Semi-device-independent certification of independent quantum state and measurement devices

Abstract

Certifying that quantum devices behave as intended is crucial for quantum information science. Here, methods are developed for certification of both state preparation devices and measurement devices based on prepare-and-measure experiments with independent devices. The experimenter assumes the independence of the devices and knowledge of the Hilbert space dimension. Thus no precise characterisation of any part of the experiment is required. The certification is based on a randomised version of unambiguous state discrimination and targets the class of state ensembles corresponding to quantum $t$-designs of any size and any dimension. These quantum designs are sets of states over which the average of any $t$-degree polynomial equals its average over all pure states, and they accommodate many of the most useful discrete structures in quantum information processing. Furthermore, it is shown that the same experiments also certify the detection efficiency of the measurement devices, as well as their non-projective nature. The presented methods can readily be implemented in experiments.