title: Classification of mixed three-qubit states.
abstract: We introduce a classification of mixed three-qubit states, in which we define the classes of separable, biseparable, W, and Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger states. These classes are successively embedded into each other. We show that contrary to pure W-type states, the mixed W class is not of measure zero. We construct witness operators that detect the class of a mixed state. We discuss the conjecture that all entangled states with positive partial transpose (PPTES) belong to the W class. Finally, we present a new family of PPTES "edge" states with maximal ranks.
authors.affiliation: Departament d'Estructura i Constituents de la Matèria, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Acín
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bruss
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lewenstein
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanpera