Images in quantum entanglement

A system for classifying and quantifying entanglement in spin 1/2 pure states is presented based on simple images. From the image point of view, an entangled state can be described as a linear superposition of separable object wavefunction Psi(O) plus a portion of its own inverse image. Bell states can be defined in this way: Psi = 1/root 2(Psi(O) +/- Psi(I)). Using the method of images, the three-spin 1/2 system is discussed in some detail. This system can exhibit exclusive three-particle nu(123) entanglement, two-particle entanglements nu(12), nu(13), nu(23) and/or mixtures of all four. All four image states are orthogonal both to each other and to the object wavefunction. In general, five entanglement parameters nu(12), nu(13), nu(23), nu(123) and phi(123) are required to define the general entangled state. In addition, it is shown that there is considerable scope for encoding numbers, at least from the classical point of view but using quantum-mechanical principles. Methods are developed for their extraction. It is shown that concurrence can be used to extract even-partite, but not odd-partite information. Additional relationships are also presented which can be helpful in the decoding process. However, in general, numerical methods are mandatory. A simple roulette method for decoding is presented and discussed. But it is shown that if the encoder chooses to use transcendental numbers for the angles defining the target function (alpha(1), beta(1)), etc, the method rapidly turns into the Devil's roulette, requiring finer and finer angular steps.