Signaling versus distinguishing different preparations of same pure quantum state

Abstract

Different ensembles of quantum states can have the same average nonpure state. Distinguishing between such constructions, via different mixing procedures of the same nonpure quantum state, is known to entail signaling. In parallel, different superpositions of pure quantum states can lead to the same pure state. We show that the possibility of distinguishing between such preparations, via different interferometric setups leading to the same pure quantum state, also implies signaling. The implication holds irrespective of whether the distinguishing procedure is deterministic or probabilistic.