Moment maps and Galois orbits in quantum information theory

Abstract

SIC-POVMs are configurations of points or rank-one projections arising from the action of a finite Heisenberg group on $\mathbb C^d$. The resulting equations are interpreted in terms of moment maps by focussing attention on the orbit of a cyclic subgroup and the maximal torus in $\mathrm U(d)$ that contains it. The image of a SIC-POVM under the associated moment map lies in an intersection of real quadrics, which we describe explicitly. We also elaborate the conjectural description of the related number fields and describe the structure of Galois orbits of overlap phases.