We convert a conjectured inequality from quantum information theory, due to He and Vidal, into a block matrix inequality and prove a special case. Given $n$ matrices $A_i$, $i=1,\ldots,n$, of the same size, let $Z_1$ and $Z_2$ be the block matrices $Z_1:=(A_jA_i^*)_{ i,j=1}^n$ and $Z_2:=(A_j^*A_i)_{ i,j=1}^n$. Then the conjectured inequality is \[ \left(||Z_1||_1-\trace Z_1\right)^2 + \left(||Z_2||_1-\trace Z_2\right)^2 \le \left(\sum_{ i\neq j} ||A_i||_2 ||A_j||_2\right)^2. \] We prove this inequality for the already challenging case $n=2$ with $A_1$ equal to the identity matrix.
Categories: math.FA quant-ph