Symmetric Halves of the 8/33-Probability that the Joint State of Two Quantum Bits is Disentangled

Abstract

Compelling evidence-though yet no formal proof--has been adduced that the probability that a generic two-qubit state ($\rho$) is separable is $\frac{8}{33}$ (arXiv:1301.6617, arXiv:1109.2560, arXiv:0704.3723). Proceeding in related analytical frameworks, using a further determinantal moment formula of C. Dunkl (Appendix), we reach the conclusion that one-half of this probability arises when the determinantal inequality $|\rho^{PT}|>|\rho|$, where $PT$ denotes the partial transpose, is satisfied, and, the other half, when $|\rho|>|\rho^{PT}|$. These probabilities are taken with respect to the flat, Hilbert-Schmidt measure on the fifteen-dimensional convex set of $4 \times 4$ density matrices. We find fully parallel bisection/equipartition results for the previously adduced, as well, two-"re[al]bit" and two-"quater[nionic]bit"separability probabilities of $\frac{29}{64}$ and $\frac{26}{323}$, respectively. The computational results reported lend strong support to those obtained earlier--including the "concise formula" that yields them--most conspicuously amongst those findings being the $\frac{29}{64}, \frac{8}{33}$ and $\frac{26}{323}$ probabilities noted.