English

Framed Hilbert space: hanging the quasi-probability pictures of quantum theory

Quantum Physics 2009-06-23 v2

Abstract

Building on earlier work, we further develop a formalism based on the mathematical theory of frames that defines a set of possible phase-space or quasi-probability representations of finite-dimensional quantum systems. We prove that an alternate approach to defining a set of quasi-probability representations, based on a more natural generalization of a classical representation, is equivalent to our earlier approach based on frames, and therefore is also subject to our no-go theorem for a non-negative representation. Furthermore, we clarify the relationship between the contextuality of quantum theory and the necessity of negativity in quasi-probability representations and discuss their relevance as criteria for non-classicality. We also provide a comprehensive overview of known quasi-probability representations and their expression within the frame formalism.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0903.4843,
  title  = {Framed Hilbert space: hanging the quasi-probability pictures of quantum theory},
  author = {Christopher Ferrie and Joseph Emerson},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0903.4843},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

46 pages, 1 table, contains a review of finite dimensional quasi-probability functions