Whenever we do not have an informationally complete set of measurements, the estimate of a quantum state cannot be uniquely determined. In this case, among the density matrices compatible with the available data, the one commonly preferred is the one which is the most uncommitted to the missing information. This is the purpose of the maximum entropy estimation (MaxEnt) and the variational quantum tomography (VQT). Here, we propose a variant of VQT and show its relationship with MaxEnt methods in quantum tomographies with an incomplete set of measurements. We prove their equivalence in the case of eigenbasis measurements, and through numerical simulations we stress their similar behavior. Hence, in the modified VQT formulation we have an estimate of a quantum state as unbiased as in MaxEnt and with the benefit that VQT can be more efficiently solved by means of linear semidefinite programs.

• Received 20 February 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.87.052140