Coherence Fraction
Pith reviewed 2026-05-25 20:09 UTC · model grok-4.3
The pith
Coherence fraction quantifies the proximity of a quantum state to a maximally coherent state and serves as a coherence measure.
A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.
Core claim
Coherence fraction is defined by generalizing entanglement fraction to quantify the proximity of a quantum state to a maximally coherent state. This new quantity acts as a measure of coherence, exhibits a connection with l1-norm coherence, and provides criteria for coherence distillability. The optimal coherence fraction for a channel complements its decohering power, and for bipartite pure states and X states the connection to l1-norm holds, with local coherence fractions bounded by a linear function of the global one.
What carries the argument
Coherence fraction, the generalization of entanglement fraction that quantifies proximity to maximally coherent states.
If this is right
- Coherence fraction connects with l1-norm coherence for single and bipartite states.
- Coherence fraction provides criteria for coherence distillability.
- Optimal coherence fraction of a channel obeys a complementary relation with its decohering power.
- Local coherence fractions of a bipartite state are bounded by a linear function of its global coherence fraction.
- Dynamics of optimal coherence fraction can be tracked under single-sided and both-sided channel applications.
Where Pith is reading between the lines
- If the measure holds up, it may simplify calculations of coherence in tasks like quantum communication compared to other known quantifiers.
- Verification on X states could test whether the bipartite bounds on local and global fractions hold in practice.
- The complementary relation with decohering power might guide design of channels that balance coherence generation and loss.
- Extension to more complex states could reveal whether the linear bound generalizes beyond pure and X states.
Load-bearing premise
The assumption that the newly defined coherence fraction provides a meaningful and independent measure of coherence whose connections to l1-norm coherence and distillability criteria are valid and useful beyond the definitions themselves.
What would settle it
A quantum state where coherence fraction fails to align with l1-norm coherence values or incorrectly predicts distillability outcomes would falsify the claimed connections.
Figures
read the original abstract
The concept of entanglement fraction is generalized to define coherence fraction of a quantum state. Precisely, it quantifies the proximity of a quantum state to maximally coherent state and it can be used as a measure of coherence. Coherence fraction has a connection with $l_1$-norm coherence and provides the criteria of coherence distillability. Optimal coherence fraction corresponding to a channel, defined from this new idea of coherence fraction, obeys a complementary relation with its decohering power. The connection between coherence fraction and $l_1$-norm coherence turns to hold for bipartite pure states and $X$ states too. The bipartite generalization shows that the local coherence fractions of a quantum state are not free and they are bounded by linear function of its global coherence fraction. Dynamics of optimal coherence fraction is also studied for single sided and both sided application of channels. Numerical results are provided in exploring properties of optimal coherence fraction.
Editorial analysis
A structured set of objections, weighed in public.
Referee Report
Summary. The manuscript generalizes the entanglement fraction to define the coherence fraction of a quantum state as the maximum overlap with a maximally coherent state. It claims this quantity functions as a coherence measure, connects to l1-norm coherence, supplies criteria for coherence distillability, and that the optimal coherence fraction of a channel obeys a complementary relation with its decohering power. Extensions to bipartite pure states and X-states are presented, along with bounds on local coherence fractions in terms of the global one, dynamics under channels, and supporting numerical results.
Significance. If the derivations and relations hold, the work supplies a geometrically motivated coherence quantifier with potential utility for distillability criteria and channel analysis. The complementary relation and bipartite bounds, if parameter-free and rigorously derived, would add to the resource theory of coherence; the numerical exploration of dynamics provides concrete illustrations.
major comments (2)
- The central claim that coherence fraction provides an independent measure with a connection to l1-norm coherence (and distillability criteria) requires explicit verification that the relation is not tautological by construction; the abstract presents these as following directly from the definition without indicating an independent test or counter-example check.
- For the channel result, the complementary relation between optimal coherence fraction and decohering power is stated to hold; the manuscript should identify the precise equation or theorem establishing this (e.g., whether it follows from the definition alone or requires additional assumptions on the channel class).
minor comments (2)
- Notation for the maximally coherent state and the precise optimization in the definition of coherence fraction should be standardized across sections to avoid ambiguity when extending to bipartite cases.
- The numerical results section would benefit from explicit statements of the Hilbert-space dimensions and channel parameters used, to allow reproduction of the reported dynamics.
Simulated Author's Rebuttal
We thank the referee for the careful reading and constructive comments on our manuscript. We address each major comment point by point below and indicate the revisions planned.
read point-by-point responses
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Referee: The central claim that coherence fraction provides an independent measure with a connection to l1-norm coherence (and distillability criteria) requires explicit verification that the relation is not tautological by construction; the abstract presents these as following directly from the definition without indicating an independent test or counter-example check.
Authors: The coherence fraction is defined geometrically as the maximum overlap with a maximally coherent state. The connection to l1-norm coherence is obtained by deriving an explicit inequality relating the two quantities from the properties of maximally coherent states and the definition of the l1-norm; this step is not immediate from the definition alone. The distillability criterion is likewise obtained by showing that states with coherence fraction above a threshold admit a protocol that increases the fraction. The manuscript body contains these derivations. To address the concern about clarity, we will revise the abstract to note that the relations are derived rather than definitional and add a short remark with a simple two-qubit example illustrating that the connection requires the intermediate steps. revision: yes
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Referee: For the channel result, the complementary relation between optimal coherence fraction and decohering power is stated to hold; the manuscript should identify the precise equation or theorem establishing this (e.g., whether it follows from the definition alone or requires additional assumptions on the channel class).
Authors: The complementary relation follows directly from the definitions of optimal coherence fraction (the maximum, over input states, of the coherence fraction of the channel output) and decohering power, with no further assumptions on the channel beyond the standard completely positive trace-preserving map. The proof proceeds by relating the two quantities through the action on the maximally coherent basis states. We will add an explicit theorem statement (with equation reference) and a short proof sketch in the revised manuscript to make the origin of the relation transparent. revision: yes
Circularity Check
No significant circularity; definition and relations are independent
full rationale
The paper introduces coherence fraction as a new generalization of entanglement fraction, quantifying overlap with a maximally coherent state. Connections to l1-norm coherence, distillability criteria, and the complementary relation with decohering power are stated as derived consequences rather than tautologies or self-referential fits. No load-bearing self-citations, uniqueness theorems from prior author work, or renamings of known results appear in the provided text. The derivation chain remains self-contained against external benchmarks with no steps reducing by construction to the inputs.
Axiom & Free-Parameter Ledger
invented entities (1)
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coherence fraction
no independent evidence
Lean theorems connected to this paper
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IndisputableMonolith/Cost/FunctionalEquation.leanwashburn_uniqueness_aczel unclear?
unclearRelation between the paper passage and the cited Recognition theorem.
Coherence fraction of an arbitrary state ρ of dimension d is given by Fc(ρ) = 1/d + 1/d Cl1(ρ) iff θjp + θpk = 2nπ + θjk (Theorem 1)
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IndisputableMonolith/Foundation/RealityFromDistinction.leanreality_from_one_distinction unclear?
unclearRelation between the paper passage and the cited Recognition theorem.
Optimal coherence fraction Fc(Λ) = 1/2 + 1/2 max Cl1(ρφ,Λ) for qubit channels; complementary relation 2 ≤ 2Fc(Λ) + DCl1(Λ) ≤ 3 (Theorems 3-4)
What do these tags mean?
- matches
- The paper's claim is directly supported by a theorem in the formal canon.
- supports
- The theorem supports part of the paper's argument, but the paper may add assumptions or extra steps.
- extends
- The paper goes beyond the formal theorem; the theorem is a base layer rather than the whole result.
- uses
- The paper appears to rely on the theorem as machinery.
- contradicts
- The paper's claim conflicts with a theorem or certificate in the canon.
- unclear
- Pith found a possible connection, but the passage is too broad, indirect, or ambiguous to say the theorem truly supports the claim.
Reference graph
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In this paper, we have developed the idea of coherence fraction of a quantum state in the theory of quantum coherence that quantifies the maximum overlap of a quantum state with a maximally coherent state [24, 37]. Considering the task of quantifying coherence fraction of a state we study its properties and explain its resource theoretic connections. Whene...
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Thus, we can say that every pure coherent state is distillable in qubit system. This result establishes coherence fraction as a faithful quantifier of the resource theory of coherence. This result can also be verified from Theorem 1 in [44] and the result of Winter et al.[15] for qubit system which states that there is no “bound coherence” from which no coh...
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ThusFc(I±iσ1,2) = 1,Fc[±i(σ1,2+σ3)] = 1
or (0,± 1√ 2 ,± 1√ 2), φ =±π . ThusFc(I±iσ1,2) = 1,Fc[±i(σ1,2+σ3)] = 1. Depolarizing channel. Evolution of a qubit ρ under depolarizing channel (Λ dep) is given by Λdep(ρ) = (1− p)ρ + p I 2 , 0≤ p≤ 1. (23) 7 Simple calculations give optimal coherence fraction as Fc(Λdep) = 1− p 2 . (24) Therefore, 1 2≤F c(Λdep)≤ 1. Corresponding to the completely depolari...
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