### The χ2 - divergence and Mixing times of quantum Markov processes

K. Temme, M. J. Kastoryano, M. B. Ruskai, M. M. Wolf, F. Verstraete

J. Math. Phys. 51, 122201 **, (2011)

DOI: 10.1063/1.3511335
*arXiv.org*: 1005.2358

Abstract: We introduce quantum versions of the %$\chi^2$%-divergence, provide a detailed analysis of their properties, and apply them in the investigation of mixing times of quantum Markov processes. An approach similar to the one presented in [1-3] for classical Markov chains is taken to bound the trace-distance from the steady state of a quantum processes. A strict spectral bound to the convergence rate can be given for time-discrete as well as for time-continuous quantum Markov processes. Furthermore the contractive behavior of the %$\chi^2$%-divergence under the action of a completely positive map is investigated and contrasted to the contraction of the trace norm. In this context we analyse different versions of quantum detailed balance and, finally, give a geometric conductance bound to the convergence rate for unital quantum Markov processes.