Quantum correlation can be created by a local operation from some initially classical states. We prove that the necessary and sufficient condition for a local trace-preserving channel to create quantum correlation is that it is not a commutativity-preserving channel. This condition is valid for arbitrary finite dimension systems. We also derive the explicit form of commutativity-preserving channels. For a qubit, a commutativity-preserving channel is either a completely decohering channel or a mixing channel. For a three-dimensional system (qutrit), a commutativity-preserving channel is either a completely decohering channel or an isotropic channel.

• Received 28 December 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.85.032102