Flatness-Preserving Operations

Abstract:A quantum state is called flat if it is proportional to a projector. There has been recent interest in studying antiflatness, the property of diverging from flat states, and establishing a resource theory for it. Identifying the free operations (the Flatness-Preserving Operations (FPOs)) remained an open problem. For this purpose, we first discuss Orthogonality-Preserving Operations (OPOs), of which trivial examples are unitary operations in an isolated system. More generally, we give a simple proof that all OPOs are isometric embeddings consisting of combinations of unitaries/isometries and appending a fixed state. We then show that all FPOs are either constant maps to some fixed flat state or a special case of an OPO, where the appended fixed state must be a flat state. We also show that the only possible flat convex combinations of flat states are those of orthogonal flat states with weights given by their purities.

arXiv:2608.30697 [quant-ph]

(or arXiv:2608.30697v1 [quant-ph] for this version)

https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2608.30697 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration)

arXivLabs is a framework that allows collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on our website.

Both individuals and organizations that work with arXivLabs have embraced and accepted our values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv is committed to these values and only works with partners that adhere to them.

Have an idea for a project that will add value for arXiv's community? Learn more about arXivLabs.