Realization of an arbitrary structure of perfect distinguishability of states in general probability theory

Abstract

Let $s_1,s_2,\ldots s_n$ be states of a general probability theory, and $\mathcal A$ be the set of all subsets of indices $H \subset [n]\equiv\{1,2,\ldots n\}$ such that the states $(s_j)_{j\in H}$ are jointly perfectly distinguishable. All subsets with a single element are of course in $\mathcal A$, and since smaller collections are easier to distinguish, if $H\in \mathcal A$ and $L \subset H$ then $L\in \mathcal A$; in other words, $\mathcal A$ is a so-called $\textit{independence system}$ on the set of indices $[n]$. In this paper it is shown that every independence system on $[n]$ can be realized in the above manner.