Abstract

The processes for decreasing probabilistically and increasing deterministically the overlap between two quantum states must be assisted by an auxiliary quantum system. The probabilistic scheme is implemented through a unitary-reduction process, while the deterministic one is accomplished only with a joint unitary transformation. In both schemes a unitary operation is responsible for coupling the two involved systems thus introducing correlation between them. In this work we study the quantum correlations required to achieve the probabilistic scheme with optimal probability, and we characterize the quantum correlation involved in the deterministic procedure. We find a that both schemes can be accomplished with quantum discord and without entanglement. In addition, we propose a physical implementation of the probabilistic scheme with twin photons generated in the process of spontaneous parametric down-conversion. The states are encoded in the polarization of a single photon and the auxiliary system becomes its propagation path; the second photon is used for heralded detection.