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I'm well aware that using this quantum circuit:

$\hskip2in$ Quantum circuit used in the generation of EPR pairs.
$\hskip2in$Quantum circuit used in the generation of EPR pairs.


It is possible to create entangled state of two qubits (EPR pairs), in particular: $$\def\braket#1#2{\langle#1|#2\rangle}\def\bra#1{\langle#1|}\def\ket#1{|#1\rangle} \ket{\beta_{00}}= \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(\ket{00}+\ket{11})\\ \ket{\beta_{01}}= \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(\ket{01}+\ket{10})\\ \ket{\beta_{10}}= \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(\ket{00}-\ket{11})\\ \ket{\beta_{11}}= \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(\ket{01}-\ket{10})$$

But it seems possible to have two more entangled state resembling the EPR pairs: $$\def\braket#1#2{\langle#1|#2\rangle}\def\bra#1{\langle#1|}\def\ket#1{|#1\rangle} \ket{\beta_{??}}= \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(\ket{10}-\ket{01})\\ \ket{\beta_{??}}= \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(\ket{11}-\ket{00})$$

Which can be generated passing the initial qubit $\ket{q_0}$ in the negative of the Hadamard gate: $$ -H=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\begin{pmatrix} -1 & -1 \\ -1 & 1 \end{pmatrix} $$ And then in the CNOT gate as usual.

The negative Hadamard gate is an unitary operator, then I assume likely to be used as a quantum gate (as it is said here and, for example in the book by Chuang and Nielsen).

The questions are two:

-Are the two latter EPR pairs legitimate entangled states? If yes, why they are not used in literature alongside the four original Bell states? If no, why?

-Is the negative of a quantum gate in turn a legitimate quantum gate? Is there a particular motivation for the use of the "classical" Hadamard gate instead of its negative?

Thank you in advance!

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Global phases are physically irrelevant. Thus, $H$ and $-H$ are the same gate, as are $|\psi\rangle$ and $-|\psi\rangle$; for instance, the states you list are the same as two of the Bell states above up to a global minus sign.

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  • $\begingroup$ Just a wrinkle to add (I know you know this) -- $H$ and $-H$ are identical if the entire system is two qubits, but different if we're acting on a subsystem, because the phase isn't global. Consider saying $X$ and $-X$ are identical -- true for one qubit, but if I start with $\left| \beta_00 \right\rangle$ (in the OP notation) and apply one or the other I'll end up in different Bell basis states. $\endgroup$
    – zeldredge
    Commented Jul 19, 2018 at 13:34
  • $\begingroup$ @zeldredge That's a subspace, not a subsystem. Or I don't understand what you are saying? $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 19, 2018 at 13:48

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