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arXiv:0903.0258

Quantization of Cellular Automata

Pablo J. Arrighi, Vincent Nesme

Published Mar 2, 2009• 1 citation
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Take a cellular automaton, consider that each configuration is a basis vector in some vector space, and linearize the global evolution function. If lucky, the r esult could actually make sense physically, as a valid quantum evolution; but do es it make sense as a quantum cellular automaton? That is the main question we a ddress in this paper. In every model with discrete time and space, two things ar e required in order to qualify as a cellular automaton: invariance by translatio n and locality. We prove that this locality condition is so restrictive in the q uantum case that every quantum cellular automaton constructed in this way - i. e., by linearization of a classical one - must be reversible. We also discuss some subtleties about the extent of nonlocality that can be encountered in the o ne-dimensional case; we show that, even when the quantized version is non local, still, under some conditions, we may be unable to use this nonlocality to trans mit information nonlocally.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.0903.0258

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Take a cellular automaton, consider that each configuration is a basis vector in some vector space, and linearize the global evolution function. If lucky, the r esult could actually make sense physically, as a valid quantum evolution; but do es it make sense as a quantum cellular automaton? That is the main question we a ddress in this paper. In every model with discrete time and space, two things ar e required in order to qualify as a cellular automaton: invariance by translatio n and locality. We prove that this locality condition is so restrictive in the q uantum case that every quantum cellular automaton constructed in this way - i. e., by linearization of a classical one - must be reversible. We also discuss some subtleties about the extent of nonlocality that can be encountered in the o ne-dimensional case; we show that, even when the quantized version is non local, still, under some conditions, we may be unable to use this nonlocality to trans mit information nonlocally.
We define quantum cellular automata as infinite quantum lattice systems with discrete time dynamics, such that the time step commutes with lattice translations and has strictly finite propagation speed. In contrast to earlier definitions this allows us to give an explicit characterization of all local rules generating such automata. The same local rules also generate the global time step for automata with periodic boundary conditions. Our main structure theorem asserts that any quantum cellular automaton is structurally reversible, i.e., that it can be obtained by applying two blockwise unitary operations in a generalized Margolus partitioning scheme. This implies that, in contrast to the classical case, the inverse of a nearest neighbor quantum cellular automaton is again a nearest neighbor automaton. We present several construction methods for quantum cellular automata, based on unitaries commuting with their translates, on the quantization of (arbitrary) reversible classical cellular automata, on quantum circuits, and on Clifford transformations with respect to a description of the single cells by finite Weyl systems. Moreover, we indicate how quantum random walks can be considered as special cases of cellular automata, namely by restricting a quantum lattice gas automaton with local particle number conservation to the single particle sector.
In recent work [quant-ph/0405174] by Schumacher and Werner was discussed an abstract algebraic approach to a model of reversible quantum cellular automata (CA) on a lattice. It was used special model of CA based on partitioning scheme and so there is a question about quantum CA derived from more general, standard model of classical CA. In present work is considered an approach to definition of a scheme with "history", valid for quantization both irreversible and reversible classical CA directly using local transition rules. It is used language of vectors in Hilbert spaces instead of C*-algebras, but results may be compared in some cases. Finally, the quantum lattice gases, quantum walk and "bots" are also discussed briefly.
Unitarity of the global evolution is an extremely stringent condition on finite state models in discrete spacetime. Quantum cellular automata, in particular, are tightly constrained. In previous work we proved a simple No-go Theorem which precludes nontrivial homogeneous evolution for linear quantum cellular automata. Here we carefully define general quantum cellular automata in order to investigate the possibility that there be nontrivial homogeneous unitary evolution when the local rule is nonlinear. Since the unitary global transition amplitudes are constructed from the product of local transition amplitudes, infinite lattices require different treatment than periodic ones. We prove Unitarity Theorems for both cases, expressing the equivalence in 1+11+11+1 dimensions of global unitarity and certain sets of constraints on the local rule, and then show that these constraints can be solved to give a variety of multiparameter families of nonlinear quantum cellular automata. The Unitarity Theorems, together with a Surjectivity Theorem for the infinite case, also imply that unitarity is decidable for one dimensional cellular automata.
A natural architecture for nanoscale quantum computation is that of a quantum cellular automaton. Motivated by this observation, in this paper we begin an investigation of exactly unitary cellular automata. After proving that there can be no nontrivial, homogeneous, local, unitary, scalar cellular automaton in one dimension, we weaken the homogeneity condition and show that there are nontrivial, exactly unitary, partitioning cellular automata. We find a one parameter family of evolution rules which are best interpreted as those for a one particle quantum automaton. This model is naturally reformulated as a two component cellular automaton which we demonstrate to limit to the Dirac equation. We describe two generalizations of this automaton, the second of which, to multiple interacting particles, is the correct definition of a quantum lattice gas. KEY WORDS: quantum cellular automaton; quantum lattice gas; quantum computation. to appear in J. Stat. Phys.
We consider discrete and integer-valued cellular automata (CA). A particular class of which comprises "Hamiltonian CA" with equations of motion that bear similarities to Hamilton's equations, while they present discrete updating rules. The dynamics is linear , quite similar to unitary evolution described by the Schrödinger equation. This has been essential in our construction of an invertible map between such CA and continuous quantum mechanical models, which incorporate a fundamental discreteness scale. Based on Shannon's sampling theory, it leads, for example, to a one-to-one relation between quantum mechanical and CA conservation laws. The important issue of linearity of the theory is examined here by incorporating higher-order nonlinearities into the underlying action. These produce inconsistent nonlocal (in time) effects when trying to describe continuously such nonlinear CA. Therefore, in the present framework, only linear CA and local quantum mechanical dynamics are compatible.
This thesis presents a model of Quantum Cellular Automata (QCA). The presented formalism is a natural quantization of the classical Cellular Automata (CA). It is based on a lattice of qudits, and an update rule consisting of local unitary operators that commute with their own lattice translations. One purpose of this model is to act as a theoretical model of quantum computation, similar to the quantum circuit model. The main advantage that QCA have over quantum circuits is that QCA make considerably fewer demands on the underlying hardware. In particular, as opposed to direct implementations of quantum circuits, the global evolution of the lattice in the QCA model does not assume independent control over individual \emph{qudits}. Rather, all qudits are to be addressed collectively in parallel. The QCA model is also shown to be an appropriate abstraction for space-homogeneous quantum phenomena, such as quantum lattice gases, spin chains and others. Some results that show the benefits of basing the model on local unitary operators are shown: computational universality, strong connections to the circuit model, simple implementation on quantum hardware, and a series of applications. A detailed discussion will be given on one particular application of QCA that lies outside either computation or simulation: single-spin measurement. This algorithm uses the techniques developed in this thesis to achieve a result normally considered hard in physics. It serves well as an example of why QCA are interesting in their own right.