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arXiv:2006.02847

Quantum Markov Chain Semantics for Quip-E Programs

Linda Anticoli, Leonardo Taglialegne

Published Jun 4, 2020• 0 citations
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Abstract

In this work we present a mapping from a fragment of the quantum programming language Quipper, called Quip-E, to the semantics of the QPMC model checker, aiming at the automatic verification of quantum programs. As a main outcome, we define a structural operational semantics for the Quip-E language corresponding to quantum Markov chains, and we use it as a basis for analysing quantum programs through the QPMC model checker. The properties of the semantics are proved and contextualised in the development of a tool translating from quantum programs to quantum Markov chains.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2006.02847

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In this work we present a mapping from a fragment of the quantum programming language Quipper, called Quip-E, to the semantics of the QPMC model checker, aiming at the automatic verification of quantum programs. As a main outcome, we define a structural operational semantics for the Quip-E language corresponding to quantum Markov chains, and we use it as a basis for analysing quantum programs through the QPMC model checker. The properties of the semantics are proved and contextualised in the development of a tool translating from quantum programs to quantum Markov chains.
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Quipper is a practical programming language for describing families of quantum circuits. In this paper, we formalize a small, but useful fragment of Quipper called Proto-Quipper-M. Unlike its parent Quipper, this language is type-safe and has a formal denotational and operational semantics. Proto-Quipper-M is also more general than Quipper, in that it can describe families of morphisms in any symmetric monoidal category, of which quantum circuits are but one example. We design Proto-Quipper-M from the ground up, by first giving a general categorical model of parameters and state. The distinction between parameters and state is also known from hardware description languages. A parameter is a value that is known at circuit generation time, whereas a state is a value that is known at circuit execution time. After finding some interesting categorical structures in the model, we then define the programming language to fit the model. We cement the connection between the language and the model by proving type safety, soundness, and adequacy properties.
Quantum communication is a rapidly growing area of research and development. Quantum cryptography has already been implemented for secure communication, and commercial solutions are available. The application of formal methods to classical computing and communication systems has been very successful, and is widely used by industry. We expect similar benefits for the verification of quantum systems. Communicating Quantum Processes (CQP) is a process calculus based on the π-calculus with the inclusion of primitives for quantum information. Process calculi provide an algebraic approach to system specification and behavioural analysis. The Quantum Model Checker (QMC) is a tool for the automated verification of system correctness. Through an exhaustive search of the possible executions, QMC can check that correctness properties expressed using temporal logic formulae are satisfied. In this paper we describe our approach to the verification of quantum systems using a combination of process calculus and model checking. We also define a formal translation from CQP to the modelling language used by QMC and prove that this preserves the semantics of all supported CQP processes. © 2012 Old City Publishing, Inc.