Decomposition of bipartite states with applications to quantum no-broadcasting theorems

Abstract

Correlations in bipartite quantum states are fundamental objects in quantum information theory. A canonical framework for studying correlations is the entangled versus separable dichotomy in which the decompositions of separable states as convex combinations of product states play an instrumental role. In this paper, motivated by both the representation of separable states and quantum no-broadcasting considerations, we establish a constructive decomposition representation for any bipartite state. As applications, we prove the conjectures proposed by Luo [Lett. Math. Phys. 92, 143 (2010)] concerning no-unilocal broadcasting for quantum correlations and further provide a unified picture for the celebrated quantum no-broadcasting theorem for noncommuting states by Barnum et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 2818 (1996)], and the elegant no-local-broadcasting theorem for quantum correlations by Piani et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 090502 (2008)]. The results reveal some intrinsic relation between quantumness of correlations and noncommutativity of states, and in particular, provide a characterization for zero quantum discord introduced by Ollivier and Zurek [Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 017901 (2001)] from the broadcasting perspective. Furthermore, it is indicated that the distinction between the decomposition for general bipartite states and that for separable states might be useful in studying entanglement versus separability.