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Consider some state $|\psi\rangle$ of $n$ qubits. One can take any subsystem $A$ and compute its density matrix $\rho_A =Tr_{B} |\psi\rangle \langle\psi|$. The entanglement between subsystem $A$ and the rest of the system $B$ is quantified for example by von Nemumann entropy associated with the density matrix. For example, the subsystem $A$ can be first $k$ qubits and subsytem $B$ the remaining $n-k$.

Now, is it possible to associate in a similar way some measure of entaglment between two particular subsystems that do not sum up to the total system? Say, is it in any way reasonable to ask what is entanglement between qubit 1 and qubit 2? Intuitively, if the state of the system is something like $\sqrt{2}|\psi\rangle=|000000\dots\rangle+|110000\dots\rangle$ then I should be able to say that the first two qubits are maxiamally entangled with each other but not at all with the remaining qubits. But can one do this in general?

Nikita Nemkov
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1 Answers1

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Of course you can. Take any entanglement measure that can be applied to a system whose overall description is a density matrix, and you can apply that to the density matrix describing your subsystem. (So, you wouldn't use the von Neumann entropy of one qubit because that assumes the overall state is pure.) A particularly good option for a pair of qubits is the partial transpose. You might also look at the concurrence.

DaftWullie
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