Quantum decision theory—minimax approach

Abstract

We show a connection between the minimax and Bayes approaches in quantum decision theory in a general setting of normal states on a von Neumann algebra. In particular, the quantum minimax theorem is proven in a fairly general situation, and it is shown that every minimax strategy is Bayes for some a priori distribution on the set of states—a so-called least favourable prior. Minimax strategies with constant risk are investigated in some detail. It turns out that in dimension greater than two such a strategy can be Bayes for a non-uniform a priori distribution which, at the same time, is a least favourable prior.