Past exam of the theoretical physics II course of the University of Cambridge / 2019 / 4 / d

The opposite $x$-axis pure states have projectors $(I\pm {\sigma }_x)/2$. Averaging them givesTherefore C and B cannot be distinguished by any measurement on the atoms alone. Every POVM outcome has the same probability $\mathrm{Tr}(E\rho )$ for the two preparations; this is the operational equivalence of different quantum state ensembles. Accessible preparation labels or additional correlations would be extra information. C can be distinguished from A by the $x$-axis spin measurement in part (c).