Density Matrix in Quantum Mechanics and the Distinction of Ensembles Having the Same Density Matrix

Key words: 
• density matrix /
• compressed density matrix /
• full density matrix /
• reduced matrix /
• distinction of ensembles with the same compressed density matrix

Abstract: Density matrix is one important tool in quantum mechanics, and it has very broad applications. However there are different definitions about the density matrix, and they describe quite different systems. There has been some misunderstanding about the density matrix in the community, and these misunderstandings hinder the right application of the density matrix. In this article, we discuss the different definitions of density matrix. We suggest to use the full density matrix, compressed density matrix and the reduced density matrix to describe the state of a complete quantum system, the state of an averaged particle in an ensemble and the state of part of a composite system. We stress that contrary to the wide accepted understanding that ensembles with the same compressed density matrix are physically indistinguishable, they are distinguishable through the so-called ensemble measurement. As an application, we suggest that the present conclusion that the present-day nuclear magnetic resonance quantum computation does not have quantum entanglement is groundless.