Distinguishability and copiability of programs in general process theories

Abstract

We propose a notion of state distinguishability that does not refer to probabilities, but rather to the ability of a set of states to serve as programs for a desired set of gates. Using this notion, we reconstruct the structural features of the task of state discrimination, such as the equivalence with cloning and the impossibility to extract information from two non-distinguishable pure states without causing a disturbance. All these features express intrinsic links among operational tasks, which are valid independently of the particular theory under consideration.