Discrete-time quantum walks provide a versatile framework for investigating the generation, redistribution, and transport of quantum correlations in composite quantum systems. Here, we study the dynamics of bipartite and genuine multipartite entanglement in a two-walker discrete-time quantum walk on a one-dimensional lattice. By employing logarithmic negativity and the generalized geometric measure (GGM), we systematically characterize the redistribution of bipartite entanglement among different subsystem partitions and the emergence of genuine multipartite entanglement involving the two coin and two position degrees of freedom. We show that the entanglement dynamics are strongly influenced by the lattice topology. The open-boundary regime exhibits a monotonic redistribution of quantum correlations, whereas the closed-boundary regime gives rise to pronounced oscillatory behavior due to boundary-induced interference and recurrent wave-packet overlap. In the open-boundary regime, the GGM rapidly approaches its theoretical maximum value of $1/2$ and remains largely insensitive to the choice of the initial Bell state as well as to continuous variations of the local coin operator over a broad parameter range, except near the Pauli-$X$ coin. These results demonstrate that maximal genuine multipartite entanglement generation is a robust and generic feature of open-boundary two-walker discrete-time quantum walks, establishing them as promising platforms for engineering multipartite quantum correlations in quantum information processing and quantum simulation.
Discrete-time quantum walks provide a versatile framework for investigating the generation, redistribution, and transport of quantum correlations in composite quantum systems. Here, we study the dynamics of bipartite and genuine multipartite entanglement in a two-walker discrete-time quantum walk on a one-dimensional lattice. By employing logarithmic negativity and the generalized geometric measure (GGM), we systematically characterize the redistribution of bipartite entanglement among different subsystem partitions and the emergence of genuine multipartite entanglement involving the two coin and two position degrees of freedom. We show that the entanglement dynamics are strongly influenced by the lattice topology. The open-boundary regime exhibits a monotonic redistribution of quantum correlations, whereas the closed-boundary regime gives rise to pronounced oscillatory behavior due to boundary-induced interference and recurrent wave-packet overlap. In the open-boundary regime, the GGM rapidly approaches its theoretical maximum value of 1/2 and remains largely insensitive to the choice of the initial Bell state as well as to continuous variations of the local coin operator over a broad parameter range, except near the Pauli-X coin. These results demonstrate that maximal genuine multipartite entanglement generation is a robust and generic feature of open-boundary two-walker discrete-time quantum walks, establishing them as promising platforms for engineering multipartite quantum correlations in quantum information processing and quantum simulation.
Quantum magic, which accounts for the nonstabilizer content of a state, is essential for universal quantum computation beyond classically simulable resources. However, the way magic builds up during structured unitary dynamics remains largely open. Here, we investigate the generation and evolution of quantum magic in discrete-time quantum walks (DTQWs)—a simple, tunable unitary model realizable on a wide range of architectures. We use stabilizer Rényi entropy as a measure of quantum magic and investigate single- and two-walker quantum walks on a one-dimensional lattice, considering a wide range of initial coin states. Our results reveal that DTQWs can dynamically generate significant magic, with the amount and structure dependent on the initial state of the coin. In the case of a single walker, we found a nontrivial and complementary relationship between magic and entanglement at long times. In the two-walker setting, even states close to stabilizer form can evolve into highly magical states when subjected to quantum walk protocols. The generation of magic can occur independently of entanglement growth, emphasizing its distinct role as a quantum resource. We further show that the dynamical magic generation is robust under realistic noise—specifically, decoherence in the coin degree of freedom—demonstrating that this process persists across noisy settings. Finally, we discuss an experimentally feasible scheme to measure magic using current technology. Our findings position DTQWs as accessible and controllable platforms for producing quantum magic, offering a fresh perspective on their role in quantum information processing and reliable quantum computation.
That quantum correlations can be generated over time between the spin and the position of a quantum walker is indisputable. The creation of bipartite entanglement has also been reported for two-walker systems. In this scenario, however, since the global state lies in a fourpartite Hilbert space, the question arises as to whether genuine multipartite entanglement may develop in time. Also, since the spatial degrees of freedom can be viewed as a noisy channel for the two-spin part, one may wonder how other nonclassical aspects, such as Bell nonlocality, Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen steering, quantum discord, and symmetrical quantum discord, evolve in time during the walk. The lack of analytical and numerical evidences which would allow one to address these questions is possibly due to the usual computational difficulties associated with the recursive nature of quantum walks. Here, we work around this issue by introducing a simplified Gaussian model which proves to be very accurate within a given domain and powerful for analytical studies. Then, for an instance involving two noninteracting quantum walkers, whose spins start in the singlet state, we quantify the aforementioned nonclassical features as a function of time, and evaluate violations of both realism and related aspects of locality. In addition, we analyze situations in which the initial two-spin state is affected by white noise. The typical scenario found is such that while genuine fourpartite entanglement increases over time, all the investigated nonclassical features vanish (suddenly or asymptotically) except realism-based nonlocality. Moreover, realism is prevented for all finite times. Our findings open perspectives for the understanding of the dynamics of quantum resources in quantum walks.
This work investigates a discrete-time quantum walk on a one-dimensional lattice driven by three entangled coins, each initialized via a Hadamard operator. The walker moves only when all three coins yield identical outcomes (HHH or TTT), coupling an 8-dimensional coin Hilbert space to the position degree of freedom. We analyze fully separable, fully entangled, and intermediate initial coin states, computing the von Neumann entropy of reduced subsystems to derive the mutual information between coin and position over successive steps. Our results demonstrate that initial tripartite entanglement significantly accelerates the growth of mutual information and enhances coin-position correlations compared to separable initial conditions. Notably, GHZ-type entangled states exhibit non-monotonic short-time dynamics due to interference, yet ultimately yield up to 18% higher mutual information by the tenth step. These findings underscore the role of pre-walk entanglement as a resource for controlling information flow and spatial spreading in quantum-walk-based protocols, with implications for quantum transport, state transfer, and correlation engineering.
Quantum walks constitute a rich area of quantum information science, where multipartite entanglement plays a central role in the dynamics and scalability of quantum advantage over classical simulators. In this work, we study the multipartite entanglement of quantum walks in optical settings. We present methods for computing a geometric measure of entanglement for arbitrary partitions of a single-walker quantum walk and for analyzing the entanglement in multi-walker scenarios. These techniques are used for numerical studies on the entanglement dynamics of quantum walks in large systems and under various initial conditions. For a given bipartition, based on the coin degrees of freedom, we derive exact expressions describing the complete entanglement dynamics for arbitrary localized initial conditions. We use these expressions for analytic statements about the asymptotic behavior of the system. Furthermore, we demonstrate the emergence of entanglement typicality in statistical ensembles of random optical networks.
Discrete-time quantum walks provide a natural framework for quantum transport on complex networks. On regular structures, coin-walker entanglement has been widely used to characterize quantum transport and to support quantum algorithmic protocols. However, this notion relies on a fixed Hilbert space factorization separating coin and position and is therefore not directly applicable to more complex, irregular structures. Here we introduce an entanglement measure for general networks based on a bipartition that assigns each node two roles, acting as both a source and a target. The resulting bipartition defines the source-target entanglement, a measure for general networks, motivated by coin-walker entanglement. We show that the connectivity of the network imposes an upper bound on this entanglement and identify graph matchings as the underlying structure governing entanglement generation. We further illustrate that in random graphs improving graph connectivity reduces the attainable entanglement, establishing a structure-dependent constraint on quantum correlations.
In this paper, we present a simulator for two-particle quantum walks on the line and one-particle on a two-dimensional squared lattice. It can be used to investigate the equivalence between the two cases (one- and two-particle walks) for various boundary conditions (open, circular, reflecting, absorbing and their combinations). For the case of a single walker on a two-dimensional lattice, the simulator can also implement the Möbius strip. Furthermore, other topologies for the walker are also simulated by the proposed tool, like certain types of planar graphs with degree up to 4, by considering missing links over the lattice. The main purpose of the simulator is to study the genuinely quantum effects on the global properties of the two-particle joint probability distribution on the entanglement between the walkers/axis. For that purpose, the simulator is designed to compute various quantities such as: the entanglement and classical correlations, (classical and quantum) mutual information, the average distance between the two walkers, different hitting times and quantum discord. These quantities are of vital importance in designing possible algorithmic applications of quantum walks, namely in search, 3-SAT problems, etc. The simulator can also implement the static partial measurements of particle(s) positions and dynamic breaking of the links between certain nodes, both of which can be used to investigate the effects of decoherence on the walker(s). Finally, the simulator can be used to investigate the dynamic Anderson-like particle localization by varying the coin operators of certain nodes on the line/lattice. We also present some illustrative and relevant examples of one- and two-particle quantum walks in various scenarios. The tool was implemented in C and is available on-line at http://qwsim.weebly.com/ .