Quantum remote control: Teleportation of unitary operations

Abstract

We consider the implementation of an arbitrary unitary operation U upon a distant quantum system. This teleportation of U can be viewed as a quantum remote control. We investigate protocols which achieve this using local operations, classical communication and shared entanglement (LOCCSE). Lower bounds on the necessary entanglement and classical communication are determined using causality and the linearity of quantum mechanics. We examine in particular detail the resources required if the remote control is to be implemented as a classical black box. Under these circumstances, we prove that the required resources are, necessarily, those needed for implementation by bidirectional state teleportation.