Self-testing of a single quantum device under computational assumptions

Self-testing is a method to characterise an arbitrary quantum system based only on its classical input-output correlations, and plays an important role in device-independent quantum information processing as well as quantum complexity theory. Prior works on self-testing require the assumption that the system's state is shared among multiple parties that only perform local measurements and cannot communicate. Here, we replace the setting of multiple non-communicating parties, which is difficult to enforce in practice, by a single computationally bounded party. Specifically, we construct a protocol that allows a classical verifier to robustly certify that a single computationally bounded quantum device must have prepared a Bell pair and performed single-qubit measurements on it, up to a change of basis applied to both the device's state and measurements. This means that under computational assumptions, the verifier is able to certify the presence of entanglement, a property usually closely associated with two separated subsystems, inside a single quantum device. To achieve this, we build on techniques first introduced by Brakerski et al. (2018) and Mahadev (2018) which allow a classical verifier to constrain the actions of a quantum device assuming the device does not break post-quantum cryptography.

Automated summary

Self-testing is a method used to characterize a quantum system based on its classical input-output correlations, and is crucial in device-independent quantum information processing and quantum complexity theory. This study introduces a protocol where a classical verifier can certify that a computationally bounded quantum device must have prepared a Bell pair and performed single-qubit measurements with a change of basis, replacing the need for multiple non-communicating parties. This allows the verifier to certify entanglement in a single quantum device under computational assumptions, using techniques to constrain the actions of the quantum device without breaking post-quantum cryptography.