Quantum Feedback Channels

Abstract

In Shannon information theory the capacity of a memoryless communication channel cannot be increased by the use of feedback. In quantum information theory the no-cloning theorem means that noiseless copying and feedback of quantum information cannot be achieved. In this paper, quantum feedback is defined as the unlimited use of a noiseless quantum channel from receiver to sender. Given such quantum feedback, it is shown to provide no increase in the entanglement--assisted capacities of a memoryless quantum channel, in direct analogy to the classical case. It is also shown that in various cases of non-assisted capacities, feedback may increase the capacity of memoryless quantum channels.