Quantum Walks Unlock Secrets of Complex Networks and Quantum Systems

Quantum walks a theoretical model that describes a quantum system’s behavior, have been shown to be more efficient and faster-spreading than their classical counterparts. This has led to their use in designing algorithms, generating entanglement, simulating physical processes, and modeling quantum-to-classical transitions.

In recent years, researchers have experimentally realized quantum walks in various physical systems, including single photons in space and linear ion traps. These experiments demonstrate the potential of quantum walks to simulate complex quantum phenomena and provide insights into the behavior of quantum systems.

The coined quantum walk on a quantum network offers a new platform for studying the dynamics of quantum walkers on complex networks. This research has potential applications in quantum communication, quantum computing, and quantum simulation, where the coined quantum walk on a quantum network can be used to study the behavior of quantum systems and probe their properties.

Quantum Walks: A Model for Quantum Dynamics

Quantum walks are a model of quantum dynamics where a walker can follow a superposition of paths on a graph, unlike classical random walks that randomly and incoherently pick among different possible paths at various stages of evolution. This coherent exploitation of possible paths allows quantum walks to spread faster than classical random walks, making them useful for designing powerful algorithms, generating entanglement for various applications, simulating physical processes, modeling the quantum-to-classical transition, and have been experimentally realized in a variety of physical systems.

The concept of quantum walks was first introduced as a discrete-time coined quantum walk (DCQW), which involves three separate systems: the quantum walker, the walker’s coin, and the underlying graph. At every timestep, a fixed unitary coin operator acts on the coin, resulting in a coin state that is a superposition over its basis states representing the possible moves of the walker. A subsequent unitary operator also fixed shifts the walker to positions conditioned on the coin state, resulting in corresponding superpositions of the various possible moves.

The underlying graph plays a passive role and essentially provides a set of positions for the walker to move in. This model has been extensively studied in the context of quantum networks, which are collections of interconnected, possibly entangled quantum systems designed to enable distributed quantum information processing tasks. A quantum network can be described as a graph G = (V, E), where vertices V house separated quantum systems.

Quantum Networks: A Collection of Interconnected Quantum Systems

A quantum network is a collection of interconnected, possibly entangled quantum systems typically designed to enable various useful distributed quantum information processing tasks. Mathematically, a quantum network can be described as a graph G = (V, E), where vertices V house separated quantum systems. Each vertex represents a qubit or a set of qubits connected through edges E.

Quantum networks have been proposed for applications such as quantum communication, quantum computing, and quantum simulation. They offer the potential to enable scalable and fault-tolerant quantum information processing tasks, which is essential for realizing practical quantum technologies. The study of quantum networks has led to a deeper understanding of the properties and behavior of these complex systems.

In particular, researchers have explored the use of quantum walks on quantum networks as a tool for characterizing network properties. This approach involves studying the dynamics of a quantum walker on a graph that represents the quantum network. By analyzing the entanglement between the walker and the network, as well as among the qubits in the network, researchers can gain insights into the properties of the network.

Coined Quantum Walks: A Model for Quantum Network Dynamics

A coined quantum walk is a quantum dynamics model involving three separate systems: the quantum walker, the walker’s coin, and the underlying graph. At every timestep, a fixed unitary coin operator acts on the coin, resulting in a coin state that is a superposition over its basis states representing the walker’s possible moves.

A subsequent unitary operator also fixed shifts the walker to positions conditioned on the coin state, resulting in corresponding superpositions of the various possible moves. The underlying graph plays a passive role and essentially provides a set of positions for the walker to move. This model has been extensively studied in the context of quantum networks, where it is used as a tool for characterizing network properties.

The coined quantum walk model has several key features that make it useful for studying quantum networks. First, it allows for the study of entanglement between the walker and the network and among the qubits in the network. Second, it provides a way to analyze the dynamics of the walker on the graph, which can be used to gain insights into the network’s properties.

Entanglement and Quantum Walk Statistics

The coined quantum walk model allows for the study of entanglement between the walker and the network and among the qubits in the network. The entanglement entropy of the walker-network state and the negativity of the quantum network-qubit state saturate to values that depend on the properties of the graph.

Researchers have also studied the statistics of the quantum walk on a graph, which can be used to gain insights into the network’s properties. For example, the probability distribution of the walker’s position on the graph can be used to study the network’s connectivity and structure.

Applications of Quantum Walks in Quantum Networks

Quantum walks have several potential applications in quantum networks, including:

  • Characterizing Network Properties: The coined quantum walk model can be used as a tool for characterizing the properties of a quantum network. By studying the entanglement between the walker and the network, as well as among the qubits in the network, researchers can gain insights into the connectivity and structure of the network.
  • Quantum Communication: Quantum walks can be used to study the dynamics of quantum communication protocols on a graph that represents a quantum network. This approach can provide insights into the properties of the network and the performance of the protocol.
  • Quantum Computing: Quantum walks have been proposed as a tool for studying the dynamics of quantum computing protocols on a graph that represents a quantum network. This approach can provide insights into the properties of the network and the performance of the protocol.

Conclusion

In conclusion, quantum walks are a model of quantum dynamics with several potential applications in quantum networks. The coined quantum walk model allows for the study of entanglement between the walker and the network and among the qubits in the network. Researchers have also studied the statistics of the quantum walk on a graph, which can be used to gain insights into the network’s properties.

The applications of quantum walks in quantum networks include characterizing network properties, quantum communication, and quantum computing. Further research is needed to fully explore the potential of quantum walks in these areas and to develop practical applications of this technology.

Publication details: “Coined quantum walk on a quantum network”
Publication Date: 2024-11-20
Authors: Jigyen Bhavsar, Shashank Shekhar and Siddhartha Santra
Source: Physical review. A/Physical review, A
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.110.052428

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