Robust self-test of the maximally entangled state of two-qubits without assuming unitary observables

Abstract

Standard device-independent self-testing uses Naimark dilation to assume projective measurements, masking the operational limitations of realistic non-unitary observables. We establish a robust pure self-test for the singlet and Pauli observables that entirely circumvents dilation of the measurement apparatus. Assuming a pure state to model an untrusted source, we regularize the physical non-projective operators and derive an analytic $\mathcal{O}(\sqrtε)$ robustness bound. Our results suggest that device-independent certification of real implementations is significantly more demanding than standard projective models imply.