"""Calculates the probability of optimally distinguishing quantum states."""
import numpy as np
import picos
from toqito.matrix_ops import calculate_vector_matrix_dimension, to_density_matrix, vectors_to_gram_matrix
from toqito.matrix_props import has_same_dimension
def _is_pure_state(vector: np.ndarray) -> bool:
"""Check if input is a pure state (vector) or mixed state (density matrix).
Args:
vector: Quantum state as vector or density matrix.
Returns:
True if pure state (vector), False if mixed state (density matrix).
"""
return vector.ndim == 1 or (vector.ndim == 2 and vector.shape[1] == 1)
[docs]
def state_distinguishability(
vectors: list[np.ndarray],
probs: list[float] | None = None,
strategy: str = "min_error",
solver: str = "cvxopt",
primal_dual: str = "dual",
**kwargs,
) -> tuple[float, list[picos.HermitianVariable] | list[np.ndarray] | tuple[picos.SymmetricVariable]]:
r"""Compute probability of state distinguishability [@Eldar_2003_SDPApproach].
The "quantum state distinguishability" problem involves a collection of \(n\) quantum states
\[
\rho = \{ \rho_1, \ldots, \rho_n \},
\]
as well as a list of corresponding probabilities
\[
p = \{ p_1, \ldots, p_n \}.
\]
Alice chooses \(i\) with probability \(p_i\) and creates the state \(\rho_i\). Bob
wants to guess which state he was given from the collection of states.
For `strategy = "min_error"`, this is the default method that yields the minimal
probability of error for Bob.
In that case, this function implements the following semidefinite program that provides the
optimal probability with which Bob can conduct quantum state distinguishability.
\[
\begin{align*}
\text{maximize:} \quad & \sum_{i=0}^n p_i \langle M_i, \rho_i \rangle \\
\text{subject to:} \quad & M_0 + \ldots + M_n = \mathbb{I},\\
& M_0, \ldots, M_n \geq 0.
\end{align*}
\]
For `strategy = "unambiguous"`, Bob never provides an incorrect answer, although it is
possible that his answer is inconclusive.
In that case, this function implements the following semidefinite program that provides the
optimal probability with which Bob can conduct unambiguous quantum state distinguishability.
\[
\begin{align*}
\text{maximize:} \quad & \mathbf{p} \cdot \mathbf{q} \\
\text{subject to:} \quad & \Gamma - Q \geq 0,\\
& \mathbf{q} \geq 0
\end{align*}
\]
\[
\begin{align*}
\text{minimize:} \quad & \text{Tr}(\Gamma Z) \\
\text{subject to:} \quad & z_i + p_i + \text{Tr}\left(F_iZ\right)=0,\\
& Z, z \geq 0
\end{align*}
\]
where \(\mathbf{p}\) is the vector whose \(i\)-th coordinate contains the probability
that the state is prepared in state \(\left|\psi_i\right\rangle\), \(\Gamma\) is
the Gram matrix of \(\left|\psi_1\right\rangle,\cdots,\left|\psi_n\right\rangle\) and \(F_i\) is
\(-|i\rangle\langle i|\).
!!! Note
For unambiguous discrimination, this function supports both pure states (vectors) and mixed states
(density matrices). For pure states, the states should be linearly independent. For mixed states,
the Gram matrix is computed as Tr(ρᵢ ρⱼ). If the states cannot be unambiguously distinguished,
the optimal probability will be low or zero.
Examples:
Minimal-error state distinguishability for the Bell states (which are perfectly distinguishable).
```python exec="1" source="above"
import numpy as np
from toqito.states import bell
from toqito.state_opt import state_distinguishability
states = [bell(0), bell(1), bell(2), bell(3)]
probs = [1 / 4, 1 / 4, 1 / 4, 1 / 4]
res, _ = state_distinguishability(vectors=states, probs=probs, primal_dual="dual")
print(np.around(res, decimals=2))
```
Note that if we are just interested in obtaining the optimal value, it is computationally less intensive
to compute
the dual problem over the primal problem. However, the primal problem does allow us to extract the explicit
measurement operators which may be of interest to us.
```python exec="1" source="above"
import numpy as np
from toqito.states import bell
from toqito.state_opt import state_distinguishability
states = [bell(0), bell(1), bell(2), bell(3)]
probs = [1 / 4, 1 / 4, 1 / 4, 1 / 4]
res, measurements = state_distinguishability(vectors=states, probs=probs, primal_dual="primal")
print(np.around(measurements[0], decimals=5))
```
Unambiguous state distinguishability for unbiased pure states.
```python exec="1" source="above"
import numpy as np
from toqito.state_opt import state_distinguishability
states = [np.array([[1.], [0.]]), np.array([[1.],[1.]]) / np.sqrt(2)]
probs = [1 / 2, 1 / 2]
res, _ = state_distinguishability(vectors=states, probs=probs, primal_dual="primal", strategy="unambiguous")
print(np.around(res, decimals=2))
```
Unambiguous state distinguishability for mixed states.
```python exec="1" source="above"
import numpy as np
from toqito.state_opt import state_distinguishability
# Two mixed states (Werner-like states)
rho1 = 0.7 * np.array([[1., 0.], [0., 0.]]) + 0.3 * np.eye(2) / 2
rho2 = 0.7 * np.array([[0., 0.], [0., 1.]]) + 0.3 * np.eye(2) / 2
states = [rho1, rho2]
probs = [1 / 2, 1 / 2]
res, _ = state_distinguishability(vectors=states, probs=probs, primal_dual="primal", strategy="unambiguous")
print(np.around(res, decimals=2))
```
Args:
vectors: A list of states provided as vectors (for pure states) or density matrices (for mixed states).
probs: Respective list of probabilities each state is selected. If no probabilities are provided, a uniform
probability distribution is assumed.
strategy: Whether to perform unambiguous or minimal error discrimination task. Possible values are "min_error"
and "unambiguous". Default option is `strategy="min_error"`. Both strategies support pure and mixed states.
solver: Optimization option for `picos` solver. Default option is `solver="cvxopt"`.
primal_dual: Option for the optimization problem. Default option is `"dual"`.
kwargs: Additional arguments to pass to picos' solve method.
Returns:
The optimal probability with which Bob can guess the state he was not given from `states` along with the optimal
set of measurements.
"""
if not has_same_dimension(vectors):
raise ValueError("Vectors for state distinguishability must all have the same dimension.")
# Assumes a uniform probabilities distribution among the states if one is not explicitly provided.
n = len(vectors)
probs = [1 / n] * n if probs is None else probs
dim = calculate_vector_matrix_dimension(vectors[0])
if strategy == "min_error":
if primal_dual == "primal":
return _min_error_primal(vectors=vectors, dim=dim, probs=probs, solver=solver, **kwargs)
return _min_error_dual(vectors=vectors, dim=dim, probs=probs, solver=solver, **kwargs)
if primal_dual == "primal":
return _unambiguous_primal(vectors=vectors, dim=dim, probs=probs, solver=solver, **kwargs)
return _unambiguous_dual(vectors=vectors, probs=probs, solver=solver, **kwargs)
def _min_error_primal(
vectors: list[np.ndarray],
dim: int,
probs: list[float] | None = None,
solver: str = "cvxopt",
**kwargs,
) -> tuple[float, list[picos.HermitianVariable]]:
"""Find the primal problem for minimum-error quantum state distinguishability SDP."""
n = len(vectors)
problem = picos.Problem()
measurements = [picos.HermitianVariable(f"M[{i}]", (dim, dim)) for i in range(n)]
problem.add_list_of_constraints([meas >> 0 for meas in measurements])
problem.add_constraint(picos.sum(measurements) == picos.I(dim))
dms = [to_density_matrix(vector) for vector in vectors]
problem.set_objective("max", np.real(picos.sum([(probs[i] * dms[i] | measurements[i]) for i in range(n)])))
solution = problem.solve(solver=solver, **kwargs)
return solution.value, measurements
def _min_error_dual(
vectors: list[np.ndarray],
dim: int,
probs: list[float] | None = None,
solver: str = "cvxopt",
**kwargs,
) -> tuple[float, list[picos.HermitianVariable]]:
"""Find the dual problem for minimum-error quantum state distinguishability SDP."""
n = len(vectors)
problem = picos.Problem()
# Set up variables and constraints for SDP:
y_var = picos.HermitianVariable("Y", (dim, dim))
problem.add_list_of_constraints([y_var >> probs[i] * to_density_matrix(vector) for i, vector in enumerate(vectors)])
# Objective function:
problem.set_objective("min", picos.trace(y_var))
solution = problem.solve(solver=solver, primals=None, **kwargs)
measurements = [problem.get_constraint(k).dual for k in range(n)]
return solution.value, measurements
def _reconstruct_povm_pure(vectors: list[np.ndarray], q: np.ndarray, dim: int) -> list[np.ndarray]:
"""Reconstruct POVM for unambiguous discrimination of pure states.
Uses reciprocal/dual states construction: M_i = q_i |ψ̃ᵢ⟩⟨ψ̃ᵢ| where ψ̃ᵢ are dual states.
Args:
vectors: List of pure state vectors.
q: Success probabilities for each state.
dim: Dimension of the Hilbert space.
Returns:
List of POVM elements [M_inconclusive, M_1, ..., M_n].
"""
n = len(vectors)
# Stack states into Psi = [psi_1 ... psi_n].
psi = np.hstack(vectors) # shape (dim, n)
# Gram and its inverse.
gram_np = psi.conj().T @ psi
gram_inv = np.linalg.inv(gram_np)
# Dual (reciprocal) states: Psi_tilde = Psi * Gamma^{-1}.
psi_tilde = psi @ gram_inv # shape (dim, n)
measurements: list[np.ndarray] = []
# Conclusive POVM elements: M_i = q_i |psi_tilde_i><psi_tilde_i|.
for i in range(n):
phi_i = psi_tilde[:, [i]] # column (dim, 1)
m_i = q[i] * (phi_i @ phi_i.conj().T)
# Symmetrize numerically.
m_i = 0.5 * (m_i + m_i.conj().T)
measurements.append(m_i)
# Inconclusive operator: M_0 = I - sum_i M_i
m_inconclusive = np.eye(dim, dtype=np.complex128) - sum(measurements)
m_inconclusive = 0.5 * (m_inconclusive + m_inconclusive.conj().T)
measurements.insert(0, m_inconclusive)
return measurements
def _reconstruct_povm_mixed(vectors: list[np.ndarray], q: np.ndarray, dim: int, gram: np.ndarray) -> list[np.ndarray]:
"""Reconstruct POVM for unambiguous discrimination of mixed states.
For mixed states, we solve for the POVM elements directly using the SDP conditions.
We use a relaxed approach where we maximize the success probability while enforcing
the unambiguous property.
Args:
vectors: List of density matrices.
q: Success probabilities for each state (used as target).
dim: Dimension of the Hilbert space.
gram: Gram matrix with entries Tr(ρᵢ ρⱼ).
Returns:
List of POVM elements [M_inconclusive, M_1, ..., M_n].
"""
n = len(vectors)
# For mixed states, we solve for POVM elements that satisfy:
# 1. Tr(Mᵢ ρⱼ) = 0 for i ≠ j (no false positives - unambiguous property)
# 2. Mᵢ ≥ 0, Σᵢ Mᵢ ≤ I
# 3. Maximize Σᵢ Tr(Mᵢ ρᵢ) to get the best success probability
problem = picos.Problem()
measurements = [picos.HermitianVariable(f"M[{i}]", (dim, dim)) for i in range(n)]
# POVM elements must be positive semidefinite
problem.add_list_of_constraints([m >> 0 for m in measurements])
# Unambiguous discrimination constraints: Tr(Mᵢ ρⱼ) = 0 for i ≠ j
for i in range(n):
for j in range(n):
if i != j:
problem.add_constraint((measurements[i] | vectors[j]) == 0)
# Total measurement must not exceed identity
problem.add_constraint(picos.sum(measurements) << picos.I(dim))
# Maximize total success probability
success_vars = [measurements[i] | vectors[i] for i in range(n)]
problem.set_objective("max", picos.sum(success_vars))
_ = problem.solve(solver="cvxopt")
# Extract measurement operators
measurements_np = [np.array(m.value, dtype=np.complex128) for m in measurements]
# Compute inconclusive measurement
m_inconclusive = np.eye(dim, dtype=np.complex128) - sum(measurements_np)
m_inconclusive = 0.5 * (m_inconclusive + m_inconclusive.conj().T)
measurements_np.insert(0, m_inconclusive)
return measurements_np
def _unambiguous_primal(
vectors: list[np.ndarray],
dim: int,
probs: list[float] | None = None,
solver: str = "cvxopt",
**kwargs,
) -> tuple[float, list[np.ndarray]]:
"""Solve the primal problem for unambiguous quantum state distinguishability SDP.
Implemented according to Equation (5) of [@Gupta_2024_Unambiguous]:.
Supports both pure states (vectors) and mixed states (density matrices).
"""
n = len(vectors)
probs = [1 / n] * n if probs is None else probs
problem = picos.Problem()
gram = vectors_to_gram_matrix(vectors)
is_pure = _is_pure_state(vectors[0])
success_probabilities = picos.RealVariable("success_probabilities", n, lower=0)
problem.add_constraint(gram - picos.diag(success_probabilities) >> 0)
problem.set_objective("max", np.array(probs) | success_probabilities)
solution = problem.solve(solver=solver, **kwargs)
value = float(solution.value)
# Extract numeric q_i.
q = np.array(success_probabilities.value, dtype=np.complex128).reshape(n)
# POVM reconstruction depends on whether states are pure or mixed
if is_pure:
measurements = _reconstruct_povm_pure(vectors, q, dim)
else:
measurements = _reconstruct_povm_mixed(vectors, q, dim, gram)
return value, measurements
def _unambiguous_dual(
vectors: list[np.ndarray],
probs: list[float] | None = None,
solver: str = "cvxopt",
**kwargs,
) -> tuple[float, tuple[picos.SymmetricVariable]]:
"""Solve the dual problem for unambiguous quantum state distinguishability SDP.
Implemented according to Equation (5) of [@Gupta_2024_Unambiguous].
Supports both pure states (vectors) and mixed states (density matrices).
"""
n = len(vectors)
problem = picos.Problem()
gram = vectors_to_gram_matrix(vectors)
lagrangian_variable_big_z = picos.SymmetricVariable("Z", (n, n))
problem.add_constraint(lagrangian_variable_big_z >> 0)
problem.add_list_of_constraints(lagrangian_variable_big_z[i, i] >= probs[i] for i in range(n))
problem.set_objective("min", picos.trace(gram * lagrangian_variable_big_z))
problem.solve(solver=solver, **kwargs)
return float(problem.value), (lagrangian_variable_big_z,)