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Generating Pseudo-Random Discrete Probability Distributions

About the iid, Normalization, and Trigonometric Methods

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Abstract

The generation of pseudo-random discrete probability distributions is of paramount importance for a wide range of stochastic simulations spanning from Monte Carlo methods to the random sampling of quantum states for investigations in quantum information science. In spite of its significance, a thorough exposition of such a procedure is lacking in the literature. In this article, we present relevant details concerning the numerical implementation and applicability of what we call the iid, normalization, and trigonometric methods for generating an unbiased probability vector p=(p 1,⋯ ,p d). An immediate application of these results regarding the generation of pseudo-random pure quantum states is also described.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Brazilian funding agencies: Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Informação Quântica (INCT-IQ). We thank the Group of Quantum Information and Emergent Phenomena and the Group of Condensed Matter Theory at Universidade Federal de Santa Maria for stimulating discussions. We also thank the Referee for his(her) constructive comments.

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  1. Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil

    Jonas Maziero

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  1. Jonas Maziero
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Correspondence to Jonas Maziero.

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Maziero, J. Generating Pseudo-Random Discrete Probability Distributions. Braz J Phys 45, 377–382 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13538-015-0337-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13538-015-0337-8

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