QI In the literature: open

Is the quantum capacity of a channel computable

In plain words

The quantum capacity of a channel is defined by a limit over ever more channel uses, and some channels show positive capacity only after arbitrarily many uses. Whether any algorithm can compute the capacity to a given accuracy, or even decide whether it is zero, is unknown.

Precise statement

$Q(N) = \lim_{n \to \infty} (1/n) \max_\rho I_c(\rho, N^{(\mathrm{tensor}\ n)})$, with $I_c$ the coherent information. Is there an algorithm that, given a channel N with rational Kraus operators and $\epsilon > 0$, outputs $Q(N)$ to within $\epsilon$, or that decides whether $Q(N) > 0$? Cubitt et al. (Nat. Commun. 6, 7739, 2015, arXiv:1408.5115) showed that for every n there are channels with zero n-use coherent information and positive capacity.

What would settle it

A convergent algorithm with an explicit error bound for $Q(N)$, or a reduction from an undecidable problem to deciding $Q(N) > 0$.

See also