Quantum Markov Chains Research Articles

37th International Conference on Quantum Probability and Related Topics (QP37)

ForewordThe present volume of Journal of Physics: Conference Series contains the Proceedings of The 37-th International Conference on Quantum Probability and Related Topics (QP37), held in the Faculty of Science of the International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Malaysia, in August 22-26, 2016.The intrinsic multi-disciplinary character of Quantum Probability is emphasized by its fruitful interaction with different aspects of contemporary mathematics. In addition to the traditional topics of Quantum Probability such as the recently discovered bridge with the classical theory of Orthogonal Polynomials, Quantum Field Theory, Quantum statistical Mechanics, the theory of Quantum Markov semigroups and of Quantum Markov chains and fields, Quantum Stochastic Differential Equations, operator algebras and dynamical systems, the conference has stimulated active communications with the theory of Quadratic operators, both in its classical and quantum aspects, which has a stronghold in the Faculty of Science of International Islamic University Malaysia (Kuantan).The constructive interaction between pure and applied mathematics is another characteristic feature that has accompanied Quantum Probability in its almost fifty years of developments since the early 1970‘s. This is reflected, in the present volume, by a substantial presence of applications to several concrete models, not only of the mathematical techniques developed within Quantum Probability, but also in a multiplicity of other techniques which range from soliton theory, Fourier analysis, the theory of Boundary Value problems, ….The history of the 36 Quantum Probability conferences preceding the present one, illustrated by a collection of 33 proceedings volumes, shows that in several occasions these interactions between apparently far research directions have given rise to fruitful new points of view that have enriched all disciplines involved with new perspectives, new results and new problems.The program of conference included invited lectures (40 minutes) and poster section of more than 80 participants, including invited speakers from India, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, The Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Tunis, UK, USA and Uzbekistan. We would like to thank the Invited Speakers for their significant contributions to the conference. We would also like to thank the members of the International Scientific Committee and the members of the Organizing Committee. We cannot end without expressing our many thanks to our sponsors for their financial support. It is the strongest hope of the organizers that similar unexpected developments will be stimulated also by the present conference.Guest EditorsLuigi Accardi, Farrukh Mukhamedov, Pah Chin Hee

Quantum hidden Markov models based on transition operation matrices

In this work, we extend the idea of quantum Markov chains (Gudder in J Math Phys 49(7):072105 [3]) in order to propose quantum hidden Markov models (QHMMs). For that, we use the notions of transition operation matrices and vector states, which are an extension of classical stochastic matrices and probability distributions. Our main result is the Mealy QHMM formulation and proofs of algorithms needed for application of this model: Forward for general case and Vitterbi for a restricted class of QHMMs. We show the relations of the proposed model to other quantum HMM propositions and present an example of application.

Markovianizing Cost of Tripartite Quantum States

We introduce and analyze a task that we call Markovianization, in which a tripartite quantum state is transformed to a quantum Markov chain by a randomizing operation on one of the three subsystems. We consider cases where the initial state is the tensor product of $n$ copies of a tripartite state $\rho^{ABC}$, and is transformed to a quantum Markov chain conditioned by $B^n$ with a small error, using a random unitary operation on $A^n$. In an asymptotic limit of infinite copies and vanishingly small error, we analyze the Markovianizing cost, that is, the minimum cost of randomness per copy required for Markovianization. For tripartite pure states, we derive a single-letter formula for the Markovianizing costs. Counterintuitively, the Markovianizing cost is not a continuous function of states, and can be arbitrarily large even if the state is close to a quantum Markov chain. Our results have an application in analyzing the cost of resources for simulating a bipartite unitary gate by local operations and classical communication.

On an Algebraic Property of the Disordered Phase of the Ising Model with Competing Interactions on a Cayley Tree

It is known that the disordered phase of the classical Ising model on the Caley tree is extreme in some region of the temperature. If one considers the Ising model with competing interactions on the same tree, then about the extremity of the disordered phase there is no any information. In the present paper, we first aiming to analyze the correspondence between Gibbs measures and QMC’s on trees. Namely, we establish that states associated with translation invariant Gibbs measures of the model can be seen as diagonal quantum Markov chains on some quasi local algebra. Then as an application of the established correspondence, we study some algebraic property of the disordered phase of the Ising model with competing interactions on the Cayley tree of order two. More exactly, we prove that a state corresponding to the disordered phase is not quasi-equivalent to other states associated with translation invariant Gibbs measures. This result shows how the translation invariant states relate to each other, which is even a new phenomena in the classical setting. To establish the main result we basically employ methods of quantum Markov chains.

Hierarchy of Efficiently Computable and Faithful Lower Bounds to Quantum Discord.

Quantum discord expresses a fundamental nonclassicality of correlations that is more general than entanglement, but that, in its standard definition, is not easily evaluated. We derive a hierarchy of computationally efficient lower bounds to the standard quantum discord. Every nontrivial element of the hierarchy constitutes by itself a valid discordlike measure, based on a fundamental feature of quantum correlations: their lack of shareability. Our approach emphasizes how the difference between entanglement and discord depends on whether shareability is intended as a static property or as a dynamical process.

Open Quantum Random Walks: Ergodicity, Hitting Times, Gambler’s Ruin and Potential Theory

In this work we study certain aspects of Open Quantum Random Walks (OQRWs), a class of quantum channels described by S. Attal et al. \cite{attal}. As a first objective we consider processes which are nonhomogeneous in time, i.e., at each time step, a possibly distinct evolution kernel. Inspired by a spectral technique described by L. Saloff-Coste and J. Z\'u\~niga \cite{saloff}, we define a notion of ergodicity for finite nonhomogeneous quantum Markov chains and describe a criterion for ergodicity of such objects in terms of singular values. As a second objective, and based on a quantum trajectory approach, we study a notion of hitting time for OQRWs and we see that many constructions are variations of well-known classical probability results, with the density matrix degree of freedom on each site giving rise to systems which are seen to be nonclassical. In this way we are able to examine open quantum versions of the gambler's ruin, birth-and-death chain and a basic theorem on potential theory.

Diagonal couplings of quantum Markov chains

In this paper we extend the coupling method from classical probability theory to quantum Markov chains on atomic von Neumann algebras. In particular, we establish a coupling inequality, which allow us to estimate convergence rates by analyzing couplings. For a given tensor dilation we construct a self-coupling of a Markov operator. It turns out that the coupling is a dual version of the extended dual transition operator studied by Gohm et al. We deduce that this coupling is successful if and only if the dilation is asymptotically complete.

Phase Transitions for Quantum Markov Chains Associated with Ising Type Models on a Cayley Tree

The main aim of the present paper is to prove the existence of a phase transition in quantum Markov chain (QMC) scheme for the Ising type models on a Cayley tree. Note that this kind of models do not have one-dimensional analogous, i.e. the considered model persists only on trees. In this paper, we provide a more general construction of forward QMC. In that construction, a QMC is defined as a weak limit of finite volume states with boundary conditions, i.e. QMC depends on the boundary conditions. Our main result states the existence of a phase transition for the Ising model with competing interactions on a Cayley tree of order two. By the phase transition we mean the existence of two distinct QMC which are not quasi-equivalent and their supports do not overlap. We also study some algebraic property of the disordered phase of the model, which is a new phenomena even in a classical setting.

On Construction of Quantum Markov Chains on Cayley trees

The main aim of the present paper is to provide a new construction of quantum Markov chain (QMC) on arbitrary order Cayley tree. In that construction, a QMC is defined as a weak limit of finite volume states with boundary conditions, i.e. QMC depends on the boundary conditions. Note that this construction reminds statistical mechanics models with competing interactions on trees. If one considers one dimensional tree, then the provided construction reduces to well-known one, which was studied by the first author. Our construction will allow to investigate phase transition problem in a quantum setting.

基于安全性检测的广义量子Loop程序终止验证

To address the termination problem of the generalized quantum Loop program, in this paper, we first introduce two definitions of termination and almost termination. We show that their expressive power regarding the termination of a program is not sufficient. To compensate for this, we define two other definitions:the nth termination with a specified probability and terminability, and we obtain some conclusions by comparing these four definitions. Secondly, we introduce the definition of the quantum (regular) safety property, which is an important kind of linear-time property of quantum Markov chains. We show that the satisfiability probability of the quantum (regular) safety property is equivalent to the unreachability probability of the termination state in the product of the quantum Markov chains. Then, we discuss a checking technique for the quantum regular safety property. By applying this technique, we reduce the termination problem of the generalized quantum Loop program into the satisfiability problem of the quantum regular safety property, and we propose an algorithm to calculate the probability and the termination state of the nth termination and the terminability. To determine the termination state and the probability of a multi-qubit (single-qubit) quantum system, compound quantum system, and nested quantum system, we derive the probability and the termination state of their nth termination and their terminability, and we present expressions for calculating them. Finally, we prove the necessary and sufficient conditions for the finite-step termination and terminability of the generalized quantum Loop program.

Quantum Markov chains, sufficiency of quantum channels, and Rényi information measures

A short quantum Markov chain is a tripartite state such that system A can be recovered perfectly by acting on system C of the reduced state Such states have conditional mutual information equal to zero and are the only states with this property. A quantum channel is sufficient for two states ρ and σ if there exists a recovery channel using which one can perfectly recover ρ from and σ from The relative entropy difference is equal to zero if and only if is sufficient for ρ and σ. In this paper, we show that these properties extend to Rényi generalizations of these information measures which were proposed in (Berta et al 2015 J. Math. Phys. 56 022205; Seshadreesan et al 2015 J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 48 395303), thus providing an alternate characterization of short quantum Markov chains and sufficient quantum channels. These results give further support to these quantities as being legitimate Rényi generalizations of the conditional mutual information and the relative entropy difference. Along the way, we solve some open questions of Ruskai and Zhang, regarding the trace of particular matrices that arise in the study of monotonicity of relative entropy under quantum operations and strong subadditivity of the von Neumann entropy.

Quantum Markov chains: Description of hybrid systems, decidability of equivalence, and model checking linear-time properties

In this paper, we study a model of quantum Markov chains that is a quantum analogue of Markov chains and is obtained by replacing probabilities in transition matrices with quantum operations. We show that this model is very suited to describe hybrid systems that consist of a quantum component and a classical one. Indeed, hybrid systems are often encountered in quantum information processing. Thus, we further propose a model called hybrid quantum automata (HQA) that can be used to describe the hybrid systems receiving inputs (actions) from the outer world. We show the language equivalence problem of HQA is decidable in polynomial time. Furthermore, we apply this result to the trace equivalence problem of quantum Markov chains, and thus it is also decidable in polynomial time. Finally, we discuss model checking linear-time properties of quantum Markov chains, and show the quantitative analysis of regular safety properties can be addressed successfully.

Sanov and central limit theorems for output statistics of quantum Markov chains

In this paper, we consider the statistics of repeated measurements on the output of a quantum Markov chain. We establish a large deviations result analogous to Sanov’s theorem for the multi-site empirical measure associated to finite sequences of consecutive outcomes of a classical stochastic process. Our result relies on the construction of an extended quantum transition operator (which keeps track of previous outcomes) in terms of which we compute moment generating functions, and whose spectral radius is related to the large deviations rate function. As a corollary to this, we obtain a central limit theorem for the empirical measure. Such higher level statistics may be used to uncover critical behaviour such as dynamical phase transitions, which are not captured by lower level statistics such as the sample mean. As a step in this direction, we give an example of a finite system whose level-1 (empirical mean) rate function is independent of a model parameter while the level-2 (empirical measure) rate is not.

Equivalence Classes and Local Asymptotic Normality in System Identification for Quantum Markov Chains

We consider the problems of identifying and estimating dynamical parameters of an ergodic quantum Markov chain, when only the stationary output is accessible for measurements. On the identifiability question, we show that the knowledge of the output state completely fixes the dynamics up to a `coordinate transformation' consisting of a multiplication by a phase and a unitary conjugation of the Kraus operators. When the dynamics depends on an unknown parameter, we show that the latter can be estimated at the `standard' rate $n^{-1/2}$, and give an explicit expression of the (asymptotic) quantum Fisher information of the output, which is proportional to the Markov variance of a certain `generator'. More generally, we show that the output is locally asymptotically normal, i.e. it can be approximated by a simple quantum Gaussian model consisting of a coherent state whose mean is related to the unknown parameter. As a consistency check we prove that a parameter related to the `coordinate transformation' unitaries, has zero quantum Fisher information.

Spectral Convergence Bounds for Classical and Quantum Markov Processes

We introduce a new framework that yields spectral bounds on norms of functions of transition maps for finite, homogeneous Markov chains. The techniques employed work for bounded semigroups, in particular for classical as well as for quantum Markov chains and they do not require additional assumptions like detailed balance, irreducibility or aperiodicity. We use the method in order to derive convergence bounds that improve significantly upon known spectral bounds. The core technical observation is that power-boundedness of transition maps of Markov chains enables a Wiener algebra functional calculus in order to upper bound any norm of any holomorphic function of the transition map. Finally, we discuss how general detailed balance conditions for quantum Markov processes lead to spectral convergence bounds.

Decoherence in quantum Markov chains

It is known that under some assumptions, the hitting time in quantum Markov chains is quadratically smaller than the hitting time in classical Markov chains. This work extends this result for decoherent quantum Markov chains. The decoherence is introduced using a percolation-like graph model, which allows us to define a decoherent quantum hitting time and to establish a decoherent-intensity range for which the decoherent quantum hitting time is quadratically smaller than the classical hitting time. The detection problem under decoherence is also solved with quadratic speedup in this range.

Termination of nondeterministic quantum programs

We define a language-independent model of nondeterministic quantum programs in which a quantum program consists of a finite set of quantum processes. These processes are represented by quantum Markov chains over the common state space, which formalize the quantum mechanical behaviors of the machine. An execution of a nondeterministic quantum program is modeled by a sequence of actions of individual processes, and at each step of an execution a process is chosen nondeterministically to perform the next action. This execution model formalize the users’ behavior of calling the processes in the classical world. Applying the model to a quantum walk as an instance of physically realizable systems, we describe an execution step by step. A characterization of reachable space and a characterization of diverging states of a nondeterministic quantum program are presented. We establish a zero-one law for termination probability of the states in the reachable space. A combination of these results leads to a necessary and sufficient condition for termination of nondeterministic quantum programs. Based on this condition, an algorithm is found for checking termination of nondeterministic quantum programs within a fixed finite-dimensional state space.

Model checking quantum Markov chains

Although security of quantum cryptography is provable based on principles of quantum mechanics, it can be compromised by flaws in the design of quantum protocols. So, it is indispensable to develop techniques for verifying and debugging quantum cryptographic systems. Model-checking has proved to be effective in the verification of classical cryptographic protocols, but an essential difficulty arises when it is applied to quantum systems: the state space of a quantum system is always a continuum even when its dimension is finite. To overcome this difficulty, we introduce a novel notion of quantum Markov chain, especially suited for modelling quantum cryptographic protocols, in which quantum effects are encoded as super-operators labelling transitions, leaving the location information (nodes) being classical. Then we define a quantum extension of probabilistic computation tree logic (PCTL) and develop a model-checking algorithm for quantum Markov chains.

Verification of quantum programs

This paper develops verification methodology for quantum programs, and the contribution of the paper is two-fold. •Sharir, Pnueli and Hart [M. Sharir, A. Pnueli, S. Hart, Verification of probabilistic programs, SIAM Journal of Computing 13 (1984) 292–314] presented a general method for proving properties of probabilistic programs, in which a probabilistic program is modeled by a Markov chain and an assertion on the output distribution is extended to an invariant assertion on all intermediate distributions. Their method is essentially a probabilistic generalization of the classical Floyd inductive assertion method. In this paper, we consider quantum programs modeled by quantum Markov chains which are defined by super-operators. It is shown that the Sharir–Pnueli–Hart method can be elegantly generalized to quantum programs by exploiting the Schrödinger–Heisenberg duality between quantum states and observables. In particular, a completeness theorem for the Sharir–Pnueli–Hart verification method of quantum programs is established.•As indicated by the completeness theorem, the Sharir–Pnueli–Hart method is in principle effective for verifying all properties of quantum programs that can be expressed in terms of Hermitian operators (observables). But it is not feasible for many practical applications because of the complicated calculation involved in the verification. For the case of finite-dimensional state spaces, we find a method for verification of quantum programs much simpler than the Sharir–Pnueli–Hart method by employing the matrix representation of super-operators and Jordan decomposition of matrices. In particular, this method enables us to compute easily the average running time and to analyze some interesting long-run behaviors of quantum programs in a finite-dimensional state space.

A MODEL FOR QUANTUM QUEUE

We consider an extension of discrete time Markov chain queueing model to the quantum domain by use of discrete time quantum Markov chain. We introduce methods for numerical analysis of such models. Using these tools we show that quantum model behaves fundamentally different from the classical one.