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arXiv:1411.4999 · Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical

Unit quaternions and the Bloch sphere

K B Wharton, D Koch

Published May 19, 2015• 14 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

The spinor representation of spin-1/2 states can equally well be mapped to a single unit quaternion, yielding a new perspective despite the equivalent mathematics. This paper first demonstrates a useable map that allows Bloch-sphere rotations to be represented as quaternionic multiplications, simplifying the form of the dynamical equations. Left-multiplications generally correspond to non-unitary transformations, providing a simpler (essentially classical) analysis of time-reversal. But the quaternion viewpoint also reveals a surprisingly large broken symmetry, as well as a potential way to restore it, via a natural expansion of the state space that has parallels to second order fermions. This expansion to ‘second order qubits’ would imply either a larger gauge freedom or a natural space of hidden variables.

DOI
10.1088/1751-8113/48/23/235302

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The spinor representation of spin-1/2 states can equally well be mapped to a single unit quaternion, yielding a new perspective despite the equivalent mathematics. This paper first demonstrates a useable map that allows Bloch-sphere rotations to be represented as quaternionic multiplications, simplifying the form of the dynamical equations. Left-multiplications generally correspond to non-unitary transformations, providing a simpler (essentially classical) analysis of time-reversal. But the quaternion viewpoint also reveals a surprisingly large broken symmetry, as well as a potential way to restore it, via a natural expansion of the state space that has parallels to second order fermions. This expansion to ‘second order qubits’ would imply either a larger gauge freedom or a natural space of hidden variables.
Abstract. The spinor representation of spin-1/2 states can equally well be mapped to a single unit quaternion, yielding a new perspective despite the equivalent mathematics. This paper first demonstrates a useable map that allows Bloch-sphere rotations to be represented as quaternionic multiplications, simplifying the form of the dynamical equations. Left-multiplications generally correspond to non-unitary transformations, providing a simpler (essentially classical) analysis of time-reversal. But the quaternion viewpoint also reveals a surprisingly large broken symmetry, as well as a potential way to restore it, via a natural expansion of the state space that has parallels to second order fermions. This expansion to “second order qubits ” would imply either a larger gauge freedom or a natural space of hidden variables. ‡ Present address: The Graduate Center, CUNY, New York NY 10016. ar X iv
This paper introduces the quaternionic wavefunction as a compact way to organize the standard spinor geometry of a spin one half particle. It shows how a two component complex state can be regrouped into quaternionic form in a way that makes the geometric relationship among spinors, the three sphere, and the transformation group SU(2) easier to see. The paper emphasizes that the mathematics is standard and that its contribution is expository. Its goal is to clarify how spin one half structure, unit quaternions, and rotational geometry fit together, while carefully distinguishing the full normalized state geometry from the projected Bloch sphere description. It is intended as a conceptual prelude to the broader RQM paper series, not as a claim of a new physical theory.
Abstract The solution to the time-dependent Pauli–Schrödinger equation is written using quaternion algebra, i.e. by expressing the unitary operator describing the time evolution of the Pauli spinor and the Pauli spinor itself as left-chirality quaternions. The quaternion approach is used to express the time evolution of a qubit on the Bloch sphere under the action of the commonly used quantum gates and to implement the two-qubit controlled-NOT (CNOT) gate and the three-qubit Tofolli gate. The quaternion formalism is also applied to describe: (1) a general two-qubit quaternionic gate, (2) the Larmor precession of an electron spin in an uniform magnetic field, and (3) the issue of measurements in quantum mechanics. Finally, the time-dependent Pauli–Schrödinger equation is also solved using right-chirality quaternions.
The symmetry SU(2) and its geometric Bloch Sphere rendering have been successfully applied to the study of a single qubit (spin-1/2); however, the extension of such symmetries and geometries to multiple qubits—even just two—has been investigated far less, despite the centrality of such systems for quantum information processes. In the last two decades, two different approaches, with independent starting points and motivations, have been combined for this purpose. One approach has been to develop the unitary time evolution of two or more qubits in order to study quantum correlations; by exploiting the relevant Lie algebras and, especially, sub-algebras of the Hamiltonians involved, researchers have arrived at connections to finite projective geometries and combinatorial designs. Independently, geometers, by studying projective ring lines and associated finite geometries, have come to parallel conclusions. This review brings together the Lie-algebraic/group-representation perspective of quantum physics and the geometric–algebraic one, as well as their connections to complex quaternions. Altogether, this may be seen as further development of Felix Klein’s Erlangen Program for symmetries and geometries. In particular, the fifteen generators of the continuous SU(4) Lie group for two qubits can be placed in one-to-one correspondence with finite projective geometries, combinatorial Steiner designs, and finite quaternionic groups. The very different perspectives that we consider may provide further insight into quantum information problems. Extensions are considered for multiple qubits, as well as higher-spin or higher-dimensional qudits.
Quantum computing leverages fundamental principles of quantum mechanics to perform computations far exceeding classical architectures. At the core of single-qubit quantum state manipulation is the Bloch sphere, a geometric representation mapping the state space of two-level quantum systems onto a three-dimensional unit sphere. This paper presents a comprehensive theoretical framework of qubits, starting from single-qubit geometric state vectors and expanding to rigorous multi-qubit mathematical formulations. Furthermore, it analyzes single-qubit quantum gates as unitary rotations on the Bloch sphere, evaluates multi-qubit system scaling, and explicitly proves state normalization conditions using Born's rule across multi-dimensional Hilbert spaces.
The quaternion is a natural representation of the magnetic moment of the fundamental particles. Under the hopf-fibration the parameter space of the quaternion separates into an intrinsic and extrinsic parameter space, and accounts for the intrinsic and extrinsic spin of the fundamental particles. The intrinsic parameter space is the global, geometric and dynamic phases which are presented in this article in full generality. The equivalence between the quantum and classical equations of motion is established, and the global phase of the quaternion is shown to be a natural hidden variable which deterministically accounts for the results of the Stern-Gerlach experiment.