Controlling probability transfer in the discrete-time quantum walk by modulating the symmetries

Abstract

Quantum walks are a useful platform for studying high-efficiency energy transport. In this paper, we study the probability transfer in the discrete-time quantum walk (DTQW) in detail. With intricate design of the initial state, the probability transfer in the DTQW system can exhibit similar behaviors to those in continuous-time quantum walks (CTQWs). Furthermore, without the assumption of a biased initial state and coupling to the environment in the DTQW system, we explore how to achieve directed probability transfer in the DTQW and find that it is closely connected to the time-reversal symmetry of the effective Hamiltonian of the walk. We find that regardless of whether the number of vertices in the DTQW is even or odd, we can control the probability transfer in the DTQW by modulating the time-reversal symmetry of the system. Such control of directed probability transfer can only work well in a CTQW with odd vertices. Even when temporal or spatial disorder emerges in the DTQW, the connection between the probability transfer and the symmetry of the walk still exists. Experimental proposals for observing the probability distributions in the DTQW are discussed.