization of the states of bipartite quantum systems. We consider a Schmidt decomposition of a bipartite density operator. The corresponding Schmidt coefficients, or the associated symmetric polynomials, are regarded as quantities that can be used to characterize bipartite quantum states. In particular, starting from the realignment criterion, a family of necessary conditions for the separability of bipartite quantum states is derived. We conjecture that these conditions, which are weaker than the parent criterion, can be strengthened in such a way to obtain a new family of criteria that are independent of the original one. This conjecture is supported by numerical examples for the low dimensional cases. These ideas can be applied to the study of quantum channels, leading to a relation between the rate of contraction of a map and its ability to preserve entanglement.
Inspired by the realignment or computable cross norm criterion, we present a new result about the characterization of quantum entanglement. Precisely, an interesting class of inequalities satisfied by all separable states of a bipartite quantum system is derived. These inequalities induce new separability criteria that generalize the realignment criterion.
