We consider geometric aspects of higher-rank numerical ranges for arbitrary N × N matrices. Of particular interest is the issue of convexity and a possible extension of the Toeplitz–Hausdorff Theorem. We derive a number of reductions and obtain partial results for the general problem. We also conduct graphical and computational experiments. Added in proof: Following acceptance of this paper, our subject has developed rapidly. First, Hugo Woerdeman established convexity of the higher-rank numerical ranges by combining Proposition 2.4 and Theorem 2.12 with the theory of algebraic Riccati equations. See Woerdeman, H., 2007, The higher rank numerical range is convex, Linear and Multilinear Algebra, to appear. Subsequently Chi-Kwong Li and Nung-Sing Sze followed a different approach that not only yields convexity but also provides important additional insights. See Li, C.-K. and Sze, N.-S., 2007, Canonical forms, higher rank numerical ranges, totally isotropic subspaces, and matrix equations, preprint. See also Li, C.-K., Poon, Y.-T., and Sze, N.-S., 2007, Condition for the higher rank numerical range to be non-empty, preprint.

We introduce a generalized framework for private quantum codes using von Neumann algebras and the structure of commutants. This leads naturally to a more general notion of complementary channel, which we use to establish a generalized complementarity theorem between private and correctable subalgebras that applies to both the finite and infinite-dimensional settings. Linear bosonic channels are considered and specific examples of Gaussian quantum channels are given to illustrate the new framework together with the complementarity theorem.

We describe some instances in quantum information processing where numerical range techniques arise. We focus on two basic settings: higher-rank numerical ranges and their relevance in theoretical quantum error correction, and the classical numerical range and its use for comparing quantum information processing operations. We present the basic theory, discuss examples and formulate open problems.

We introduce a stabilizer formalism for the general quantum error correction framework called operator algebra quantum error correction (OAQEC), which generalizes Gottesman's formulation for traditional quantum error correcting codes (QEC) and Poulin's for operator quantum error correction and subsystem codes (OQEC). The construction generates hybrid classical-quantum stabilizer codes and we formulate a theorem that fully characterizes the Pauli errors that are correctable for a given code, generalizing the fundamental theorems for the QEC and OQEC stabilizer formalisms. We discover hybrid versions of the Bacon-Shor subsystem codes motivated by the formalism, and we apply the theorem to derive a result that gives the distance of such codes. We show how some recent hybrid subspace code constructions are captured by the formalism, and we also indicate how it extends to qudits.