Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1209.2252

Quantum Parrondo's games using quantum walks

Adrian P. Flitney

Published Sep 11, 2012• 3 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We study a quantum walk in one-dimension using two different "coin" operators. By mixing two operators, both of which give a biased walk with negative expectation value for the walker position, it is possible to reverse the bias through interference effects. This effect is analogous to that in Parrondo's games, where alternating two losing (gambling) games can produce a winning game. The walker bias is produced by introducing a phase factor into the coin operator, with two different phase factors giving games $A$ and $B$. We give the range of phases for which the Parrondo effect can be obtained with $A$ and $B$ played alternately or in other (repeated) deterministic sequences. The effect is transitory. For sufficiently large times the original bias resumes.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.1209.2252

Related papers

Study of Parrondo's paradox regions in one-dimensional quantum walks

Munsif Jan, Xiao-Ye Xu, Wang Qin Qin +4 more

The well-known counterintuitive phenomenon, where the combination of unfavorable situations can establish favorable ones, is called Parrondo's paradox. Here, we study one-dimensional discrete-time quantum walks, manipulating two different coins (two-state) operators representing two losing games A and B, respectively, to create the Parrondo effect in the quantum domain. We exhibit that games A and B are losing games when played individually but could produce a winning expectation when played alternatively for a particular sequence of the different periods. Moreover, we also analyze the relationships between Parrondo's games and quantum entanglement in our scheme. Along with the applications of different kinds of quantum walks, our outcomes potentially encourage the development of new quantum algorithms.

•Jun 30, 2020•2 citations

Territories of Parrondo's paradox and its relation with entanglement in quantum walks

Munsif Jan, Khan, Niaz Ali, Gao Xianlong

Parrondo's paradox is a well-known counterintuitive phenomenon, where the combination of unfavorable situations can establish favorable ones. In this paper, we study one-dimensional discrete-time quantum walks, manipulating two different coins (two-state) operators representing two losing games A and B, respectively, to create the Parrondo effect in the quantum domain. We exhibit that games A and B are losing games when played individually but could produce a winning expectation when played alternatively for a particular sequence of different periods for distinct choices of the relative phase. Furthermore, we investigate the regimes of the relative phase of the initial state of coins where Parrondo games exist. Moreover, we also analyze the relationships between Parrondo's game and quantum entanglement and show regimes where the Parrondo sequence may generate a maximal entangler state in our scheme. Along with the applications of different kinds of quantum walks, our outcomes potentially encourage the development of new quantum algorithms.

arXiv:2006.16585•Jun 30, 2020•0 citations

Parrondo effect in quantum coin-toss simulations

Joel Weijia Lai, Kang Hao Cheong

Game A + Game B = Game C. Parrondo's games follow this basic structure where A and B are losing games and C is a winning game-a phenomenon called Parrondo's paradox. These games can take on a wider class of definitions and exhibit these paradoxical results. In this paper, we show three paradoxical cases. (i) The successive "tossing" of a single fair quantum coin gives a biased result, a previously known result. (ii) The random tossing of two quantum coins, each with successive biased expectations, gives an average random walk position of approximately zero. (iii) The sequential periodic tossing of two quantum coins, each with successive negative biased expectations, gives an average random walk with positive expectation. Using these results, we then propose a protocol for identifying and classifying quantum operations that span the same Hilbert space for a two-level quantum system.

Physical review. E•May 18, 2020•35 citations

Quantum Parrondo's Game with Single Qubit Quantum Walk

Yun-Hsuan Chen, Ran-Yu Chang, Tsung‐Wei Huang

Parrondo's paradox shows that alternating two losing strategies can yield a net positive outcome—a counterintuitive effect relevant to probabilistic systems and control. We demonstrate a quantum analogue using single-qubit inhomogeneous quantum walk—unlike prior work that required multi-coin or position-dependent constructions. Instead, we apply a local phase gate at the origin and alternate two fixed$\text{SU}(2)$coins, with parameters from recent inhomogeneous quantum walks. Sequence ABB yields positive displacement despite no individual bias. This establishes that coherent interference alone can reproduce the Parrondo effect in single-qubit systems, with implications for low-cost quantum algorithms and transport protocols.

IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering (QCE)•Aug 30, 2025•0 citations

QUANTUM PARRONDO'S GAMES CONSTRUCTED BY QUANTUM RANDOM WALKS

Min Li, Yong-Sheng Zhang, Guang‐Can Guo

We construct a Parrondo's game using discrete-time quantum walks (DTQWs). Two losing games are represented by two different coin operators. By mixing the two coin operators UA(αA, βA, γA) and UB(αB, βB, γB), we may win the game. Here, we mix the two games in position instead of time. With a number of selections of the parameters, we can win the game with sequences ABB, ABBB, etc. If we set βA = 45°, γA = 0, αB = 0, βB = 88°, we find game 1 with [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] will win and get the most profit. If we set αA = 0, βA = 45°, αB = 0, βB = 88° and game 2 with [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] will win most. Game 1 is equivalent to game 2 with changes in sequences and steps. But at large enough steps, the game will lose at last. Parrondo's paradox does not exist in classical situation with our model.

Fluctuation and Noise Letters•Oct 22, 2013•19 citations

Parrondo's paradox in quantum walks with deterministic aperiodic sequence of coins

Zbigniew Walczak, Jarosław H. Bauer

Parrondo's effect is a well-known apparent paradox where a combination of biased random walks displays a counterintuitive reversal of the bias direction. We show that Parrondo's effect can occur not only in the case of one-dimensional discrete quantum walks with random or deterministic periodic sequence of two- or multistate quantum coins but also in the case of one-dimensional discrete quantum walks with deterministic aperiodic sequence of two-state quantum coins. Moreover, we show how Parrondo's effect affects the time evolution of the walker-coin quantum entanglement.

Physical review. E•Dec 20, 2021•22 citations
We study a quantum walk in one-dimension using two different "coin" operators. By mixing two operators, both of which give a biased walk with negative expectation value for the walker position, it is possible to reverse the bias through interference effects. This effect is analogous to that in Parrondo's games, where alternating two losing (gambling) games can produce a winning game. The walker bias is produced by introducing a phase factor into the coin operator, with two different phase factors giving games AAA and BBB. We give the range of phases for which the Parrondo effect can be obtained with AAA and BBB played alternately or in other (repeated) deterministic sequences. The effect is transitory. For sufficiently large times the original bias resumes.
The well-known counterintuitive phenomenon, where the combination of unfavorable situations can establish favorable ones, is called Parrondo's paradox. Here, we study one-dimensional discrete-time quantum walks, manipulating two different coins (two-state) operators representing two losing games A and B, respectively, to create the Parrondo effect in the quantum domain. We exhibit that games A and B are losing games when played individually but could produce a winning expectation when played alternatively for a particular sequence of the different periods. Moreover, we also analyze the relationships between Parrondo's games and quantum entanglement in our scheme. Along with the applications of different kinds of quantum walks, our outcomes potentially encourage the development of new quantum algorithms.
Parrondo's paradox is a well-known counterintuitive phenomenon, where the combination of unfavorable situations can establish favorable ones. In this paper, we study one-dimensional discrete-time quantum walks, manipulating two different coins (two-state) operators representing two losing games A and B, respectively, to create the Parrondo effect in the quantum domain. We exhibit that games A and B are losing games when played individually but could produce a winning expectation when played alternatively for a particular sequence of different periods for distinct choices of the relative phase. Furthermore, we investigate the regimes of the relative phase of the initial state of coins where Parrondo games exist. Moreover, we also analyze the relationships between Parrondo's game and quantum entanglement and show regimes where the Parrondo sequence may generate a maximal entangler state in our scheme. Along with the applications of different kinds of quantum walks, our outcomes potentially encourage the development of new quantum algorithms.
Game A + Game B = Game C. Parrondo's games follow this basic structure where A and B are losing games and C is a winning game-a phenomenon called Parrondo's paradox. These games can take on a wider class of definitions and exhibit these paradoxical results. In this paper, we show three paradoxical cases. (i) The successive "tossing" of a single fair quantum coin gives a biased result, a previously known result. (ii) The random tossing of two quantum coins, each with successive biased expectations, gives an average random walk position of approximately zero. (iii) The sequential periodic tossing of two quantum coins, each with successive negative biased expectations, gives an average random walk with positive expectation. Using these results, we then propose a protocol for identifying and classifying quantum operations that span the same Hilbert space for a two-level quantum system.
Parrondo's paradox shows that alternating two losing strategies can yield a net positive outcome—a counterintuitive effect relevant to probabilistic systems and control. We demonstrate a quantum analogue using single-qubit inhomogeneous quantum walk—unlike prior work that required multi-coin or position-dependent constructions. Instead, we apply a local phase gate at the origin and alternate two fixedSU(2)\text{SU}(2)SU(2)coins, with parameters from recent inhomogeneous quantum walks. Sequence ABB yields positive displacement despite no individual bias. This establishes that coherent interference alone can reproduce the Parrondo effect in single-qubit systems, with implications for low-cost quantum algorithms and transport protocols.
We construct a Parrondo's game using discrete-time quantum walks (DTQWs). Two losing games are represented by two different coin operators. By mixing the two coin operators UA(αA, βA, γA) and UB(αB, βB, γB), we may win the game. Here, we mix the two games in position instead of time. With a number of selections of the parameters, we can win the game with sequences ABB, ABBB, etc. If we set βA = 45°, γA = 0, αB = 0, βB = 88°, we find game 1 with [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] will win and get the most profit. If we set αA = 0, βA = 45°, αB = 0, βB = 88° and game 2 with [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] will win most. Game 1 is equivalent to game 2 with changes in sequences and steps. But at large enough steps, the game will lose at last. Parrondo's paradox does not exist in classical situation with our model.
Parrondo's effect is a well-known apparent paradox where a combination of biased random walks displays a counterintuitive reversal of the bias direction. We show that Parrondo's effect can occur not only in the case of one-dimensional discrete quantum walks with random or deterministic periodic sequence of two- or multistate quantum coins but also in the case of one-dimensional discrete quantum walks with deterministic aperiodic sequence of two-state quantum coins. Moreover, we show how Parrondo's effect affects the time evolution of the walker-coin quantum entanglement.