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Exercises with single qubit matrices
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"# Exercises with single qubit matrices\n",
"\n",
"\n",
"## 1. Alternative Pauli Basis States\n",
"\n",
"There are an infinite number of possible single qubit states. From a theoretical stand-point, the one we choose to label $| 0 \\rangle$ is arbitrary. So let’s consider the following alternative.\n",
"\n",
"$$\n",
"| \\bar 0 \\rangle = \\cos(\\theta) \\, | 0 \\rangle + \\sin(\\theta) \\, | 1 \\rangle.\n",
"$$\n",
"\n",
"For this $| \\bar 0 \\rangle$:\n",
"\n",
"(a) Find a corresponding orthogonal state $| \\bar 1 \\rangle$;\n",
"\n",
"(b) For this basis $| \\bar 0 \\rangle$, $| \\bar 1 \\rangle$, find mutually unbiased basis states $| \\bar + \\rangle$ and $| \\bar - \\rangle$;\n",
"\n",
"(c) Now find the two basis states for a third mutually unbiased basis\n",
"\n",
"## 2. Properties of the Pauli Matrices\n",
"\n",
"Note: Sometimes the Pauli matrices are written as $X$, $Y$ and $Z$, and sometimes as $\\sigma_x$, $\\sigma_y$ and $\\sigma_z$. For the most part, the convention is an arbitrary choice. Once you’ve used them enough, you’ll hardly notice the difference (to the great annoyance of your students!).\n",
"\n",
"The Pauli matrices are defined\n",
"\n",
"$$\n",
"X = \n",
"\\begin{pmatrix} \n",
"0 & 1 \\\\\n",
"1 & 0 \\\\\n",
"\\end{pmatrix}, \\,\\,\n",
"Y = \n",
"\\begin{pmatrix} \n",
"0 & -i \\\\\n",
"i & 0 \\\\\n",
"\\end{pmatrix}, \\,\\,\n",
"Z = \n",
"\\begin{pmatrix} \n",
"1 & 0 \\\\\n",
"0 & -1 \\\\\n",
"\\end{pmatrix}, \\,\\,\n",
"$$\n",
"\n",
"(a) Show that each squares to the identity matrix.\n",
"\n",
"$$\n",
"I = \n",
"\\begin{pmatrix} \n",
"1 & 0 \\\\\n",
"0 & 1 \\\\\n",
"\\end{pmatrix}\n",
"$$\n",
"\n",
"(b) Show that $P_1 P_2 = - P_2 P_1$ for any pair of Paulis $P_1$ and $P_2$.\n",
"\n",
"(c) Show that $P_1 P_2 \\sim P_3$ for any pair of Paulis $P_1$ and $P_2$, where $P_3$ is the remaining Pauli.\n",
"\n",
"(d) Find the eigenvectors and eigenvalues of each Pauli.\n",
"\n",
"\n",
"## 3. The Hadamard\n",
"\n",
"The Hadamard matrix can be expressed\n",
"\n",
"$$\n",
"H = \\frac{1}{\\sqrt{2}}\n",
"\\begin{pmatrix} \n",
"1 & 1 \\\\\n",
"1 & -1 \\\\\n",
"\\end{pmatrix}\n",
"$$\n",
"\n",
"(a) Find the eigenvectors and eigenvalues of this matrix.\n",
"\n",
"(b) Show that $H$ also squares to identity.\n",
"\n",
"(c) Show that $H P_1 H^\\dagger \\sim P_2$ for Paulis $P_1$ and $P_2$. "
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