Optimal measurement preserving qubit channels

Abstract

We consider the problem of discriminating qubit states that are sent over a quantum channel and derive a necessary and sufficient condition for an optimal measurement to be preserved by the channel. We apply the result to the characterization of optimal measurement preserving (OMP) channels for a given qubit ensemble, e.g., a set of two states or a set of multiple qubit states with equal a priori probabilities. Conversely, we also characterize qubit ensembles for which a given channel is OMP, such as unitary and depolarization channels. Finally, we show how the sets of OMP channels for a given ensemble can be constructed.