Entanglement transformations of pure Gaussian states

Abstract

We present a theory of entanglement transformations of Gaussian pure states with local Gaussian operations and classical communication. This is the experimentally accessible set of operations that can be realized with optical elements such as beam splitters, phase shifts and squeezers, together with homodyne measurements. We provide a simple necessary and sufficient condition for the possibility to transform a pure bipartite Gaussian state into another one. We contrast our criterion with what is possible if general local operations are available.