This paper addresses the question of understanding quantum algorithms in terms of unitary operators. Many quantum algorithms can be expressed as applications of operators formed by conjugating so-called classical operators. The operators that are used for conjugation are determined by the problem and any additional structure possessed by the Hilbert space that is acted upon. We prove many commutative laws for these different operators, and we use those to phrase and analyze old and new problems and algorithms. As an example, we review the Abelian subgroup problem. We then introduce the problem of determining a group homomorphism, and we give classical and quantum algorithms for it. We also generalize Deutsch's problem and improve the previous best algorithms for earlier generalizations of it.
This paper addresses the question of understanding quantum algorithms in terms of unitary operators. Many quantum algorithms can be expressed as applications of operators formed by conjugating so-called classical operators. The operators that are used for conjugation are determined by the problem and any additional structure possessed by the Hilbert space that is acted upon. We prove many commutative laws for these different operators, and we use those to phrase and analyze old and new problems and algorithms. As an example, we review the Abelian subgroup problem. We then introduce the problem of determining a group homomorphism, and we give classical and quantum algorithms for it. We also generalize Deutsch's problem and improve the previous best algorithms for earlier generalizations of it.
Quantum computation is, at bottom, a branch of applied algebra and functional analysis: the state of a quantum register is a unit vector in a finite-dimensional complex Hilbert space, computation is the action of the unitary group on that space, and the structure of the most important quantum algorithms is dictated by the representation theory of finite and continuous groups. This paper develops the mathematical scaffolding of the field from first principles and uses it to explain why quantum computers can outperform classical ones. We review complex inner-product spaces, self-adjoint and unitary operators, the spectral theorem, and the tensor-product construction that gives rise to entanglement and the exponential dimension of the state space. We then describe the qubit and its geometry, the group-theoretic classification of quantum gates (the special unitary groups, the Pauli and Clifford groups, and their Lie-algebraic generators), and the universality results that justify finite gate sets together with the Solovay–Kitaev theorem. With this apparatus we analyse the quantum Fourier transform, phase estimation, and the hidden subgroup problem, showing how Shor’s factoring algorithm, Grover’s search, and the quantum linear-systems algorithm arise as instances of a small number of algebraic templates. Finally we treat the stabilizer formalism of quantum error correction—where finite abelian groups over GF(2) play the central role—and the variational, near-term (NISQ) algorithms that dominate current practice. Throughout, the emphasis is on the algebraic invariants that make quantum speed-ups possible.
Given a unitary representation of a finite group on a finite-dimensional Hilbert space, we show how to find a state whose translates under the group are distinguishable with the highest probability. We apply this to several quantum oracle problems, including the GROUP MULTIPLICATION problem, in which the product of an ordered n-tuple of group elements is to be determined by querying elements of the tuple. For any finite group G, we give an algorithm to find the product of two elements of G with a single quantum query with probability 2/|G|. This generalizes Deutsch’s Algorithm from Z2 to an arbitrary finite group. We further prove that this algorithm is optimal. We also introduce the HIDDEN CONJUGATING ELEMENT PROBLEM, in which the oracle acts by conjugating by an unknown element of the group. We show that for many groups, including dihedral and symmetric groups, the unknown element can be determined with probability 1 using a single quantum query.
In the quest to identify further quantum algorithms exhibiting superpolynomial speed-ups, a recurring theme is that the complexity of a problem is largely shaped by the input access model. Here, we study this phenomenon for the state hidden subgroup problem (StateHSP), a quantum generalization of the hidden subgroup problem in which the goal is to identify the symmetries of an unknown quantum state. For finite abelian groups, existing Fourier-sampling algorithms use O(log(∣G∣)/ε) copies of the state, but whether this scaling is optimal has remained open. We settle the complexity of the abelian StateHSP in both the previously studied sample model and a new query model, which is a stronger and operationally natural generalization that provides access to the state-preparation unitary and its inverse. In the query model, we give a time-efficient quantum algorithm using O(log(∣G/H∣)/ε) forward and inverse queries, and prove a matching Ω(log(∣G/H∣)/ε) lower bound which holds even in the stronger conjugate-query and controlled-query settings. By contrast, we show that in the sample model, Θ(log(∣G/H∣)/ε) copies are both sufficient and information-theoretically necessary, even if one allows for arbitrary collective measurements. Thus, the quadratic improvement in ε genuinely arises from coherent access to the preparation circuit. As applications, we obtain faster algorithms for learning stabilizer groups, locating unentanglement, and identifying hidden translation symmetries.
Abstract Quantum permutations arise in many aspects of modern “quantum mathematics”. However, the aim of this article is to detach these objects from their context and to give a friendly introduction purely within operator theory. We define quantum permutation matrices as matrices whose entries are operators on Hilbert spaces; they obey certain assumptions generalizing classical permutation matrices. We give a number of examples and we list many open problems. We then put them back in their original context and give an overview of their use in several branches of mathematics, such as quantum groups, quantum information theory, graph theory and free probability theory.
Given a unitary representation of a finite group on a finite-dimensional Hilbert space, we show how to find a state whose translates under the group are distinguishable with the highest probability. We apply this to several quantum oracle problems, including the GROUP MULTIPLICATION problem, in which the product of an ordered n-tuple of group elements is to be determined by querying elements of the tuple. For any finite group G, we give an algorithm to find the product of two elements of G with a single quantum query with probability 2/∣G∣. This generalizes Deutsch's Algorithm from Z2 to an arbitrary finite group. We further prove that this algorithm is optimal. We also introduce the HIDDEN CONJUGATING ELEMENT PROBLEM, in which the oracle acts by conjugating by an unknown element of the group. We show that for many groups, including dihedral and symmetric groups, the unknown element can be determined with probability 1 using a single quantum query.
Quantum computing represents a transformative paradigm that leverages the principles of quantum mechanics, such as superposition and entanglement, to perform computations beyond the capabilities of classical systems. The development of efficient quantum algorithms and architectures relies heavily on robust mathematical frameworks, among which group theory plays a fundamental role. Group-theoretic structures provide a systematic way to describe symmetries, unitary transformations, and state evolution in quantum systems. In particular, unitary and special unitary groups govern the behavior of quantum gates, while representation theory enables the analysis of multi-qubit operations and composite systems. Moreover, group theory underpins several key aspects of quantum computing, including the design of quantum algorithms, error correction schemes, and cryptographic protocols. Notable algorithms such as Shor’s Algorithm and Grover’s Algorithm exploit algebraic structures to achieve computational advantages. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the interplay between group theory and quantum computing, highlighting fundamental concepts, major applications, and recent developments. The paper also identifies current challenges and outlines future research directions, thereby offering a consolidated resource for researchers in mathematics, physics, and quantum information science.