Entanglement witnesses: construction, analysis and classification

Abstract

From the physical point of view entanglement witnesses define a universal tool for analysis and classification of quantum entangled states. From the mathematical point of view they provide highly nontrivial generalization of positive operators and they find elegant correspondence with the theory of positive maps in matrix algebras. We concentrate on theoretical analysis of various important notions like (in)decomposability, atomicity, optimality, extremality and exposedness. Several methods of construction are provided as well. Our discussion is illustrated by many examples enabling the reader to see the intricate structure of these objects. It is shown that the theory of entanglement witnesses finds elegant geometric formulation in terms of convex cones and related geometric structures.