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Formula Sheet

This page collects frequently used formulas from composite systems, entanglement, identical particles, Fock space, and second-quantized notation. It is a quick reference, not a substitute for the explanatory pages linked below. For named example states, use Common Composite States. For choosing which entanglement test applies to a state class, use the Entanglement Diagnostic Table. For reproducible numerical checks, use Computational Notebooks.

Unless otherwise stated, logarithms in entropy formulas are natural logarithms.

For distinguishable subsystems AA and BB,

HAB=HA⊗HB.\mathcal H_{AB} = \mathcal H_A\otimes\mathcal H_B.

Dimensions multiply:

dim⁡(HA⊗HB)=dim⁡HA dim⁡HB.\dim(\mathcal H_A\otimes\mathcal H_B) = \dim\mathcal H_A\,\dim\mathcal H_B.

If {∣i⟩A}\{\lvert i\rangle_A\} and {∣j⟩B}\{\lvert j\rangle_B\} are bases, then

{∣i⟩A⊗∣j⟩B}ij\{\lvert i\rangle_A\otimes\lvert j\rangle_B\}_{ij}

is a product basis. A general pure state is

∣Ψ⟩=∑ijCij ∣i⟩A∣j⟩B.\lvert\Psi\rangle = \sum_{ij} C_{ij}\, \lvert i\rangle_A\lvert j\rangle_B.

Local operators are embedded as

OA↦OA⊗IB,OB↦IA⊗OB.O_A \mapsto O_A\otimes I_B, \qquad O_B \mapsto I_A\otimes O_B.

For an uncoupled Hamiltonian,

H0=HA⊗IB+IA⊗HB.H_0 = H_A\otimes I_B +I_A\otimes H_B.

Interactions add terms that are not local to one factor:

H=H0+VAB.H = H_0+V_{AB}.

A pure product state has the form

∣Ψ⟩=∣ψ⟩A⊗∣ϕ⟩B.\lvert\Psi\rangle = \lvert\psi\rangle_A\otimes\lvert\phi\rangle_B.

In a product basis, this means

Cij=aibjC_{ij} = a_i b_j

for some coefficient vectors aia_i and bjb_j.

A bipartite mixed state is separable if it can be written as

ρAB=∑rpr ρA(r)⊗ρB(r),pr≥0,∑rpr=1.\rho_{AB} = \sum_r p_r\, \rho_A^{(r)}\otimes\rho_B^{(r)}, \qquad p_r\ge0, \qquad \sum_r p_r=1.

A pure bipartite state is entangled if it is not a product state. A mixed state is entangled if it is not separable.

For a pure state,

ρ=∣Ψ⟩⟨Ψ∣.\rho = \lvert\Psi\rangle\langle\Psi\rvert.

The reduced density operators are

ρA=Tr⁡BρAB,ρB=Tr⁡AρAB.\rho_A = \operatorname{Tr}_B\rho_{AB}, \qquad \rho_B = \operatorname{Tr}_A\rho_{AB}.

In a product basis,

(ρA)ii′=∑j(ρAB)ij,i′j.(\rho_A)_{ii'} = \sum_j (\rho_{AB})_{ij,i'j}.

Equivalently,

Tr⁡B(∣i⟩⟨i′∣⊗∣j⟩⟨j′∣)=⟨j′∣j⟩ ∣i⟩⟨i′∣.\operatorname{Tr}_B \bigl( \lvert i\rangle\langle i'\rvert \otimes \lvert j\rangle\langle j'\rvert \bigr) = \langle j'\vert j\rangle\, \lvert i\rangle\langle i'\rvert.

Local expectation values are computed from the reduced state:

Tr⁡AB[ρAB(OA⊗IB)]=Tr⁡A(ρAOA).\operatorname{Tr}_{AB} \bigl[ \rho_{AB} (O_A\otimes I_B) \bigr] = \operatorname{Tr}_A(\rho_A O_A).

For a product density operator,

Tr⁡B(ρA⊗ρB)=ρA Tr⁡ρB=ρA.\operatorname{Tr}_B(\rho_A\otimes\rho_B) = \rho_A\,\operatorname{Tr}\rho_B = \rho_A.

For a local observable MAM_A,

Tr⁡AB[ρAB(MA⊗IB)]=Tr⁡A(ρAMA).\operatorname{Tr}_{AB} \bigl[ \rho_{AB}(M_A\otimes I_B) \bigr] = \operatorname{Tr}_A(\rho_A M_A).

For local POVM effects {Ea}\{E_a\} on AA,

p(a)=Tr⁡AB[ρAB(Ea⊗IB)]=Tr⁡A(ρAEa).p(a) = \operatorname{Tr}_{AB} \bigl[ \rho_{AB}(E_a\otimes I_B) \bigr] = \operatorname{Tr}_A(\rho_A E_a).

For local measurements on both subsystems,

p(a,b)=Tr⁡AB[ρAB(Ea⊗Fb)],p(a,b) = \operatorname{Tr}_{AB} \bigl[ \rho_{AB}(E_a\otimes F_b) \bigr],

and the marginal is

∑bp(a,b)=Tr⁡A(ρAEa).\sum_b p(a,b) = \operatorname{Tr}_A(\rho_A E_a).

The marginal states are

ρA=Tr⁡BρAB,ρB=Tr⁡AρAB.\rho_A = \operatorname{Tr}_B\rho_{AB}, \qquad \rho_B = \operatorname{Tr}_A\rho_{AB}.

For local observables MAM_A and NBN_B,

CMN=⟨MA⊗NB⟩=Tr⁡AB[ρAB(MA⊗NB)].C_{MN} = \langle M_A\otimes N_B\rangle = \operatorname{Tr}_{AB} \bigl[ \rho_{AB}(M_A\otimes N_B) \bigr].

The connected correlation is

CMNconn=⟨MA⊗NB⟩−⟨MA⟩⟨NB⟩.C^{\mathrm{conn}}_{MN} = \langle M_A\otimes N_B\rangle - \langle M_A\rangle\langle N_B\rangle.

For a product state,

ρAB=ρA⊗ρB⟹CMNconn=0\rho_{AB} = \rho_A\otimes\rho_B \quad \Longrightarrow \quad C^{\mathrm{conn}}_{MN}=0

for all local observables MA,NBM_A,N_B.

The quantum mutual information is

I(A:B)=S(ρA)+S(ρB)−S(ρAB).I(A:B) = S(\rho_A)+S(\rho_B)-S(\rho_{AB}).

Equivalently,

I(A:B)=D(ρAB∥ρA⊗ρB).I(A:B) = D \bigl( \rho_{AB} \Vert \rho_A\otimes\rho_B \bigr).

For a projective measurement {Qb}\{Q_b\} on subsystem BB,

p(b)=Tr⁡AB[ρAB(IA⊗Qb)].p(b) = \operatorname{Tr}_{AB} \bigl[ \rho_{AB}(I_A\otimes Q_b) \bigr].

The unnormalized conditional state of AA is

ρ~A∣b=Tr⁡B[(IA⊗Qb)ρAB(IA⊗Qb)].\widetilde\rho_{A\vert b} = \operatorname{Tr}_B \bigl[ (I_A\otimes Q_b)\rho_{AB}(I_A\otimes Q_b) \bigr].

For p(b)>0p(b)>0,

ρA∣b=ρ~A∣bp(b).\rho_{A\vert b} = \frac{\widetilde\rho_{A\vert b}}{p(b)}.

The nonselective average returns the reduced state:

∑bp(b)ρA∣b=ρA.\sum_b p(b)\rho_{A\vert b} = \rho_A.

If

ρA=∑k=1rpk∣k⟩A⟨k∣A,\rho_A = \sum_{k=1}^{r} p_k \lvert k\rangle_A\langle k\rvert_A,

then a canonical purification is

∣Ψ⟩AR=∑k=1rpk ∣k⟩A∣k⟩R.\lvert\Psi\rangle_{AR} = \sum_{k=1}^{r} \sqrt{p_k}\, \lvert k\rangle_A\lvert k\rangle_R.

It satisfies

Tr⁡R(∣Ψ⟩⟨Ψ∣AR)=ρA.\operatorname{Tr}_R \bigl( \lvert\Psi\rangle\langle\Psi\rvert_{AR} \bigr) = \rho_A.

The minimal purifying dimension is

dim⁡HR=rank⁡ρA.\dim\mathcal H_R = \operatorname{rank}\rho_A.

Unitary transformations on the purifying system do not change ρA\rho_A:

(IA⊗UR)∣Ψ⟩ARpurifies the same ρA.(I_A\otimes U_R)\lvert\Psi\rangle_{AR} \quad \text{purifies the same }\rho_A.

The standard two-qubit Bell states are

∣Φ±⟩=12(∣00⟩±∣11⟩),\lvert\Phi^\pm\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt2} \bigl( \lvert00\rangle \pm \lvert11\rangle \bigr),

and

∣Ψ±⟩=12(∣01⟩±∣10⟩).\lvert\Psi^\pm\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt2} \bigl( \lvert01\rangle \pm \lvert10\rangle \bigr).

Each Bell state has maximally mixed one-qubit reductions:

ρA=ρB=12I.\rho_A = \rho_B = \frac12 I.

For example,

Tr⁡B(∣Φ+⟩⟨Φ+∣)=12I.\operatorname{Tr}_B \bigl( \lvert\Phi^+\rangle\langle\Phi^+\rvert \bigr) = \frac12 I.

With ∣0⟩=∣↑⟩\lvert0\rangle=\lvert\uparrow\rangle and ∣1⟩=∣↓⟩\lvert1\rangle=\lvert\downarrow\rangle,

∣1,1⟩=∣↑↑⟩,∣1,0⟩=12(∣↑↓⟩+∣↓↑⟩),∣1,−1⟩=∣↓↓⟩,∣0,0⟩=12(∣↑↓⟩−∣↓↑⟩).\begin{aligned} \lvert1,1\rangle &= \lvert\uparrow\uparrow\rangle,\\ \lvert1,0\rangle &= \frac{1}{\sqrt2} \bigl( \lvert\uparrow\downarrow\rangle + \lvert\downarrow\uparrow\rangle \bigr),\\ \lvert1,-1\rangle &= \lvert\downarrow\downarrow\rangle,\\ \lvert0,0\rangle &= \frac{1}{\sqrt2} \bigl( \lvert\uparrow\downarrow\rangle - \lvert\downarrow\uparrow\rangle \bigr). \end{aligned}

The triplet states are symmetric under exchange, while the singlet is antisymmetric:

P12∣1,m⟩=∣1,m⟩,P12∣0,0⟩=−∣0,0⟩.P_{12}\lvert1,m\rangle = \lvert1,m\rangle, \qquad P_{12}\lvert0,0\rangle = -\lvert0,0\rangle.

The singlet correlations are isotropic:

⟨(σ⋅a)⊗(σ⋅b)⟩singlet=−a⋅b.\left\langle (\boldsymbol\sigma\cdot\mathbf a) \otimes (\boldsymbol\sigma\cdot\mathbf b) \right\rangle_{\mathrm{singlet}} = -\mathbf a\cdot\mathbf b.

The standard nn-qubit GHZ state is

∣GHZn+⟩=12(∣0⟩⊗n+∣1⟩⊗n).\lvert\mathrm{GHZ}_n^+\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt2} \bigl( \lvert0\rangle^{\otimes n} + \lvert1\rangle^{\otimes n} \bigr).

Tracing out any nonempty proper complement of a subset RR gives

ρR=12∣0R⟩⟨0R∣+12∣1R⟩⟨1R∣.\rho_R = \frac12 \lvert0_R\rangle\langle0_R\rvert + \frac12 \lvert1_R\rangle\langle1_R\rvert.

For any nontrivial bipartition A∣AˉA\vert\bar A,

SR⁡=2,SA=1bit.\operatorname{SR}=2, \qquad S_A=1 \quad \text{bit}.

The standard nn-qubit W state is

∣Wn⟩=1n∑k=1n∣0⋯010⋯0⟩,\lvert W_n\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt n} \sum_{k=1}^{n} \lvert0\cdots010\cdots0\rangle,

where the 11 is in slot kk. A one-qubit reduction is

ρk=n−1n∣0⟩⟨0∣+1n∣1⟩⟨1∣.\rho_k = \frac{n-1}{n} \lvert0\rangle\langle0\rvert + \frac1n \lvert1\rangle\langle1\rvert.

Across a split with mm qubits on one side,

∣Wn⟩=mn ∣Wm⟩A∣0⟩Aˉ⊗n−m+n−mn ∣0⟩A⊗m∣Wn−m⟩Aˉ.\lvert W_n\rangle = \sqrt{\frac{m}{n}}\, \lvert W_m\rangle_A \lvert0\rangle_{\bar A}^{\otimes n-m} + \sqrt{\frac{n-m}{n}}\, \lvert0\rangle_A^{\otimes m} \lvert W_{n-m}\rangle_{\bar A}.

The Schmidt probabilities are

mn,n−mn.\frac{m}{n}, \qquad \frac{n-m}{n}.

Tracing out one qubit gives

ρrest=n−1n∣Wn−1⟩⟨Wn−1∣+1n∣0⟩⊗n−1⟨0∣⊗n−1.\rho_{\mathrm{rest}} = \frac{n-1}{n} \lvert W_{n-1}\rangle\langle W_{n-1}\rvert + \frac1n \lvert0\rangle^{\otimes n-1} \langle0\rvert^{\otimes n-1}.

Every pure bipartite state in finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces has a Schmidt decomposition

∣Ψ⟩=∑k=1rλk∣uk⟩A∣vk⟩B,\lvert\Psi\rangle = \sum_{k=1}^{r} \lambda_k \lvert u_k\rangle_A \lvert v_k\rangle_B,

with

λk>0,∑kλk2=1.\lambda_k>0, \qquad \sum_k\lambda_k^2=1.

The sets {∣uk⟩A}\{\lvert u_k\rangle_A\} and {∣vk⟩B}\{\lvert v_k\rangle_B\} are orthonormal, and rr is the Schmidt rank.

Equivalently,

r=rank⁡ρA=rank⁡ρB=rank⁡C,r = \operatorname{rank}\rho_A = \operatorname{rank}\rho_B = \operatorname{rank}C,

where CC is the coefficient matrix in a product basis.

The reduced states are

ρA=∑kλk2∣uk⟩⟨uk∣,ρB=∑kλk2∣vk⟩⟨vk∣.\rho_A = \sum_k \lambda_k^2 \lvert u_k\rangle\langle u_k\rvert, \qquad \rho_B = \sum_k \lambda_k^2 \lvert v_k\rangle\langle v_k\rvert.

A pure bipartite state is a product state exactly when

r=1.r=1.

The nonzero eigenvalues of ρA\rho_A and ρB\rho_B are the same:

spec⁡>0(ρA)=spec⁡>0(ρB)={λk2}.\operatorname{spec}_{>0}(\rho_A) = \operatorname{spec}_{>0}(\rho_B) = \{\lambda_k^2\}.

The von Neumann entropy is

S(ρ)=−Tr⁡(ρlog⁡ρ).S(\rho) = -\operatorname{Tr}(\rho\log\rho).

If ρ\rho has eigenvalues pαp_\alpha,

S(ρ)=−∑αpαlog⁡pα,S(\rho) = -\sum_\alpha p_\alpha\log p_\alpha,

with the convention 0log⁡0=00\log0=0.

For subsystem reductions,

SA=S(ρA),SB=S(ρB).S_A = S(\rho_A), \qquad S_B = S(\rho_B).

For a pure bipartite state,

SA=S(ρA),SB=S(ρB),S_A = S(\rho_A), \qquad S_B = S(\rho_B),

and

SA=SB=−∑kλk2log⁡λk2.S_A=S_B = -\sum_k \lambda_k^2\log\lambda_k^2.

For a maximally entangled state of Schmidt rank dd,

SA=log⁡d.S_A=\log d.

For mixed joint states, SAS_A is local mixedness rather than a standalone entanglement measure.

The Renyi entropy of order α>0\alpha>0, α≠1\alpha\ne1, is

Sα(ρ)=11−αlog⁡Tr⁡(ρα).S_\alpha(\rho) = \frac{1}{1-\alpha} \log \operatorname{Tr}(\rho^\alpha).

The second Renyi entropy is

S2(ρ)=−log⁡Tr⁡(ρ2).S_2(\rho) = -\log \operatorname{Tr}(\rho^2).

The purity is

Tr⁡(ρ2).\operatorname{Tr}(\rho^2).

For a pure state, Tr⁡(ρ2)=1\operatorname{Tr}(\rho^2)=1. For a mixed reduced state, Tr⁡(ρA2)<1\operatorname{Tr}(\rho_A^2)<1.

For two distinguishable particles on a line,

H12=L2(R)⊗L2(R)≅L2(R2).\mathcal H_{12} = L^2(\mathbb R)\otimes L^2(\mathbb R) \cong L^2(\mathbb R^2).

A product wavefunction has the form

Ψ(x1,x2)=ψ(x1)ϕ(x2).\Psi(x_1,x_2) = \psi(x_1)\phi(x_2).

The reduced density-kernel of particle 1 is

ρ1(x,x′)=∫−∞∞dy Ψ(x,y)Ψ∗(x′,y).\rho_1(x,x') = \int_{-\infty}^{\infty}dy\, \Psi(x,y)\Psi^*(x',y).

For a single oscillator mode,

q=a+a†2,p=a−a†i2,[q,p]=i.q = \frac{a+a^\dagger}{\sqrt2}, \qquad p = \frac{a-a^\dagger}{i\sqrt2}, \qquad [q,p]=i.

For a unitary mode-basis change,

∣χα⟩=∑iUiα∣φi⟩,bα†=∑iUiαai†.\lvert\chi_\alpha\rangle = \sum_i U_{i\alpha}\lvert\varphi_i\rangle, \qquad b_\alpha^\dagger = \sum_i U_{i\alpha}a_i^\dagger.

A balanced single-excitation two-mode state is

∣Ψ+⟩=12(∣1A,0B⟩+∣0A,1B⟩),\lvert\Psi_+\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt2} \left( \lvert1_A,0_B\rangle + \lvert0_A,1_B\rangle \right),

with mode entropy SA=log⁡2S_A=\log2.

The two-mode squeezed vacuum is

∣TMSV(r)⟩=1cosh⁡r∑n=0∞(tanh⁡r)n∣nA,nB⟩.\lvert\mathrm{TMSV}(r)\rangle = \frac{1}{\cosh r} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} (\tanh r)^n \lvert n_A,n_B\rangle.

For two identical particles, the exchange operator satisfies

P122=I.P_{12}^2=I.

Bosonic states satisfy

P12∣Ψ⟩=∣Ψ⟩,P_{12}\lvert\Psi\rangle = \lvert\Psi\rangle,

while fermionic states satisfy

P12∣Ψ⟩=−∣Ψ⟩.P_{12}\lvert\Psi\rangle = -\lvert\Psi\rangle.

For two orthonormal one-particle states ∣α⟩\lvert\alpha\rangle and ∣β⟩\lvert\beta\rangle,

∣α,β⟩S=12(∣α⟩1∣β⟩2+∣β⟩1∣α⟩2),\lvert\alpha,\beta\rangle_S = \frac{1}{\sqrt2} \bigl( \lvert\alpha\rangle_1\lvert\beta\rangle_2 + \lvert\beta\rangle_1\lvert\alpha\rangle_2 \bigr),

and

∣α,β⟩A=12(∣α⟩1∣β⟩2−∣β⟩1∣α⟩2).\lvert\alpha,\beta\rangle_A = \frac{1}{\sqrt2} \bigl( \lvert\alpha\rangle_1\lvert\beta\rangle_2 - \lvert\beta\rangle_1\lvert\alpha\rangle_2 \bigr).

The NN-particle symmetrizer and antisymmetrizer are

ΠS(N)=1N!∑π∈SNU(π),\Pi_S^{(N)} = \frac{1}{N!} \sum_{\pi\in S_N} U(\pi),

and

ΠA(N)=1N!∑π∈SNsgn⁡(π)U(π).\Pi_A^{(N)} = \frac{1}{N!} \sum_{\pi\in S_N} \operatorname{sgn}(\pi)U(\pi).

Pauli exclusion follows from antisymmetry:

∣α,α⟩A=0.\lvert\alpha,\alpha\rangle_A=0.

If s=⟨α∣β⟩s=\langle\alpha\vert\beta\rangle is not zero, the normalized two-particle combinations are

∣α,β⟩±=∣α⟩1∣β⟩2±∣β⟩1∣α⟩22(1±∣s∣2),\lvert\alpha,\beta\rangle_\pm = \frac{ \lvert\alpha\rangle_1\lvert\beta\rangle_2 \pm \lvert\beta\rangle_1\lvert\alpha\rangle_2 }{ \sqrt{2(1\pm\lvert s\rvert^2)} },

provided the denominator is nonzero.

For orthonormal spin-orbitals φ1,…,φN\varphi_1,\ldots,\varphi_N, the Slater determinant is

Ψ(q1,…,qN)=1N!det⁡[φj(qi)]i,j=1N.\Psi(q_1,\ldots,q_N) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{N!}} \det \bigl[ \varphi_j(q_i) \bigr]_{i,j=1}^{N}.

For a factorized two-particle state

Ψ(q1,q2)=ψ(x1,x2)χ(s1,s2),\Psi(q_1,q_2) = \psi(\mathbf x_1,\mathbf x_2)\chi(s_1,s_2),

the total exchange parity is

ηtotal=ηspaceηspin.\eta_{\mathrm{total}} = \eta_{\mathrm{space}}\eta_{\mathrm{spin}}.

For a one-particle Hilbert space h\mathcal h,

FB(h)=⨁N=0∞Sym⁡Nh,\mathcal F_B(\mathcal h) = \bigoplus_{N=0}^{\infty} \operatorname{Sym}^N\mathcal h,

and

FF(h)=⨁N=0∞∧Nh.\mathcal F_F(\mathcal h) = \bigoplus_{N=0}^{\infty} \wedge^N\mathcal h.

The vacuum sector is

Sym⁡0h≅∧0h≅C,\operatorname{Sym}^0\mathcal h \cong \wedge^0\mathcal h \cong \mathbb C,

with normalized vector ∣0⟩\lvert0\rangle.

Bosonic occupations satisfy

ni=0,1,2,….n_i=0,1,2,\ldots .

Fermionic occupations satisfy

ni∈{0,1}.n_i\in\{0,1\}.

The total occupation is

N=∑ini.N = \sum_i n_i.

Number states satisfy

Ni∣n1,n2,…⟩=ni∣n1,n2,…⟩.N_i \lvert n_1,n_2,\ldots\rangle = n_i \lvert n_1,n_2,\ldots\rangle.

Bosonic Creation and Annihilation Operators

Section titled “Bosonic Creation and Annihilation Operators”

For a bosonic mode ii,

ai†∣…,ni,…⟩B=ni+1 ∣…,ni+1,…⟩B,a_i^\dagger \lvert\ldots,n_i,\ldots\rangle_B = \sqrt{n_i+1}\, \lvert\ldots,n_i+1,\ldots\rangle_B,

and

ai∣…,ni,…⟩B=ni ∣…,ni−1,…⟩B.a_i \lvert\ldots,n_i,\ldots\rangle_B = \sqrt{n_i}\, \lvert\ldots,n_i-1,\ldots\rangle_B.

The canonical commutation relations are

[ai,aj†]=δijI,[ai,aj]=0,[ai†,aj†]=0.[a_i,a_j^\dagger] = \delta_{ij}I, \qquad [a_i,a_j] =0, \qquad [a_i^\dagger,a_j^\dagger] =0.

The normalized bosonic occupation state is

∣n1,n2,…⟩B=∏i(ai†)nini!∣0⟩.\lvert n_1,n_2,\ldots\rangle_B = \prod_i \frac{(a_i^\dagger)^{n_i}}{\sqrt{n_i!}} \lvert0\rangle.

Fermionic Creation and Annihilation Operators

Section titled “Fermionic Creation and Annihilation Operators”

For fermions, fix a mode ordering and define

Si=∑k<ink.S_i = \sum_{k<i}n_k.

Creation acts as

ci†∣n1,…,0i,…⟩F=(−1)Si∣n1,…,1i,…⟩F,c_i^\dagger \lvert n_1,\ldots,0_i,\ldots\rangle_F = (-1)^{S_i} \lvert n_1,\ldots,1_i,\ldots\rangle_F,

and annihilation acts as

ci∣n1,…,1i,…⟩F=(−1)Si∣n1,…,0i,…⟩F.c_i \lvert n_1,\ldots,1_i,\ldots\rangle_F = (-1)^{S_i} \lvert n_1,\ldots,0_i,\ldots\rangle_F.

If the attempted creation would double-occupy the mode, or the attempted annihilation acts on an empty mode, the result is zero.

The canonical anticommutation relations are

{ci,cj†}=δijI,{ci,cj}=0,{ci†,cj†}=0.\{c_i,c_j^\dagger\} = \delta_{ij}I, \qquad \{c_i,c_j\} =0, \qquad \{c_i^\dagger,c_j^\dagger\} =0.

Pauli exclusion in operator form is

(ci†)2=0.(c_i^\dagger)^2=0.

For bosons,

Ni=ai†ai.N_i = a_i^\dagger a_i.

For fermions,

Ni=ci†ci.N_i = c_i^\dagger c_i.

In both cases,

Ni∣n1,n2,…⟩=ni∣n1,n2,…⟩.N_i \lvert n_1,n_2,\ldots\rangle = n_i \lvert n_1,n_2,\ldots\rangle.

The total number operator is

N=∑iNi.N = \sum_i N_i.

For bosons,

[Ni,aj†]=δijaj†,[Ni,aj]=−δijaj.[N_i,a_j^\dagger] = \delta_{ij}a_j^\dagger, \qquad [N_i,a_j] = -\delta_{ij}a_j.

For fermions,

[Ni,cj†]=δijcj†,[Ni,cj]=−δijcj.[N_i,c_j^\dagger] = \delta_{ij}c_j^\dagger, \qquad [N_i,c_j] = -\delta_{ij}c_j.

For a fermionic mode,

Ni2=Ni.N_i^2=N_i.

Let di,di†d_i,d_i^\dagger denote bosonic or fermionic mode operators, with the appropriate algebra.

A one-body operator AA with matrix elements

Aij=⟨φi∣A∣φj⟩A_{ij} = \langle\varphi_i\vert A\vert\varphi_j\rangle

is represented by

A^=∑ijAijdi†dj.\widehat A = \sum_{ij} A_{ij} d_i^\dagger d_j.

A two-body interaction with matrix elements Vij;klV_{ij;kl} has the typical number-conserving form

V^=12∑ijklVij;kldi†dj†dldk,\widehat V = \frac12 \sum_{ijkl} V_{ij;kl} d_i^\dagger d_j^\dagger d_l d_k,

with the ordering convention chosen consistently, especially for fermions.

A common many-particle Hamiltonian with one-body and two-body terms is

H=∑ijhijdi†dj+12∑ijklVij;kldi†dj†dldk.H = \sum_{ij} h_{ij}d_i^\dagger d_j + \frac12 \sum_{ijkl} V_{ij;kl} d_i^\dagger d_j^\dagger d_l d_k.

A field operator expanded in a one-particle basis is

ψ(x)=∑iφi(x)di,ψ†(x)=∑iφi∗(x)di†.\psi(\mathbf x) = \sum_i \varphi_i(\mathbf x)d_i, \qquad \psi^\dagger(\mathbf x) = \sum_i \varphi_i^*(\mathbf x)d_i^\dagger.

For bosons,

[ψ(x),ψ†(y)]=δ(x−y).[\psi(\mathbf x),\psi^\dagger(\mathbf y)] = \delta(\mathbf x-\mathbf y).

For fermions,

{ψ(x),ψ†(y)}=δ(x−y).\{\psi(\mathbf x),\psi^\dagger(\mathbf y)\} = \delta(\mathbf x-\mathbf y).

For normal ordering, bosonic mode operators obey

:aiaj†:=aj†ai,aiaj†=:aiaj†:+δij.:a_i a_j^\dagger: = a_j^\dagger a_i, \qquad a_i a_j^\dagger = :a_i a_j^\dagger: +\delta_{ij}.

For fermionic mode operators,

:cicj†:=−cj†ci,cicj†=:cicj†:+δij.:c_i c_j^\dagger: = -c_j^\dagger c_i, \qquad c_i c_j^\dagger = :c_i c_j^\dagger: +\delta_{ij}.

With the empty-vacuum contraction convention used in Wick’s theorem preview,

C(ai,aj†)=δij,C(ai†,aj)=0,C(a_i,a_j^\dagger) = \delta_{ij}, \qquad C(a_i^\dagger,a_j)=0,

and similarly

C(ci,cj†)=δij,C(ci†,cj)=0,C(c_i,c_j^\dagger) = \delta_{ij}, \qquad C(c_i^\dagger,c_j)=0,

with fermionic signs supplied by the operator swaps.

Continuous-Variable Wavefunctions, Gaussian, and EPR Correlations

Section titled “Continuous-Variable Wavefunctions, Gaussian, and EPR Correlations”

For two distinguishable particles on a line,

H12=L2(R)⊗L2(R)≅L2(R2).\mathcal H_{12} = L^2(\mathbb R)\otimes L^2(\mathbb R) \cong L^2(\mathbb R^2).

A position-space two-particle state is normalized by

∫dx1 dx2 ∣Ψ(x1,x2)∣2=1.\int dx_1\,dx_2\, \lvert\Psi(x_1,x_2)\rvert^2 = 1.

Product wavefunctions have

Ψ(x1,x2)=ψ(x1)ϕ(x2).\Psi(x_1,x_2) = \psi(x_1)\phi(x_2).

For a pure two-particle state, the reduced density kernel of particle 1 is

ρ1(x,x′)=∫dy Ψ(x,y)Ψ∗(x′,y).\rho_1(x,x') = \int dy\, \Psi(x,y)\Psi^*(x',y).

The diagonal is the marginal position density:

ρ1(x,x)=∫dy ∣Ψ(x,y)∣2.\rho_1(x,x) = \int dy\, \lvert\Psi(x,y)\rvert^2.

For NN bosonic modes, define the quadrature vector

R=(q1,p1,…,qN,pN)T,R = (q_1,p_1,\ldots,q_N,p_N)^T,

with

[Rj,Rk]=iΩjk,Ω=⨁ℓ=1N(01−10).[R_j,R_k] = i\Omega_{jk}, \qquad \Omega = \bigoplus_{\ell=1}^{N} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1\\ -1 & 0 \end{pmatrix}.

The Gaussian covariance matrix is

Vjk=12⟨ΔRjΔRk+ΔRkΔRj⟩,ΔRj=Rj−⟨Rj⟩.V_{jk} = \frac12 \left\langle \Delta R_j\Delta R_k+\Delta R_k\Delta R_j \right\rangle, \qquad \Delta R_j=R_j-\langle R_j\rangle.

Physical covariance matrices satisfy

V+i2Ω≥0.V+\frac{i}{2}\Omega \ge 0.

An NN-mode Gaussian Wigner function is

W(R)=1(2π)Ndet⁡Vexp⁡ ⁣[−12(R−d)TV−1(R−d)].W(R) = \frac{1}{(2\pi)^N\sqrt{\det V}} \exp\!\left[ -\frac12 (R-d)^T V^{-1}(R-d) \right].

Pure Gaussian states have symplectic eigenvalues νj=1/2\nu_j=1/2 and

det⁡V=2−2N.\det V = 2^{-2N}.

With the squeezing convention used in this volume,

S1(r)=exp⁡ ⁣[r2(a2−a†2)],S_1(r) = \exp\!\left[ \frac r2 \left( a^2-a^{\dagger 2} \right) \right],

and

S1†(r)qS1(r)=e−rq,S1†(r)pS1(r)=erp.S_1^\dagger(r)qS_1(r) = e^{-r}q, \qquad S_1^\dagger(r)pS_1(r) = e^r p.

The single-mode squeezed-vacuum covariance matrix is

Vsq(r)=12(e−2r00e2r).V_{\rm sq}(r) = \frac12 \begin{pmatrix} e^{-2r} & 0\\ 0 & e^{2r} \end{pmatrix}.

The two-mode squeeze operator is

S2(r)=exp⁡ ⁣[r(aA†aB†−aAaB)],S_2(r) = \exp\!\left[ r \left( a_A^\dagger a_B^\dagger-a_Aa_B \right) \right],

and

∣TMSV(r)⟩=1cosh⁡r∑n=0∞(tanh⁡r)n∣nA,nB⟩.\lvert\mathrm{TMSV}(r)\rangle = \frac{1}{\cosh r} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} (\tanh r)^n \lvert n_A,n_B\rangle.

For two particles on a line,

[Xi,Pj]=iℏ δij.[X_i,P_j] = i\hbar\,\delta_{ij}.

The EPR collective observables are

X1−X2,P1+P2,X_1-X_2, \qquad P_1+P_2,

and they commute:

[X1−X2,P1+P2]=0.[X_1-X_2,P_1+P_2] = 0.

A formal simultaneous generalized eigenfunction is

Ψx0,P(x1,x2)=Nexp⁡ ⁣[iP2ℏ(x1+x2)]δ(x1−x2−x0).\Psi_{x_0,P}(x_1,x_2) = \mathcal N \exp\!\left[ \frac{iP}{2\hbar}(x_1+x_2) \right] \delta(x_1-x_2-x_0).

It obeys

(X1−X2)Ψx0,P=x0Ψx0,P,(P1+P2)Ψx0,P=PΨx0,P,(X_1-X_2)\Psi_{x_0,P} = x_0\Psi_{x_0,P}, \qquad (P_1+P_2)\Psi_{x_0,P} = P\Psi_{x_0,P},

but it is not normalizable in L2(R2)L^2(\mathbb R^2).

A finite Gaussian approximation is

Ψσ,Σ=1πσΣexp⁡ ⁣[−(x1−x2−x0)24σ2−(x1+x2)24Σ2+iP2ℏ(x1+x2)].\Psi_{\sigma,\Sigma} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{\pi\sigma\Sigma}} \exp\!\left[ -\frac{(x_1-x_2-x_0)^2}{4\sigma^2} -\frac{(x_1+x_2)^2}{4\Sigma^2} +\frac{iP}{2\hbar}(x_1+x_2) \right].

With this convention,

Var⁡(X1−X2)=σ2,Var⁡(P1+P2)=ℏ2Σ2.\operatorname{Var}(X_1-X_2) = \sigma^2, \qquad \operatorname{Var}(P_1+P_2) = \frac{\hbar^2}{\Sigma^2}.

For dimensionless two-mode quadratures,

qj=aj+aj†2,pj=aj−aj†i2,q_j = \frac{a_j+a_j^\dagger}{\sqrt2}, \qquad p_j = \frac{a_j-a_j^\dagger}{i\sqrt2},

the two-mode squeezed vacuum satisfies, in a common phase convention,

Var⁡(qA−qB)=e−2r,Var⁡(pA+pB)=e−2r.\operatorname{Var}(q_A-q_B) = e^{-2r}, \qquad \operatorname{Var}(p_A+p_B) = e^{-2r}.

The ideal EPR limit corresponds to singular limits such as σ→0\sigma\to0, Σ→∞\Sigma\to\infty, or r→∞r\to\infty.

The standard Bell pair is

∣Φ+⟩=12(∣00⟩+∣11⟩).\lvert\Phi^+\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt2} \left( \lvert00\rangle+\lvert11\rangle \right).

Its one-qubit reduced states are

ρA=ρB=12I,\rho_A = \rho_B = \frac12 I,

and its entanglement entropy is

S(ρA)=1bit.S(\rho_A) = 1 \quad \text{bit}.

This is one ebit of bipartite pure-state entanglement. In the quantum-information bridge, the standard resource shorthand is

1 ebit+2 classical bits⟶1 qubit transmission1\ \text{ebit} + 2\ \text{classical bits} \longrightarrow 1\ \text{qubit transmission}

for teleportation, and

1 ebit+1 qubit transmission⟶2 classical bits1\ \text{ebit} + 1\ \text{qubit transmission} \longrightarrow 2\ \text{classical bits}

for superdense coding. These are protocol resource statements, not local signaling mechanisms.

For the Bell state

∣Φ+⟩=∣00⟩+∣11⟩2,\lvert\Phi^+\rangle = \frac{ \lvert00\rangle+\lvert11\rangle }{\sqrt2},

the one-qubit reduced states are

ρA=ρB=12I.\rho_A = \rho_B = \frac12 I.

Local outcome probabilities are computed from the reduced state:

p(a)=Tr⁡A(ρAEa).p(a) = \operatorname{Tr}_A(\rho_A E_a).

An ordinary trace-preserving operation on the remote subsystem cannot change the unconditioned local reduced state:

Tr⁡B[(IA⊗EB)(ρAB)]=ρA.\operatorname{Tr}_B \left[ (I_A\otimes\mathcal E_B)(\rho_{AB}) \right] = \rho_A.

Conditional states can change after a remote outcome is known:

ρA∣b=σA∣bp(b).\rho_{A\vert b} = \frac{\sigma_{A\vert b}}{p(b)}.

A standard CHSH expression has the local-hidden-variable bound

∣E(a,b)+E(a,b′)+E(a′,b)−E(a′,b′)∣≤2,\left| E(a,b) + E(a,b') + E(a',b) - E(a',b') \right| \le 2,

while suitable quantum states and measurements can reach 222\sqrt2. See the foundations bridge for the distinction between entanglement, steering, Bell nonlocality, no-signaling, and measurement update.

A low-gain pair source can be written schematically as

∣Ψ⟩≈∣0⟩+ϵ∑μ,νfμν aμ†bν†∣0⟩+O(ϵ2).\lvert\Psi\rangle \approx \lvert0\rangle + \epsilon \sum_{\mu,\nu} f_{\mu\nu}\, a_\mu^\dagger b_\nu^\dagger \lvert0\rangle + O(\epsilon^2).

After selecting the one-pair component, signal-idler entanglement is present when the normalized amplitude FμνF_{\mu\nu} is not factorizable:

∣ψ2⟩=∑μ,νFμν∣1μ⟩s∣1ν⟩i.\lvert\psi_2\rangle = \sum_{\mu,\nu} F_{\mu\nu} \lvert1_\mu\rangle_s \lvert1_\nu\rangle_i.

A polarization Bell-like state is

∣Φϕ⟩pol=∣H⟩s∣H⟩i+eiϕ∣V⟩s∣V⟩i2.\lvert\Phi_\phi\rangle_{\mathrm{pol}} = \frac{ \lvert H\rangle_s\lvert H\rangle_i + e^{i\phi} \lvert V\rangle_s\lvert V\rangle_i }{\sqrt2}.

A single-photon path-entangled state is

∣ψ⟩=∣1⟩A∣0⟩B+eiϕ∣0⟩A∣1⟩B2.\lvert\psi\rangle = \frac{ \lvert1\rangle_A\lvert0\rangle_B + e^{i\phi} \lvert0\rangle_A\lvert1\rangle_B }{\sqrt2}.

Homodyne detection measures phase-dependent quadratures such as

qθ=ae−iθ+a†eiθ2.q_\theta = \frac{ a e^{-i\theta} + a^\dagger e^{i\theta} }{\sqrt2}.

For the two-mode squeezed vacuum convention used above,

Var⁡(qA−qB)=e−2r,Var⁡(pA+pB)=e−2r.\operatorname{Var}(q_A-q_B) = e^{-2r}, \qquad \operatorname{Var}(p_A+p_B) = e^{-2r}.

See the quantum-optics bridge for mode labels, down-conversion cautions, polarization and path entanglement, and homodyne interpretation.

For a spatial, site, orbital, or mode region AA,

H≅HA⊗HAˉ,ρA=Tr⁡Aˉρ.\mathcal H \cong \mathcal H_A\otimes\mathcal H_{\bar A}, \qquad \rho_A = \operatorname{Tr}_{\bar A}\rho.

For a pure global state, the entanglement entropy across the A∣AˉA\vert\bar A cut is

SA=−Tr⁡(ρAlog⁡ρA).S_A = -\operatorname{Tr}(\rho_A\log\rho_A).

In the many-body bridge, common scaling shorthands are

SA∼α ∣∂A∣area law,S_A \sim \alpha\,\lvert\partial A\rvert \quad \text{area law},

and

SA∝∣A∣volume law.S_A \propto \lvert A\rvert \quad \text{volume law}.

The entanglement Hamiltonian is defined, up to additive constants, by

ρA=e−HEZE,ZE=Tr⁡(e−HE).\rho_A = \frac{e^{-H_E}}{Z_E}, \qquad Z_E = \operatorname{Tr}(e^{-H_E}).

For a matrix product state with bond dimension χ\chi across a cut,

SA≤log⁡χ.S_A \le \log\chi.

For two-dimensional topologically ordered gapped phases, a common preview form is

S(A)=α ∣∂A∣−γ+⋯ ,γ=log⁡DS(A) = \alpha\,\lvert\partial A\rvert - \gamma + \cdots, \qquad \gamma = \log\mathcal D

in standard cases, where D\mathcal D is the total quantum dimension. Extracting γ\gamma requires region combinations that cancel nonuniversal boundary terms.

For a regulated spatial region AA in a field theory,

ρA=Tr⁡Aˉ∣0⟩⟨0∣,SA=−Tr⁡(ρAlog⁡ρA).\rho_A = \operatorname{Tr}_{\bar A} \lvert0\rangle\langle0\rvert, \qquad S_A = -\operatorname{Tr}(\rho_A\log\rho_A).

In d>1d>1 spatial dimensions, a common leading cutoff behavior is

SA∼α Area⁡(∂A)ϵd−1+⋯ .S_A \sim \alpha\, \frac{\operatorname{Area}(\partial A)}{\epsilon^{d-1}} + \cdots.

For a one-dimensional conformal field theory interval of length ℓ\ell,

SA=c3log⁡ℓϵ+const.S_A = \frac{c}{3} \log\frac{\ell}{\epsilon} + \mathrm{const}.

The modular Hamiltonian shorthand is

KA=−log⁡ρA,ρA=e−KA,K_A = -\log\rho_A, \qquad \rho_A = e^{-K_A},

up to additive constants if a separate normalization is used. Relative entropy can be written as

D(ρ∥σ)=Δ⟨Kσ⟩−ΔS≥0,Kσ=−log⁡σ.D(\rho\Vert\sigma) = \Delta\langle K_\sigma\rangle - \Delta S \ge 0, \qquad K_\sigma=-\log\sigma.

In holographic theories, the simplest static classical relation is

SA=Area⁡(γA)4GN.S_A = \frac{\operatorname{Area}(\gamma_A)}{4G_N}.

These are preview shorthands. See Entanglement in QFT Preview for regulator, region, algebra, modular-Hamiltonian, and holography cautions.

In an orthonormal spin-orbital basis, an NN-electron determinant is

∣Φ⟩=ai1†ai2†⋯aiN†∣0⟩.\lvert\Phi\rangle = a_{i_1}^\dagger a_{i_2}^\dagger \cdots a_{i_N}^\dagger \lvert0\rangle.

A correlated finite-basis state can be expanded as

∣Ψ⟩=∑ICI∣ΦI⟩.\lvert\Psi\rangle = \sum_I C_I\lvert\Phi_I\rangle.

Relative to a reference determinant ∣Φ0⟩\lvert\Phi_0\rangle, common excitation notation is

∣Φia⟩=aa†ai∣Φ0⟩,∣Φijab⟩=aa†ab†ajai∣Φ0⟩.\lvert\Phi_i^a\rangle = a_a^\dagger a_i \lvert\Phi_0\rangle, \qquad \lvert\Phi_{ij}^{ab}\rangle = a_a^\dagger a_b^\dagger a_j a_i \lvert\Phi_0\rangle.

For a spatial orbital pp with local basis

∣0⟩,∣↑⟩,∣↓⟩,∣↑↓⟩,\lvert0\rangle, \qquad \lvert\uparrow\rangle, \qquad \lvert\downarrow\rangle, \qquad \lvert\uparrow\downarrow\rangle,

the one-orbital entropy is

sp=−Tr⁡(ρplog⁡ρp),ρp=Tr⁡pˉρ.s_p = -\operatorname{Tr}(\rho_p\log\rho_p), \qquad \rho_p = \operatorname{Tr}_{\bar p}\rho.

For orbitals p,qp,q, the orbital mutual information is

I(p:q)=sp+sq−spq,spq=−Tr⁡(ρpqlog⁡ρpq).I(p:q) = s_p+s_q-s_{pq}, \qquad s_{pq} = -\operatorname{Tr}(\rho_{pq}\log\rho_{pq}).

These are basis-dependent mode-entanglement diagnostics. See the quantum-chemistry bridge for cautions about antisymmetry, electron correlation, orbital basis choices, and spin entanglement.

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