Weyl channels for multipartite systems

Abstract

Quantum channels, a subset of quantum maps, describe the unitary and non-unitary evolution of quantum systems. We study a generalization of the concept of Pauli maps to the case of multipartite high dimensional quantum systems through the use of the Weyl operators. The condition for such maps to be valid quantum channels, i.e. complete positivity, is derived in terms of Fourier transform matrices. From these conditions, we find the extreme points of this set of channels and identify an elegant algebraic structure nested within them. In turn, this allows us to expand upon the concept of "component erasing channels" introduced in earlier work by the authors. We show that these channels are completely characterized by elements drawn of finite cyclic groups. An algorithmic construction for such channels is presented and the smallest subsets of erasing channels which generate the whole set are determined.