Algorithmic construction of local models for entangled quantum states: Optimization for two-qubit states

The correlations of certain entangled quantum states can be fully reproduced via a local model. We discuss in detail the practical implementation of an algorithm for constructing local models for entangled states, recently introduced by Hirsch et al. [Phys. Rev Lett 117, 190402 (2016)] and Cavalcanti et al. [Phys. Rev Lett 117, 190401 (2016)]. The method allows one to construct both local hidden state (LHS) and local hidden variable (LHV) models, and can be applied to arbitrary entangled states in principle. Here, we develop a systematic implementation of the algorithm, discussing the choice of the free parameters. For the case of two-qubit states, we design a ready-to-use procedure. This allows us to construct LHS models (for projective measurements) that are almost optimal, as we show for Bell diagonal states, for which the optimal model has recently been derived. Finally, we show how to construct fully analytical local models, based on the output of the convex optimization procedure.