Correlation in Catalysts Enables Arbitrary Manipulation of Quantum Coherence

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that allowing correlations among multiple catalysts enables arbitrary manipulation of quantum coherence, revealing new possibilities in quantum resource transformation and thermodynamics.

Contribution

It introduces the concept that correlated catalysts can achieve any quantum state transformation with minimal error, expanding the understanding of resource manipulability.

Findings

Correlated catalysts enable arbitrary quantum coherence manipulation.

Resource embezzlement is linked to correlations among catalysts.

Conditions are provided for catalyst-assisted transformations in general resource theories.

Abstract

Quantum resource manipulation may include an ancillary state called a catalyst, which aids the transformation while restoring its original form at the end, and characterizing the enhancement enabled by catalysts is essential to reveal the ultimate manipulability of the precious resource quantity of interest. Here, we show that allowing correlation among multiple catalysts can offer arbitrary power in the manipulation of quantum coherence. We prove that any state transformation can be accomplished with an arbitrarily small error by covariant operations with catalysts that may create a correlation within them while keeping their marginal states intact. This presents a new type of embezzlement-like phenomenon, in which the resource embezzlement is attributed to the correlation generated among multiple catalysts. We extend our analysis to general resource theories and provide conditions for feasible transformations assisted by catalysts that involve correlation, putting a severe restriction on other quantum resources for showing this anomalous enhancement, as well as characterizing achievable transformations in relation to their asymptotic state transformations. Our results provide not only a general overview of the power of correlation in catalysts but also a step toward the complete characterization of the resource transformability in quantum thermodynamics with correlated catalysts.