Operationally classical simulation of quantum states
Cobucci, Gabriele LU
; Bernal, Alexander
LU
; Renner, Martin J.
LU
and Tavakoli, Armin
LU
(2026)
In Nature Communications
17(1).
- Abstract
A classical state-preparation device cannot generate states in relative superposition. We introduce classical models in which devices that are individually unable to generate states with relative superposition can be stochastically coordinated to simulate sets of quantum states. These models have natural operational interpretation in prepare-and-measure scenarios and they can account for many non-commuting quantum state sets. We develop systematic methods both for classically simulating quantum sets and for showing that no such simulation exists, thereby certifying quantum coherence. In particular, we determine the exact noise rates required to classically simulate the entire state space of quantum theory. We also reveal connections... (More)
A classical state-preparation device cannot generate states in relative superposition. We introduce classical models in which devices that are individually unable to generate states with relative superposition can be stochastically coordinated to simulate sets of quantum states. These models have natural operational interpretation in prepare-and-measure scenarios and they can account for many non-commuting quantum state sets. We develop systematic methods both for classically simulating quantum sets and for showing that no such simulation exists, thereby certifying quantum coherence. In particular, we determine the exact noise rates required to classically simulate the entire state space of quantum theory. We also reveal connections between the operational classicality of sets and the well-known fundamental concepts of joint measurability and Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen steering. Here, we present an avenue to understand how and to what extent quantum states defy generic models based on classical devices, which also has relevant implications for quantum information applications.
(Less)
- author
- Cobucci, Gabriele
LU
; Bernal, Alexander
LU
; Renner, Martin J.
LU
and Tavakoli, Armin
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-12
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Nature Communications
- volume
- 17
- issue
- 1
- article number
- 1104
- publisher
- Nature Publishing Group
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:41593070
- scopus:105028920124
- ISSN
- 2041-1723
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41467-026-68581-3
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 5cda90ef-a1ab-4907-8c0a-60e6d58337a3
- date added to LUP
- 2026-02-17 11:23:13
- date last changed
- 2026-02-18 03:00:10
@article{5cda90ef-a1ab-4907-8c0a-60e6d58337a3,
abstract = {{<p>A classical state-preparation device cannot generate states in relative superposition. We introduce classical models in which devices that are individually unable to generate states with relative superposition can be stochastically coordinated to simulate sets of quantum states. These models have natural operational interpretation in prepare-and-measure scenarios and they can account for many non-commuting quantum state sets. We develop systematic methods both for classically simulating quantum sets and for showing that no such simulation exists, thereby certifying quantum coherence. In particular, we determine the exact noise rates required to classically simulate the entire state space of quantum theory. We also reveal connections between the operational classicality of sets and the well-known fundamental concepts of joint measurability and Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen steering. Here, we present an avenue to understand how and to what extent quantum states defy generic models based on classical devices, which also has relevant implications for quantum information applications.</p>}},
author = {{Cobucci, Gabriele and Bernal, Alexander and Renner, Martin J. and Tavakoli, Armin}},
issn = {{2041-1723}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
publisher = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
series = {{Nature Communications}},
title = {{Operationally classical simulation of quantum states}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-68581-3}},
doi = {{10.1038/s41467-026-68581-3}},
volume = {{17}},
year = {{2026}},
}