Inverse Problem of Alchemical Resource Theory: Replication and Universal Simulation Single Out Imaginarity and Parity Asymmetry
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Quantum resource theories usually begin with a prescribed free structure and ask what tasks become possible when a resource is supplied. We study the inverse problem of alchemical resource theories, which we define as resource theories admitting a resource that can both replicate itself exactly and universally simulate quantum instruments. Under natural consistency assumptions and branchwise complete freeness, we show that for multi-qubit systems only two nontrivial theories survive, up to a common local unitary change of basis: parity asymmetry and imaginarity. We further show that exact universality exhibits an all-or-nothing trade-off: any nonmaximal resource state can exactly simulate only free unitaries. These results demonstrate that prescribed operational capabilities can strongly constrain the underlying resource structure and reveal a fundamental trade-off between computational capability and the precision required for physical implementation.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Authors: Nakayama, Yasuaki, Arai, Hayato
Institution: NTT (Japan)
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7213371282