Coherence makes quantum systems 'magical'

TL;DR

This paper explores the fundamental role of quantum coherence in generating 'magic' for quantum computation, unifying it with entanglement as a quantum superposition resource.

Contribution

It proposes that quantum coherence underpins the creation of magic, linking it to entanglement and developing related monotones for quantum resource theories.

Findings

Quantum coherence is fundamental for creating magic.

Developed coherence and magic monotones inspired by each other.

Studied the interplay of coherence, magic, and entanglement in qutrit systems.

Abstract

Two primary facets of quantum technological advancement that hold great promise are quantum communication and quantum computation. For quantum communication, the canonical resource is entanglement. For quantum gate implementation, the resource is 'magic' in an auxiliary system. It has already been shown that quantum coherence is the fundamental resource for the creation of entanglement. We argue on the similar spirit that quantum coherence is the fundamental resource when it comes to the creation of magic. This unifies the two strands of modern development in quantum technology under the common underpinning of existence of quantum superposition, quantified by the coherence in quantum theory. We also attempt to obtain magic monotones inspired from coherence monotones and vice versa. We further study the interplay between quantum coherence and magic in a qutrit system and that between quantum entanglement and magic in a qutrit-qubit setting.