Distinguishing Quantum States with Holevo Bound and Its Application to Spatially Separated Bell States

Consider a system prepared in one of the quantum states of the ensemble {ρ _i } with a priori probability p _i . We prove that the quantum state can be deterministically distinguished if and only if the information gain from the measurement reaches the Holevo bound. We find it can be applied to distinguish spatially separated Bell states. A single copy of spatially separated Bell state cannot be distinguished under local operation and classical communication (LOCC), but it can be identified with an ancillary qubit. When two ancillary qubits are used, a spatially separated Bell state can be identified without demolition.