Entanglement in Higher-Radix Quantum Systems

Abstract

Entanglement is an important phenomenon that enables quantum information processing algorithms and quantum communications protocols. Although entangled quantum states are often described in radix-2, higher-radix qudits can become entangled as well. In this work, we both introduce partial entanglement, a concept that does not exist for radix-2 quantum systems, and differentiate between partial and maximal entanglement within non-binary quantum information processing systems. We also develop and present higher-radix maximal entanglement generator circuits that are analogous to the well-known Bell state generator for binary quantum systems. Because higher-dimensioned qudits can be subjected to entangling processes that result in either partially or maximally entangled states, we demonstrate how higher-radix qudit circuits can be composed to generate these varying degrees of partial quantum entanglement. Theoretical results are provided for the general case where the radix is greater than two, and specific results based on a pair of radix-4 qudits are described.