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PROBLEM 14 (12.0/20.0 points)

A qubit is either in the state |u3
= cos(
4

x 2

)|0

3+

sin(

x 2

)|1 or |v

= cos(

x 2

)|0

3+

sin(

x 2

)|1and

we want to

determine which state it is in by measuring it. One of the following two measurements is optimal in terms of the probability of success.

Measurement I: Measure in the basis |u3

= cos(

x 2

)|0

3+

sin(

x 2

)|1 , |u

= sin(

x 2

)|0

3+

cos(

x 2

)|1 . If

3 the

outcome is u, guess that the qubit was in the state |u3, and if the outcome was u , guess that it was in state |v3.

Measurement II: Measure in the standard basis and interpret 0 as |u3 and 1 as |v3. The probability of success is defined as and pv
= Pr[we guess | v
1 2

1 2

, where pu

= Pr[we guess | u

3 given that the qubit was in the state |u3]

3 given that the qubit was in the state |v3].

(a) What is the probability of success of Measurement I as a function of x?

sin ( cos
sin 2 2 4 4

x 2 x 2

) )

2 1+sin 2
2

Help

(b) What is the probability of success of Measurement II as a function of x?

sin ( cos
sin 2 2 4 4

x 2 x 2

) )

2 1+sin 2
2

(c) Now note that the following becomes good approximations as

0:

sin sin (
2 4

1 2

Use these approximations to estimate the probability of success of the two measurements as x Measurement I: 1
1

as a function of x.

You entered:
1

Measurement II: 1
1

You entered:
1

(d) Based on your answer to part (c), which measurement better distinguishes between |u3 and |v3? Measurement I Measurement II

Check

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