Quantifying Tolerance of a Nonlocal Multi-Qudit State to Any Local Noise.

We present a general approach for quantifying tolerance of a nonlocal N-partite state to any local noise under different classes of quantum correlation scenarios with arbitrary numbers of settings and outcomes at each site. This allows us to derive new precise bounds in d and N on noise tolerances for: (i) an arbitrary nonlocal N-qudit state; (ii) the N-qudit Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) state; (iii) the N-qubit W state and the N-qubit Dicke states, and to analyse asymptotics of these precise bounds for large N and d .

1. Introduction

Nonlocality [1,2,3] of an N-qudit quantum state, in the sense of its violation of a Bell inequality, is a major resource for developing quantum information technologies. Conceptual and quantitative issues of Bell nonlocality in a general nonsignaling case have been analyzed in [4] and references therein. The main concepts and tools that were developed to describe and to study Bell nonlocality in a quantum case have been reviewed in [5]. (We further discuss only the notions of Bell nonlocality and locality and, therefore, mostly suppress the specification “Bell” before these terms.)

In quantum information applications, one, however, deals with noisy channels and, for a nonlocal N-qudit state , it is important to evaluate amounts of noise not breaking the nonclassical character of its statistical correlations. Analytical and numerical bounds on the critical visibility of a nonlocal N-qudit state in a mixture with white noise: have been intensively studied in the literature: (i) for a nonlocal two-qudit state—in [6,7,8,9,10] and references therein; (ii) for some specific quantum correlation scenarios and specific N-qubit states—in [11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19]; and (iii) for an arbitrary nonlocal N-qudit state —in [20].

However, precise analytical bounds on the critical visibility of a nonlocal N-qudit state in a mixture with an arbitrary local noise (i.e., a noise described by a local N-qudit state ) and, more generally, bounds on the tolerance of a nonlocal N-qudit state to any local noise are not, to our knowledge, known in a general N-qudit case, though, for a nonlocal family of joint probabilities under a bipartite () correlation scenario, the similar concept—the resistance to noise—was introduced in [21] and further discussed in [5]. For the rigorous definition of the notion of the tolerance of a nonlocal state see Section 4.

We note that, for many quantum information applications based on Bell nonlocality, it is important to evaluate the maximal amount of noise tolerable by a nonlocal N-qudit state and this amount is determined specifically via the noise tolerance of a nonlocal state.

In the present paper, due to the general framework for Bell nonlocality developed in [4,22,23], we present a consistent approach to quantifying tolerance of a nonlocal N-partite quantum state to any local noise under different classes of quantum correlation scenarios with arbitrary numbers of settings and any spectral types of outcomes at each site. This allows us:

to specify via parameters of an N-partite state the general analytical expressions for the noise tolerance of a nonlocal N-partite state (i) under -setting quantum correlation scenarios with any number of outcomes at each site and (ii) under all quantum correlation scenarios with arbitrary numbers of settings and outcomes per site;

to derive new precise lower/upper bounds in d and N on the noise tolerances and the maximal amounts of tolerable local noise for: (i) an arbitrary nonlocal N-qudit state; (ii) the N-qudit Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) state; (iii) the N-qubit W state and the N-qubit Dicke states and to analyse asymptotics of these precise new bounds for large N and

2. General -Partite Bell Inequalities

Let us shortly recall the notion of a general multipartite Bell inequality [24] with arbitrary numbers of settings and outcomes per site. For the general framework on the probabilistic description of an arbitrary multipartite correlation scenario with any number of settings and any spectral type of outcomes at each site, see [25].

Consider a correlation scenario, where each n-th of N parties performs measurements with outcomes and every measurement at n-th site is specified by a positive integer . For concreteness, we label an -setting scenario by where

For a correlation scenario , denote by the joint probability distribution of outcomes under an N-partite joint measurement induced by measurements at the corresponding sites and by a linear combination of averages (expectations) of the most general form, specified for each N-partite joint measurement by a bounded real-valued function of outcomes ∈ at all N sites. Each linear combination (3) is specified by a family of these functions.

Depending on a choice of a function , an average (4) may refer either to the joint probability of events observed under this joint measurement at sites or to the expectation of the product of outcomes observed at sites or may have a more complicated form. In quantum information, the product expectation (5) is referred to as a correlation function.

Let the probabilistic description of a correlation scenario admit a local hidden variable (LHV) model, that is, all joint probability distributions of this scenario admit the representation in terms of a single probability distribution of some variables and conditional probability distributions referred to as "local" in the sense that each at n-th site depends only on the corresponding measurement at this site. For the general statements on the LHV modelling, see Section 4 in [25].

In this case, each linear combination (3) of scenario averages satisfies the tight LHV constraints [24]: with the LHV constants

From relation (7), it follows that, in the LHV case,

Some of the LHV inequalities (7) may be fulfilled for a wider (than LHV) class of correlation scenarios. This is, for example, the case for the LHV constraints on joint probabilities following explicitly from nonsignaling of probability distributions. Moreover, some of the LHV inequalities (7) may be simply trivial, i.e., fulfilled for correlation scenarios of all types, not necessarily nonsignaling (For the latter general concept and its relation to the EPR (Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen) locality and Bell locality, see Sections 2 and 3 in [25].).

Each of the tight LHV inequalities ( -setting Bell inequality.

3. Quantum Violation

Let an -setting correlation scenario be performed on a quantum state on a complex Hilbert space . For this correlation scenario, every N-partite joint measurement is described by the joint probability distribution where each is a normalized positive operator-valued (POV) measure, representing on a generalized quantum measurement at n-th site. For concreteness, we further specify this quantum correlation scenario by symbol , where is a collection of POV measures at all N sites.

Since the probabilistic description of a quantum correlation scenario does not need [1,2,3] to admit an LHV model, in a quantum case, Bell inequalities may be violated. The parameter [22] specifies the maximal violation by an N-partite quantum state of all general -setting Bell inequalities for any number of outcomes at each site and the parameter [22] specifies the maximal violation by an N-partite quantum state of all general Bell inequalities for any numbers of settings and outcomes at each site.

From relations (3), (4), (10)–(12) it follows that, for any convex mixture

An N-partite quantum state ρ is referred to as

Clearly, an -setting nonlocal state is (overall) nonlocal but not vice versa. From Definition 1, relations (11), (12) and Proposition 6 in [22] it follows that an N-partite quantum state is [20,22]:

-setting nonlocal iff and -setting local iff

(overall) nonlocal iff and fully Bell local [20] iff

For details and the one-to-one correspondence of relations (16) and (18) to the LHV modelling of the corresponding quantum correlation scenarios on an N-partite quantum state see Sections 5 and 6 in [22].

4. Tolerance to Any Local Noise

Let be a nonlocal quantum state on and be arbitrary numbers of measurement settings at the corresponding parties’ sites. Denote by the -setting critical visibility of a nonlocal N-partite state in a convex mixture with noise described by a local N-partite state

In terminology specified in Section 3, the threshold means that a noisy state (20) is -setting nonlocal iff and -setting local iff

If then a noisy state (20) is -setting local for all For the latter implies that, though an N-partite state is (overall) nonlocal, it does not violate any of -setting Bell inequalities, i.e., this state is -setting local.

Let be the set of all -setting nonlocal N-partite states on and —the set of all (overall) nonlocal N-partite states.

For a nonlocal N-partite state the

Clearly, a noisy state (20) is -setting nonlocal for any local noise iff .

If then a nonlocal N-partite state is -setting local. Since, however, is overall nonlocal, there exist numbers of measurement settings at the corresponding sites for which this state is -setting nonlocal. For these settings,

For a nonlocal N-partite state the overall tolerance (or simply tolerance) to any local noise.

This definition implies that, for all , a noisy state (20) specified for a nonlocal state is nonlocal for any local noise.

The smaller is the value of the noise tolerance of a nonlocal N-partite state , the greater is the maximal amount of a local noise of any type tolerable by this nonlocal state (in the sense that a noisy state ( is also nonlocal under all quantum correlation scenarios) and therefore, the greater is the robustness of nonlocality of a state to any local noise.

Let ρ be a nonlocal N-partite state and and the overall noise tolerance of a nonlocal state ρ is given by where

From relations (3), (4), and (11) and linearity in of quantum probability distributions (10), it follows that

By Definition 2, for each there exists such that a noisy state (20) is -setting local. For this relation (16) implies

In addition, Taking this into account in relations (29) and (30), we have for each . Therefore,

On the other hand, for each a noisy state (20) is -setting nonlocal for every so that by Equation (15) the relation holds for all and each In view of relation (11) and linearity in of quantum probability distributions (10), this, in turn, implies that, for each and every there exist (i) an -setting Bell inequality, specified in relation (7) by some family of functions in average (4) and (ii) quantum measurements, specified by some family of POV measures, such that for all and all

Varying inequality (34) in implies that, for each x: there must exist y: such that for all However, this is possible if

Together with the condition that relation (35) holds for all and definition (24) of the tolerance , Equation (36) implies

Inequalities (32) and (37) prove relation (27). Expression (28) follows from Equations (27) and (12). ◻

For a bipartite correlation scenario with two settings per site, expression (27) for the -setting noise tolerance of a nonlocal N-qudit quantum state agrees with minimizing over all possible parties’ measurements on a two-qudit state of the resistance of a nonlocal family of scenario joint probability distributions to any local noise—the notion that was introduced in [21].

5. General Bounds

Let us evaluate due to relations (27) and (28) the noise tolerances for an arbitrary nonlocal state on .

In view of our results in [22,23,26], we have the following general precise upper bounds on the maximal violation of all -setting Bell inequalities by an arbitrary nonlocal N-qudit state under projective quantum measurements at all sites and under generalized quantum measurements at all sites.

The maximal violation by a nonlocal N-qudit state of all general Bell inequalities satisfies the relation [26] for either of the above types of quantum measurements.

Taking these upper bounds into account in expressions (27) and (28), we derive the following bounds on the -setting noise tolerance of an arbitrary nonlocal N-qudit state under projective quantum measurements at all sites and under generalized quantum measurements at all sites.

The overall noise tolerance of an arbitrary nonlocal N-qudit state satisfies the relation for either of above types of quantum measurements. For this lower bound decreases to zero as

From bound (43), it follows that, for an arbitrary -setting nonlocal N-qudit state , the maximal amount of tolerable local noise is upper bounded by under all -setting quantum correlation scenarios.

For this upper bound does not depend on a number S of measurement settings per site: while, for it does not depend on a qudit dimension

For example, for two-qudit and three-qudit cases and two measurement settings per site, the general bound (48) implies the following upper bounds on the maximal tolerable noise: for all dimensions

6. N-Qudit GHZ State

Consider now bounds on the noise tolerances for the N-qudit Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger (GHZ) state on Here, is an orthonormal base in

For this N-qudit quantum state, the maximal Bell violation of all -setting Bell inequalities admit the upper bounds [22,23,26], which are more specific than the general bounds (38)–(41). Namely, for all under projective quantum measurements and under generalized quantum measurements.

The maximal violation by the GHZ state of all general Bell inequalities satisfies the relation [22]: for either of the above types of quantum measurements.

In view of relations (51)–(53), for the N-qudit GHZ state, the general bounds (42)–(49) on the noise tolerances and the maximal amount of tolerable noise can be improved.

Taking relations (51)–(53) into account in expressions (27) and (28), we come to the following bounds for the -setting noise tolerance of the N-qudit GHZ state for all under projective quantum measurements and under generalized quantum measurements.

The overall noise tolerance of the N-qudit state GHZ state satisfies the relation for either of the above types of quantum measurements.

From bound (54), it follows that, under -setting correlation scenarios with projective measurements at all sites, the maximal amount (45) of a local noise of any type tolerable by the N-qudit GHZ state is upper bounded by for all

For example, for the three-qutrit GHZ state (), the maximal amount of tolerable local noise

By relation (56), under all quantum correlation scenarios, the maximal amount (26) of any local noise tolerable by the N-qudit GHZ state satisfies the bound

For the two-qudit GHZ state (), this general bound gives

N-Qubit Case

Let us evaluate the noise tolerances for the N-qubit GHZ state.

As it has been proven in [23], under projective measurements at all sites, the maximal violation by the N-qibit state of all general-setting Bell inequalities coincides with the maximal violation by this state of all correlation -setting Bell inequalities and is, therefore, given by

By relation (27), this implies that, under -setting quantum correlation scenarios with projective quantum measurements at all sites, the -setting noise tolerance of the N-qubit GHZ state is given by while the maximal amount (57) of any local noise tolerable by the N-qubit GHZ state is

For this bound implies

Furthermore, in view of Equations (12), (53) and (60), the maximal violation by the N-qubit GHZ state of all general Bell inequalities satisfies the relations under all generalized parties’ quantum measurements.

Therefore, by relation (28), the overall noise tolerance of the N-qubit GHZ state admits the bounds where the lower and upper bounds decrease with increasing This, in particular, implies that, under all quantum correlation scenarios, a mixture of the N-qubit state with any local noise is nonlocal for all

For comparison: a mixture of the N-qubit GHZ state with white noise is nonlocal [17] for all

Due to inequalities (65), we derive the following bounds for the maximal amount of a local noise of any type tolerable by the the N-qubit GHZ state:

Hence, with increasing of a number N of qubits, the robustness of nonlocality of the N-qubit GHZ state to any local noise increases.

7. N-Qubit Dicke States

In this section, we evaluate the overall noise tolerance for the N-qubit Dicke states on with excitations:

Here, is an orthonormal base in notation means a permutation in the tensor product of k vectors and vectors and the binomial coefficient gives the number of such permutations.

For example, for , the Dicke state constitutes the N-qubit W state

For , the three-qubit Dicke state with two excitations has the form

Due to the general upper bound (41) and the value of violation by the Dicke state of the specific Bell inequality introduced in [17], the maximal violation (12) by the Dicke state of all general Bell inequalities satisfies the relation

From relations (28) and (71), it follows that, for the Dicke state the overall noise tolerance admits the bounds for all

Therefore, under all quantum correlation scenarios, a mixture (20) of the N-qubit Dicke state with any local noise is nonlocal for all

For a large even and the binomial coefficient so that, by relation (73), a mixture of the Dicke state with any local noise is nonlocal for all

Specifying inequalities (72) for we have the following lower and upper bounds for the noise tolerance of the N-qubit W state (69):

Hence, a mixture (20) of the N-qubit W state with any local noise is nonlocal for all

8. Conclusions

In this article, we have presented a new general framework for quantifying noise tolerances of a nonlocal N-partite quantum state under different classes of quantum correlation scenarios with arbitrary numbers of settings and outcomes at each site.

This allowed us (i) to consistently specify two types (23) and (25) of noise tolerances of a nonlocal N-partite qudit state; (ii) to express them due to relations (27) and (28) in terms of the maximal violations (11) and (12) by this state of two classes of general Bell inequalities and (iii) to derive further the following new precise lower and upper bounds on the noise tolerances and the maximal amounts of tolerable local noise: and to analyze their asymptotics for large N and d. We, in particular, prove that, with increasing of a number N of qubits, the robustness of nonlocality of the N-qubit GHZ state to any local noise increases.

bounds (42)–(49)—for an arbitrary nonlocal N-qudit state;

bounds (54)–(59), (61), and (65)–(67)—for the N-qudit GHZ state, in particular, the N-qubit GHZ state;

bounds (72)–(76)—for the N-qubit Dicke states and the N-qubit W state;

To our knowledge, none of these analytical bounds has been reported in the literature.