Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Given an open quantum system $S$ with environment $E$, we establish a one-to-one correspondence between completely positive trace-preserving (CPTP) maps from $S$ to $E$ and assignment maps initializing the composite system $SE$ in a possibly correlated state prior to unitary evolution. We show that every possible joint state $ρ_{SE}$ can be realized by such assignment maps, which are inherently Hermiticity-preserving and trace-preserving (HPTP). While these maps sacrifice global positivity, we derive a simple necessary and sufficient condition for any local state of $S$ to belong to their domain of validity. Furthermore, we prove that the geometry of this domain is governed by the joint state assigned to the maximally mixed input, ensuring that a non-zero volume of admissible local states can readily coexist with initial system-environment entanglement. Finally, we provide an operational protocol for witnessing such limits of validity.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Authors: Fullwood, James, Ye, Weixiang
Institution: Hainan University
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Award: G1865467774
OpenAlex ID: W7223090333