Heisenberg uncertainty relation for mixed states

Abstract

The Heisenberg uncertainty relation sets a fundamental limit for quantum measurement of incompatible observables. Its standard form derived by Weyl and Robertson is of purely quantum nature when the state is pure. However, for mixed states, because the variance involving a mixed state is a hybrid of classical and quantum uncertainty, the conventional uncertainty relation is of a ``mixed'' flavor. It is desirable to seek some decomposition of variance into classical and quantum parts and to cast the Heisenberg uncertainty relation for mixed states in a more quantum form. By use of the skew information introduced by Wigner and Yanase in 1963, we make such an attempt and establish a different uncertainty relation which is stronger than the conventional one.