Extreme Capacities in Generalized Direct Sum Channels

Abstract

Quantum channel capacities play a central role in quantum Shannon theory, a formalism built upon rigorous coding theorems for noisy channels. Evaluating exact capacity values for general quantum channels remains intractable due to superadditivity. As a step toward understanding this phenomenon, we construct the generalized direct sum (GDS) channel, extending conventional direct sum channels through a direct sum structure in their Kraus operators. This construction forms the basis of the GDS framework, encompassing classes of channels with single-letter formula for quantum capacities and others exhibiting striking capacity features. The quantum capacity can approach zero yet display unbounded superadditivity combined with erasure channels. Private and classical capacities coincide and can become arbitrarily large, resulting in an unbounded gap with the quantum capacity. Providing a simpler and more intuitive approach, the framework deepens our understanding of quantum channel capacities.