Post-processing minimal joint observables

Abstract

A finite set of quantum observables (positive operator valued measures) is called compatible if these observables are marginals of a some observable, called a joint observable of them. For a given set of compatible observables, their joint observable is in general not unique and it is desirable to take a minimal joint observable in the post-processing order since a less informative observable disturbs less the system. We address the question of the minimality of finite-outcome joint observables and prove that any joint observable is lower bounded by a minimal joint observable in the post-processing order. We also give characterizations of the minimality of a joint observable that can be checked by finite-step algorithms and apply them to the case of non-commuting dichotomic qubit observables.