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Group-theoretic perspective on the positive-partial-transpose and realignment criteria in the magic simplex for bipartite qutrits

Tobias C. Sutter*, Christopher Popp, and Beatrix C. Hiesmayr

  • *Contact author: tobias.christoph.sutter@univie.ac.at
  • Contact author: christopher.popp@univie.ac.at
  • Contact author: beatrix.hiesmayr@univie.ac.at

Phys. Rev. A 113, 032440 – Published 24 March, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/z7jn-4try

Abstract

Entanglement is a key feature in many quantum technologies, including secure communication protocols and quantum computing. However, detecting it in mixed quantum states remains a challenging task. While the positive partial transposition (PPT) and computable cross-norm and realignment criteria are well-established tools for entanglement detection in general, and are especially effective in Bell-diagonal states, their connection to the underlying group structure of this state family has not been fully explored. In this work, we analyze the PPT and realignment criteria for Bell-diagonal states from a group-theoretic point of view. Our results demonstrate that the group structure of Bell-diagonal states provides a clear framework for analyzing and computing these two entanglement-detection criteria, thereby highlighting the connection between entanglement and group structure. This unified perspective offers insights into the mathematical and physical properties of entanglement in structured quantum systems and ties the PPT and realignment criteria for Bell-diagonal states to experimental procedures.

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