Spectrum conditions for symmetric extendible states

TL;DR

This paper investigates conditions under which bipartite quantum states have symmetric extensions, providing a spectral criterion, especially for two-qubit states, with implications for quantum channels.

Contribution

It introduces a spectral condition for symmetric extendibility, proves it for two qubits, and connects these results to properties of quantum channels.

Findings

Spectral equality is necessary for pure symmetric extension.

Spectral condition is sufficient for two qubits.

Degradable channels with qubit output have a qubit environment.

Abstract

We analyze bipartite quantum states that admit a symmetric extension. Any such state can be decomposed into a convex combination of states that allow a _pure_ symmetric extension. A necessary condition for a state to admit a pure symmetric extension is that the spectra of the local and global density matrices are equal. This condition is also sufficient for two qubits, but not for any larger systems. Using this condition we present a conjectured necessary and sufficient condition for a two qubit state to admit symmetric extension, which we prove in some special cases. The results from symmetric extension carry over to degradable and anti-degradable channels and we use this to prove that all degradable channels with qubit output have a qubit environment.