Constructing positive maps from block matrices

Abstract: Positive maps are useful for detecting entanglement in quantum information theory. Any entangled state can be detected by some positive map. In this paper, the relation between positive block matrices and completely positive trace-preserving maps is characterized. Consequently, a new method for constructing decomposable maps from positive block matrices is derived. In addition, a method for constructing positive but not completely positive maps from Hermitian block matrices is also obtained.