Publications
Refereed Journal Articles
-
H. Barnum, J. Barrett, L. Clark, M. Leifer, R. Spekkens, N. Stepanik, A. Wilce, and R. Wilke, "Entropy and information causality in general probabilistic theories," New J. Phys., vol. 12, p. 033024, 2010.
@article{Barnum:2010, Abstract = {We investigate the concept of entropy in probabilistic theories more general than quantum mechanics, with particular reference to the notion of information causality (IC) recently proposed by Pawlowski et al (2009 arXiv:0905.2292). We consider two entropic quantities, which we term measurement and mixing entropy. In the context of classical and quantum theory, these coincide, being given by the Shannon and von Neumann entropies, respectively; in general, however, they are very different. In particular, while measurement entropy is easily seen to be concave, mixing entropy need not be. In fact, as we show, mixing entropy is not concave whenever the state space is a non-simplicial polytope. Thus, the condition that measurement and mixing entropies coincide is a strong constraint on possible theories. We call theories with this property monoentropic. Measurement entropy is subadditive, but not in general strongly subadditive. Equivalently, if we define the mutual information between two systems A and B by the usual formula I(A: B)=H(A)+H(B)-H(AB), where H denotes the measurement entropy and AB is a non-signaling composite of A and B, then it can happen that I(A:BC)<I(A:B). This is relevant to IC in the sense of Pawlowski et al: we show that any monoentropic non-signaling theory in which measurement entropy is strongly subadditive, and also satisfies a version of the Holevo bound, is informationally causal, and on the other hand we observe that Popescu--Rohrlich boxes, which violate IC, also violate strong subadditivity. We also explore the interplay between measurement and mixing entropy and various natural conditions on theories that arise in quantum axiomatics.},
Author = {Barnum, H. and Barrett, J. and Clark, L. and Leifer, M. and Spekkens, R. and Stepanik, N. and Wilce, A. and Wilke, R.},
Date-Added = {2010-08-04 21:41:07 +0100},
Date-Modified = {2010-08-04 21:58:05 +0100},
Doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/12/3/033024},
Journal = {New J. Phys.},
Note = {0909.5075},
Pages = {033024},
Title = {Entropy and information causality in general probabilistic theories},
Url = {http://iopscience.iop.org/1367-2630/12/3/033024},
Volume = {12},
Year = {2010}
} -
J. Barrett and M. Leifer, "The de Finetti theorem for test spaces," New J. Phys., vol. 11, p. 033024, 2009.
@article{Barrett:2009, Abstract = {We prove a de Finetti theorem for exchangeable sequences of states on test spaces, where a test space is a generalization of the sample space of classical probability theory and the Hilbert space of quantum theory. The standard classical and quantum de Finetti theorems are obtained as special cases. By working in a test space framework, the common features that are responsible for the existence of these theorems are elucidated. In addition, the test space framework is general enough to imply a de Finetti theorem for classical processes. We conclude by discussing the ways in which our assumptions may fail, leading to probabilistic models that do not have a de Finetti theorem.},
Author = {Barrett, Jonathan and Leifer, Matthew},
Doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/11/3/033024},
Journal = {New J. Phys.},
Note = {0712.2265},
Pages = {033024},
Title = {The de Finetti theorem for test spaces},
Url = {http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/1367-2630/11/3/033024},
Volume = {11},
Year = {2009},
Bdsk-Url-1 = {http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/1367-2630/11/3/033024},
Bdsk-Url-2 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/11/3/033024}
} -
M. Leifer and D. Poulin, "Quantum Graphical Models and Belief Propagation," Ann. Phys., vol. 323, p. 1899, 2008.
@article{Leifer:2008, Abstract = {Belief Propagation algorithms acting on Graphical Models of classical probability distributions, such as Markov Networks, Factor Graphs and Bayesian Networks, are amongst the most powerful known methods for deriving probabilistic inferences amongst large numbers of random variables. This paper presents a generalization of these concepts and methods to the quantum case, based on the idea that quantum theory can be thought of as a noncommutative, operator-valued, generalization of classical probability theory. Some novel characterizations of quantum conditional independence are derived, and definitions of Quantum n-Bifactor Networks, Markov Networks, Factor Graphs and Bayesian Networks are proposed. The structure of Quantum Markov Networks is investigated and some partial characterization results are obtained, along the lines of the Hammersley--Clifford theorem. A Quantum Belief Propagation algorithm is presented and is shown to converge on 1-Bifactor Networks and Markov Networks when the underlying graph is a tree. The use of Quantum Belief Propagation as a heuristic algorithm in cases where it is not known to converge is discussed. Applications to decoding quantum error correcting codes and to the simulation of many-body quantum systems are described.},
Author = {Leifer, Matthew and Poulin, David},
Doi = {10.1016/j.aop.2007.10.001},
Journal = {Ann. Phys.},
Note = {0708.1337},
Pages = {1899},
Title = {Quantum Graphical Models and Belief Propagation},
Url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WB1-4PWF0SJ-2&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=44280eaaf4e3ff64289c16ab390bb43f},
Volume = {323},
Year = {2008},
Bdsk-Url-1 = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WB1-4PWF0SJ-2&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=44280eaaf4e3ff64289c16ab390bb43f},
Bdsk-Url-2 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aop.2007.10.001}
} -
H. Barnum, J. Barrett, M. Leifer, and A. Wilce, "Generalized no-broadcasting theorem," Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 99, p. 240501, 2007.
@article{Barnum:2007, Abstract = {We prove a generalized version of the no-broadcasting theorem, applicable to essentially any nonclassical finite-dimensional probabilistic model satisfying a no-signaling criterion, including ones with ``superquantum'' correlations. A strengthened version of the quantum no-broadcasting theorem follows, and its proof is significantly simpler than existing proofs of the no-broadcasting theorem.},
Author = {Barnum, Howard and Barrett, Jonathan and Leifer, Matthew and Wilce, Alexander},
Doi = {10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.240501},
Journal = {Phys. Rev. Lett.},
Note = {0707.0620},
Pages = {240501},
Title = {Generalized no-broadcasting theorem},
Url = {http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v99/e240501},
Volume = {99},
Year = {2007},
Bdsk-Url-1 = {http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v99/e240501},
Bdsk-Url-2 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.240501}
} -
M. S. Leifer, "Quantum Dynamics as an analog of Conditional Probability," Phys. Rev. A, vol. 74, p. 042310, 2006.
@article{Leifer:2006, Abstract = {Quantum theory can be regarded as a noncommutative generalization of classical probability. From this point of view, one expects quantum dynamics to be analogous to classical conditional probabilities. In this paper, a variant of the well-known isomorphism between completely positive maps and bipartite density operators is derived, which makes this connection much more explicit. This isomorphism is given an operational interpretation in terms of statistical correlations between ensemble preparation procedures and outcomes of measurements. Finally, the isomorphism is applied to elucidate the connection between no-cloning and no-broadcasting theorems and the monogamy of entanglement, and a simplified proof of the no-broadcasting theorem is obtained as a by-product.},
Author = {Leifer, M. S.},
Doi = {10.1103/PhysRevA.74.042310},
Journal = {Phys. Rev. A},
Note = {quant-ph/0606022},
Pages = {042310},
Title = {Quantum Dynamics as an analog of Conditional Probability},
Url = {http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRA/v74/e042310},
Volume = {74},
Year = {2006},
Bdsk-Url-1 = {http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRA/v74/e042310},
Bdsk-Url-2 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.74.042310}
} -
J. Barrett, M. Leifer, and R. Tumulka, "Bell’s Jump Process in Discrete Time," Europhysics Letters, vol. 72, iss. 5, pp. 685-690, 2005.
@article{Barrett:2005, Abstract = {The jump process introduced by J. S. Bell in 1986, for defining a quantum field theory without observers, presupposes that space is discrete whereas time is continuous. In this letter, our interest is to find an analogous process in discrete time. We argue that a genuine analog does not exist, but provide examples of processes in discrete time that could be used as a replacement.},
Author = {Barrett, Jonathan and Leifer, Matthew and Tumulka, Roderich},
Doi = {10.1209/epl/i2005-10297-5},
Journal = {Europhysics Letters},
Note = {quant-ph/0506066},
Number = {5},
Pages = {685-690},
Title = {Bell's Jump Process in Discrete Time},
Url = {http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/0295-5075/72/5/685/},
Volume = {72},
Year = {2005},
Bdsk-Url-1 = {http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/0295-5075/72/5/685/},
Bdsk-Url-2 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1209/epl/i2005-10297-5}
} -
M. S. Leifer and R. W. Spekkens, "Pre- and Post-Selection paradoxes and contextuality in quantum mechanics," Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 95, p. 200405, 2005.
@article{Leifer:2005, Abstract = {Many seemingly paradoxical effects are known in the predictions for outcomes of intermediate measurements made on pre- and post-selected quantum systems. Despite appearances, these effects do not demonstrate the impossibility of a noncontextual hidden variable theory, since an explanation in terms of measurement disturbance is possible. Nonetheless, we show that for every paradoxical effect wherein all the pre- and post-selected probabilities are 0 or 1 and the pre- and post-selected states are nonorthogonal, there is an associated proof of the impossibility of a noncontextual hidden variable theory. This proof is obtained by considering all the measurements involved in the paradoxical effect---the preselection, the post-selection, and the alternative possible intermediate measurements---as alternative possible measurements at a single time.},
Author = {Leifer, M. S. and Spekkens, R. W.},
Doi = {10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.200405},
Journal = {Phys. Rev. Lett.},
Note = {quant-ph/0412178},
Pages = {200405},
Title = {Pre- and Post-Selection paradoxes and contextuality in quantum mechanics},
Url = {http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v95/e200405},
Volume = {95},
Year = {2005},
Bdsk-Url-1 = {http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v95/e200405},
Bdsk-Url-2 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.200405}
} -
M. S. Leifer, N. Linden, and A. Winter, "Measuring Polynomial Invariants of Multi-Party Quantum States," Phys. Rev. A, vol. 69, p. 052304, 2004.
@article{Leifer:2004, Abstract = {We present networks for directly estimating the polynomial invariants of multiparty quantum states under local transformations. The structure of these networks is closely related to the structure of the invariants themselves and this lends a physical interpretation to these otherwise abstract mathematical quantities. Specifically, our networks estimate the invariants under local unitary (LU) transformations and under stochastic local operations and classical communication (SLOCC). Our networks can estimate the LU invariants for multiparty states, where each party can have a Hilbert space of arbitrary dimension and the SLOCC invariants for multiqubit states. We analyze the statistical efficiency of our networks compared to methods based on estimating the state coefficients and calculating the invariants.},
Author = {Leifer, M. S. and Linden, N. and Winter, A.},
Doi = {10.1103/PhysRevA.69.052304},
Journal = {Phys. Rev. A},
Note = {quant-ph/0308008},
Pages = {052304},
Title = {Measuring Polynomial Invariants of Multi-Party Quantum States},
Url = {http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRA/v69/e052304},
Volume = {69},
Year = {2004},
Bdsk-Url-1 = {http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRA/v69/e052304},
Bdsk-Url-2 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.69.052304}
} -
M. S. Leifer, L. Henderson, and N. Linden, "Optimal Entanglement Generation from Quantum Operations," Phys. Rev. A, vol. 67, p. 012306, 2003.
@article{Leifer:2003, Abstract = {We consider how much entanglement can be produced by a nonlocal two-qubit unitary operation, UAB---the entangling capacity of UAB. For a single application of UAB, with no ancillas, we find the entangling capacity and show that it generally helps to act with UAB on an entangled state. Allowing ancillas, we present numerical results from which we can conclude, quite generally, that allowing initial entanglement typically increases the optimal capacity in this case as well. Next, we show that allowing collective processing does not increase the entangling capacity if initial entanglement is allowed.},
Author = {Leifer, M. S. and Henderson, L. and Linden, N.},
Doi = {10.1103/PhysRevA.67.012306},
Journal = {Phys. Rev. A},
Note = {quant-ph/0205055},
Pages = {012306},
Title = {Optimal Entanglement Generation from Quantum Operations},
Url = {http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRA/v67/e012306},
Volume = {67},
Year = {2003},
Bdsk-Url-1 = {http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRA/v67/e012306},
Bdsk-Url-2 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.67.012306}
} -
C. H. Bennett, J. I. Cirac, M. S. Leifer, D. W. Leung, N. Linden, S. Popescu, and G. Vidal, "Optimal simulation of two-qubit Hamiltonians using general local operations," Phys. Rev. A, vol. 66, p. 012305, 2002.
@article{Bennett:2002, Abstract = {We consider the simulation of the dynamics of one nonlocal Hamiltonian by another, allowing arbitrary local resources but no entanglement or classical communication. We characterize notions of simulation, and proceed to focus on deterministic simulation involving one copy of the system. More specifically, two otherwise isolated systems A and B interact by a nonlocal Hamiltonian HHA+HB. We consider the achievable space of Hamiltonians H such that the evolution e-iHt can be simulated by the interaction H interspersed with local operations. For any dimensions of A and B, and any nonlocal Hamiltonians H and H, there exists a scale factor s such that for all times t the evolution e-iHst can be simulated by H acting for time t interspersed with local operations. For two-qubit Hamiltonians H and H, we calculate the optimal s and give protocols achieving it. The optimal protocols do not require local ancillas, and can be understood geometrically in terms of a polyhedron defined by a partial order on the set of two-qubit Hamiltonians.},
Author = {Bennett, C. H. and Cirac, J. I. and Leifer, M. S. and Leung, D. W. and Linden, N. and Popescu, S. and Vidal, G.},
Doi = {10.1103/PhysRevA.66.012305},
Journal = {Phys. Rev. A},
Note = {quant-ph/0107035},
Pages = {012305},
Title = {Optimal simulation of two-qubit Hamiltonians using general local operations},
Url = {http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRA/v66/e012305},
Volume = {66},
Year = {2002},
Bdsk-Url-1 = {http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRA/v66/e012305},
Bdsk-Url-2 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.66.012305}
}
Articles in Conference Proceedings
-
H. Barnum, O. C. O. Dahlsten, M. Leifer, and B. Toner, "Nonclassicality without entanglement enables bit commitment," in Proceedings of IEEE Information Theory Workshop, 2008, 2008, pp. 386-390.
@inproceedings{Barnum:2008,
author = {Barnum, Howard and Dahlsten, Oscar C. O. and Leifer, Matthew and Toner, Ben},
Booktitle = {Proceedings of IEEE Information Theory Workshop, 2008},
Doi = {10.1109/ITW.2008.4578692},
Note = {0803.1264},
Pages = {386-390},
Title = {Nonclassicality without entanglement enables bit commitment},
Url = {http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/search/wrapper.jsp?arnumber=4578692},
Year = {2008},
Bdsk-Url-1 = {http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/search/wrapper.jsp?arnumber=4578692},
Bdsk-Url-2 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ITW.2008.4578692}
} -
[2008] bibtex | eprint arXiv:0805.3553 |H. Barnum, J. Barrett, M. Leifer, and A. Wilce, "Teleportation in General Probabilistic Theories," in Proceedings of the Clifford Lectures, 2008, p. i.
@inproceedings{Barnum:2008a, Abstract = {In a previous paper, we showed that many important quantum information-theoretic phenomena, including the no-cloning and no-broadcasting theorems, are in fact generic in all non-classical probabilistic theories. An exception is teleportation, which most such theories do not support. In this paper, we investigate which probabilistic theories, and more particularly, which composite systems, {\em do} support a teleportation protocol. We isolate a natural class of composite systems that we term {\em regular},
and establish necessary and sufficient conditions for a regular tripartite system to support a conclusive, or post-selected, teleportation protocol. We also establish a sufficient condition for deterministic teleportation that yields a large supply of theories, neither classical nor quantum, that support such a protocol. },
Author = {Barnum, Howard and Barrett, Jonathan and Leifer, Matthew and Wilce, Alexander},
Booktitle = {Proceedings of the Clifford Lectures},
Date-Modified = {2010-08-04 21:50:24 +0100},
Note = {0805.3553},
Pages = {to appear in Proceedings of Symposia in Applied Mathematics (AMS)},
Title = {Teleportation in General Probabilistic Theories},
Year = {2008}
} -
M. S. Leifer, "Conditional Density Operators and the Subjectivity of Quantum Operations," in Foundations of Probability and Physics-4, 2007, pp. 172-186.
@inproceedings{Leifer:2007, Abstract = {Assuming that quantum states, including pure states, represent subjective degrees of belief rather than objective properties of systems, the question of what other elements of the quantum formalism must also be taken as subjective is addressed. In particular, we ask this of the dynamical aspects of the formalism, such as Hamiltonians and unitary operators. Whilst some operations, such as the update maps corresponding to a complete projective measurement, must be subjective, the situation is not so clear in other cases. Here, it is argued that all trace preserving completely positive maps, including unitary operators, should be regarded as subjective, in the same sense as a classical conditional probability distribution. The argument is based on a reworking of the Choi-Jamiolkowski isomorphism in terms of ``conditional'' density operators and trace preserving completely positive maps, which mimics the relationship between conditional probabilities and stochastic maps in classical probability.},
Author = {Leifer, M. S.},
Booktitle = {Foundations of Probability and Physics-4},
Doi = {10.1063/1.2713456},
Editor = {Adenier, G. and Fuchs, C. A. and Khrennikov, A. Yu.},
Note = {quant-ph/0611233},
Pages = {172-186},
Publisher = {AIP},
Series = {AIP Conference Proceedings},
Title = {Conditional Density Operators and the Subjectivity of Quantum Operations},
Url = {http://link.aip.org/link/?APCPCS/889/172/1},
Volume = {889},
Year = {2007},
Bdsk-Url-1 = {http://link.aip.org/link/?APCPCS/889/172/1},
Bdsk-Url-2 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2713456}
} -
M. S. Leifer and R. W. Spekkens, "Logical Pre- and Post-Selection paradoxes, measurement-disturbance and contextuality," in Proceedings of Quantum Structures 2004, 2005, pp. 1977-1987.
@inproceedings{Leifer:2005a,
author = {Leifer, M. S. and Spekkens, R. W.},
Booktitle = {Proceedings of Quantum Structures 2004},
Doi = {10.1007/s10773-005-8975-1},
Journal = {Int. J. Theor. Phys.},
Note = {quant-ph/0412179},
Number = {11},
Pages = {1977-1987},
Publisher = {Springer Netherlands},
Title = {Logical Pre- and Post-Selection paradoxes, measurement-disturbance and contextuality},
Url = {http://www.springerlink.com/content/w1512w0tl35q4l60/},
Volume = {44},
Year = {2005},
Bdsk-Url-1 = {http://www.springerlink.com/content/w1512w0tl35q4l60/},
Bdsk-Url-2 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10773-005-8975-1}
}
Preprints
-
[2006] bibtex | eprint arXiv:quant-ph/0611295 |Barnum, Howard and Barrett, Jonathan and Leifer, Matthew and Wilce, Alexander, Cloning and Broadcasting in Generic Probabilistic Theories, 2006.
@unpublished{Barnum:2006, Abstract = {We prove generic versions of the no-cloning and no-broadcasting theorems, applicable to essentially {\em any} non-classical finite-dimensional probabilistic model that satisfies a no-signaling criterion. This includes quantum theory as well as models supporting ``super-quantum'' correlations that violate the Bell inequalities to a larger extent than quantum theory. The proof of our no-broadcasting theorem is significantly more natural and more self-contained than others we have seen: we show that a set of states is broadcastable if, and only if, it is contained in a simplex whose vertices are cloneable, and therefore distinguishable by a single measurement. This necessary and sufficient condition generalizes the quantum requirement that a broadcastable set of states commute. },
Author = {Barnum, Howard and Barrett, Jonathan and Leifer, Matthew and Wilce, Alexander},
Note = {quant-ph/0611295},
Title = {Cloning and Broadcasting in Generic Probabilistic Theories},
Year = {2006}
} -
[2005] bibtex | eprint arXiv:quant-ph/0509193 |Leifer, M. S., Nondeterministic testing of Sequential Quantum Logic propositions on a quantum computer, 2005.
@unpublished{Leifer:2005b, Abstract = {In the past few years it has been shown that universal quantum computation can be obtained by projective measurements alone, with no need for unitary gates. This suggests that the underlying logic of quantum computing may be an algebra of sequences of quantum measurements rather than an algebra of products of unitary operators. Such a Sequential Quantum Logic (SQL) was developed in the late 70's and has more recently been applied to the consistent histories framework of quantum mechanics as a possible route to the theory of quantum gravity. In this letter, I give a method for deciding the truth of a proposition in SQL with nonzero probability of success on a quantum computer. },
Author = {Leifer, M. S.},
Note = {quant-ph/0509193},
Title = {Nondeterministic testing of Sequential Quantum Logic propositions on a quantum computer},
Year = {2005}
}
Ph.D. Thesis
Download my Ph.D. thesis: Entangled Quantum Dynamics.