Self testing quantum apparatus

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that a specific self-testing setup can verify the correctness of a quantum source and measurement devices, ensuring they match claimed specifications based on observed probability distributions, with implications for quantum cryptography.

Contribution

It introduces a self-testing configuration that guarantees device fidelity using probability distributions, advancing device verification in quantum information.

Findings

Verification of quantum source and measurements from probability data

Guarantee of device correctness modulo isomorphism

Relevance to quantum cryptography protocols

Abstract

We study a configuration of devices that includes (1) a source of some unknown bipartite quantum state that is claimed to be the Bell state $\Phi^+$ and (2) two commuting but otherwise unknown measurement apparatus, one on each side, that are each claimed to execute an orthogonal measurement at an angle $\theta \in \{0, \pi/8, \pi/4\}$ that is chosen by the user. We show that, if the nine distinct probability distributions that are generated by the self checking configuration, one for each pair of angles, are consistent with the specifications, the source and the two measurement apparatus are guaranteed to be identical modulo some isomorphism to the claimed specifications. We discuss the connection with quantum cryptography.