Quantum correlating power of local quantum channels

We define quantum-correlating power (QCP) of a local quantum channel acting on the left part of a bipartite quantum system as the maximum amount of left quantum correlation that can be created by this channel. We prove that for any local channel, the optimal input state, which corresponds to the maximum quantum correlation in the output state, must be a classical-classical state. Further, the single-qubit channels with maximum QCP can be found in the class of channels which take their optimal input states to rank-two quantum-classical states. A superactivation property of QCP, that is, two zero-QCP channels can constitute a positive-QCP channel, is observed and discussed for single-qubit phase damping channels. The analytic expression for QCP of single-qubit amplitude damping channel is obtained. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.87.032340