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Measurement compatibility, dilation and identifiable tomography — Examples

1 · Prerequisites

2 · Summary

3 · Logical flowchart

4 · Definitions, postulates, theorems and proofs

None yet.

5 · Examples, experiments and counterexamples

CounterexampleConstruction: AI-adaptedVerification: AI-adaptedverified 2026-10-22 (gpt-6.1-sol)Open item page →

Outcome probabilities do not determine the state update

Statement refuted

For finite quantum instruments on C2, equality of all outcome effects forces equality of the outcome update maps on every input matrix.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The standard basis ∣0⟩,∣1⟩ of C2, the associated projections Pa=∣a⟩⟨a∣, and ∣+⟩=(∣0⟩+∣1⟩)/2.

[A1]

The state ρ=P0 and the Kraus families are exactly those specified in the Counterexample.

[F1]

Finite effects and instruments: normalization and non-determination of the update: Kraus operators Ma,r define effects Ea=∑rMa,r∗Ma,r and outcome maps Ia(ρ)=∑rMa,rρMa,r∗; the family is normalized when all effects sum to I.

[F2]

Finite instrument dilation with an outcome register: a finite family of completely positive outcome maps whose sum is trace-preserving admits the finite orthogonal outcome-register dilation proved on the A page.

[F3]

Complete finite Choi-Kraus equivalence: a finite Kraus representation defines a completely positive map, and the map is trace-preserving when the Kraus adjoint products sum to identity.

Counterexample

Consider the two-outcome sharp measurement P0,P1. The Lüders instrument has one Kraus operator MaL=Pa per outcome. The measure-and-prepare instrument has MaR=∣+⟩⟨a∣ per outcome. Both have effects E0=P0,E1=P1, but their update maps differ on the input ρ=P0.

1.1givenA1F1algebra

Since Pa∗=Pa=Pa2, the Lüders Kraus operators have MaL∗MaL=Pa. For the other family, MaR∗MaR=(∣a⟩⟨+∣)(∣+⟩⟨a∣)=⟨+∣+⟩Pa=Pa, since the displayed normalized vector satisfies ⟨+∣+⟩=1. Thus both families are normalized, with the same outcome effects, because P0+P1=I.

2.1A1F2F3step 1.1algebra

By [F3], the one-operator Kraus forms give completely positive maps, and their sum is trace-preserving because the combined adjoint products sum to identity by step 1.1. Hence both are finite instruments in the sense of the A-page theorem, and each admits its stated outcome-register dilation by [F2].

3.1A1F1step 1.1step 2.1algebra∎

On ρ=P0, the Lüders update for outcome 0 is I0L(P0)=P0, whereas the other update is I0R(P0)=∣+⟩⟨+∣. These matrices differ: P0=(1000) and ∣+⟩⟨+∣=12(1111). The outcome probabilities are nevertheless identical, Tr⁡(P0P0)=1 and Tr⁡(P0P1)=0. This refutes the statement.

ExampleConstruction: AI-adaptedVerification: AI-adaptedverified 2026-10-22 (gpt-6.1-sol)Open item page →

Pauli six-outcome tomography

Example

On C2, define the Pauli matrices

σx=(0110),σy=(0−ii0),σz=(100−1).

Let I=I2, let H2={A∈M2(C):A=A∗}, and let Tr⁡ denote the diagonal-sum trace. For v∈C2, write v∗=vˉT. For A∈M2(C), A≥0 means A=A∗ and v∗Av≥0 for every v∈C2. A finite POVM is a finite family of positive semidefinite matrices whose sum is I; it is informationally complete when its real linear span is H2. The six matrices Fj,±=(I±σj)/6, with j∈{x,y,z}, form such an informationally complete POVM. For every ρ∈M2(C) with ρ≥0 and Tr⁡ρ=1, there are unique rx,ry,rz∈R such that ρ=(I+rxσx+ryσy+rzσz)/2. Define pj,±:=Tr⁡(ρFj,±); then rj=3(pj,+−pj,−). Form G(j,s),(k,t)=Tr⁡(Fj,sFk,t) and the canonical duals Dj,s=∑k,t(G+)(k,t),(j,s)Fk,t as in the preceding finite-frame definition. The linear-inversion procedure returns X(f)=∑j,sfj,sDj,s on a valid frequency vector, meaning fj,s≥0 and ∑j,sfj,s=1. It returns ρ when f=p. Some valid finite frequency vectors yield an output that is not positive semidefinite.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The six displayed matrices and a density matrix ρ on C2.

[A1]

The Pauli matrices and effects are the finite matrices and operators in the Example.

[A2]

ρ is Hermitian, positive semidefinite, and has trace one.

[F1]

Tomography correctness and finite-sample stability: for a spanning finite POVM, exact probabilities reconstruct ρ, and the linear-inversion output is ∑afaDa for its canonical dual.

[F2]

The Gram pseudoinverse reconstructs a spanning Hermitian frame: for a positive semidefinite Gram matrix with spectral projections Pλ at positive eigenvalues, G+=∑λ>0λ−1Pλ.

[F3]

Finite Hermitian frames and their Gram pseudoinverse: Gab=Tr⁡(FaFb) and Da=∑b(G+)baFb.

Verification

1.1A1A2algebra

Direct multiplication gives σj2=I, Tr⁡(σj)=0, σxσy=iσz, σyσz=iσx, and σzσx=iσy; reversing the order negates each mixed product. Thus Tr⁡(σjσk)=2δjk. Since a Hermitian 2×2 matrix has two real diagonal entries and one complex off-diagonal entry, dim⁡RH2=4; the four nonzero orthogonal matrices I,σx,σy,σz form a basis. Write ρ=aI+∑jbjσj in this basis. Since Tr⁡(I)=2 and Tr⁡(σj)=0, the trace-one condition gives a=1/2; pairing with σk gives Tr⁡(ρσk)=2bk. Thus the representation is unique with rk:=Tr⁡(ρσk)=2bk∈R. Write r=(rx,ry,rz)∈R3 and ∥r∥2=(rx2+ry2+rz2)1/2. Positivity [A2] restricts ∥r∥2≤1, since (rxσx+ryσy+rzσz)2=∥r∥22I and the eigenvalues of ρ are (1±∥r∥2)/2.

2.1A1step 1.1algebra

Each σj is Hermitian with eigenvalues 1,−1 by step 1.1, so Fj,± has eigenvalues 1/3,0 and is positive. For each j, Fj,++Fj,−=I/3; summing over x,y,z gives I. Also Fj,+−Fj,−=σj/3, so each σj lies in the real span of the effects. Since I is their sum, the basis in step 1.1 shows that the effects span H2.

3.1A1step 1.1step 2.1algebra

In the coordinate order (x+,x−,y+,y−,z+,z−), direct multiplication and step 1.1 give G(j,s),(k,t)=136Tr⁡((I+sσj)(I+tσk))=118(1+st δjk) for s,t∈{+1,−1}. Thus the diagonal entries are 1/9, opposite outcomes on one axis have entry 0, and distinct axes have entry 1/18. Let u=(1,1,1,1,1,1) and vj=ej+−ej−. Then Gu=u/3, Gvj=vj/9, and G vanishes on vectors (sx,sx,sy,sy,sz,sz) with sx+sy+sz=0. These mutually orthogonal subspaces have dimensions 1,3,2 and span R6.

4.1A1A2F1F2F3step 1.1step 2.1step 3.1algebra

By [F2] and the eigenspaces in step 3.1, G+=3Pu+9∑jPvj, where Pu=uuT/6 and Pvj=vjvjT/2. The ej+ column of G+ is u/2+9vj/2. Applying the canonical-dual formula [F3], using ∑k,±Fk,±=I and Fj,+−Fj,−=σj/3, gives Dj,+=12I+32σj; similarly Dj,−=12I−32σj. The probabilities are pj,±=Tr⁡(ρFj,±)=(1±rj)/6, so ∑j,±pj,±Dj,±=12I+12∑jrjσj=ρ, in agreement with [F1].

5.1A1step 4.1algebra∎

The frequency vector with fx,+=1 and all other entries zero is nonnegative and sums to one. Its output is Dx,+=12I+32σx, whose eigenvalues are 2 and −1. It is Hermitian but not positive, so the linear-inversion procedure does not preserve positivity for every frequency vector.

Sources