Constructing a qubit POVM from quantum data

Abstract

Abstract Given an ensemble of qubits, which we are told consists of a mixture of two pure states, one with probability η 0 and one with probability η 1, we want to find a POVM that will discriminate between the two states by measuring the qubits. We do not know the states, and for any given qubit, we do not know which of the two states it is in. This can be viewed as learning a POVM from quantum data. Once found, the POVM can be used to separate the remaining qubits in the ensemble into two groups, corresponding to the two states present in the ensemble. In order to find the POVM, we need more information about the possible states. We examine several cases. First, we suppose that we know that the Bloch vectors of the states lie in the x–z plane and their a priori probabilities are equal. We next keep the restriction to the x–z plane, but allow the a priori probabilities to be different. Finally, we consider the case in which the Bloch vectors of the states have the same z component.