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Journal of Generalized Lie Theory and Applications

Hopf algebras, random walks and quantum master equations

Demosthenes Ellinas

Published Jan 1, 2008• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

Hopf algebras of functions and operators are utilized to develop a mathematical construction scheme for building algebraic random walks. The main construction treats systems of covariance formed by translation operator and its associated operator valued measures on e.g. the circle and the line, and derives an algebraic quantum random walk by means of completely positive trace preserving maps. Asymptotic limit of the action of such maps is shown to lead to quantum master equations of Lindblad type. 2000 MSC: 57T05, 60B15, 81R15

DOI
10.4303/jglta/s070310

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Hopf algebras of functions and operators are utilized to develop a mathematical construction scheme for building algebraic random walks. The main construction treats systems of covariance formed by translation operator and its associated operator valued measures on e.g. the circle and the line, and derives an algebraic quantum random walk by means of completely positive trace preserving maps. Asymptotic limit of the action of such maps is shown to lead to quantum master equations of Lindblad type. 2000 MSC: 57T05, 60B15, 81R15
Algebraic random walks (ARW) and quantum mechanical random walks (QRW) are investigated and related. Based on minimal data provided by the underlying bialgebras of functions defined on e. g the real line R, the abelian finite group Z_N, and the canonical Heisenberg-Weyl algebra hw, and by introducing appropriate functionals on those algebras, examples of ARWs are constructed. These walks involve short and long range transition probabilities as in the case of R walk, bistochastic matrices as for the case of Z_N walk, or coherent state vectors as in the case of hw walk. The increase of classical entropy due to majorization order of those ARWs is shown, and further their corresponding evolution equations are obtained. Especially for the case of hw ARW, the diffusion limit of evolution equation leads to a quantum master equation for the density matrix of a boson system interacting with a bath of quantum oscillators prepared in squeezed vacuum state. A number of generalizations to other types of ARWs and some open problems are also stated. Next, QRWs are briefly presented together with some of their distinctive properties, such as their enhanced diffusion rates, and their behavior in respect to the relation of majorization to quantum entropy. Finally, the relation of ARWs to QRWs is investigated in terms of the theorem of unitary extension of completely positive trace preserving (CPTP) evolution maps by means of auxiliary vector spaces. It is applied to extend the CPTP step evolution map of a ARW for a quantum walker system into a unitary step evolution map for an associated QRW of a walker+quantum coin system. Examples and extensions are provided.
The question of quantum computation gates and quantum dissipation maps generated by means of classical random walks is addressed here in operations involving qubit states. Classical variables determining the manifold of qubit state vectors and density matrices are left to perform a classical random walk formulated algebraically by means of Hopf algebras. It is shown that this induces quantum operations on the qubits and density matrices which are further identified with e.g. known unitary transformations and completely positive trace preserving maps, depending upon the kind of random walk chosen.
These notes are a short introduction to the mathematical theory of open quantum systems. They are meant to serve as an entry point into a broad research area which has applications across the quantum sciences dealing with systems subjected to external noise. The guiding idea is to let the key structures of the theory emerge from a concrete model. By working through the dissipative Jaynes-Cummings model the reader will dis- cover explicitly how irreversible dynamics arises from a unitary system-reservoir evolution. The notions of the continuous mode limit, correlation functions, spectral density appear in a natural manner and lead to the evolution equation of the open system in form of a master equation. This sets the stage for the more general analysis of completely positive, trace preserving (CPTP) maps and the study of quantum dynamical semigroups. We motivate and prove the Kraus representation theorem, the dilation theorem and the Gorini-Kossakowski-Sudarshan-Lindblad (GKSL) theorem. Working through the exercises (for which full solutions are supplied) will reinforce the ideas introduced in the main text.
Working within the framework of Hopf algebras, a random walk and the associated diffusion equation are constructed on a space that is algebraically described as the merging of the real line algebra with the anyonic line algebra. Technically this merged structure is a smash algebra, namely an algebra resulting from a braided tensoring of real with anyonic line algebras. The motivation of introducing the smashing results from the necessity of having noncommuting increments in the random walk. Based on the observable-state duality provided by the underlying Hopf structure, the construction is cast into two dual forms: one using functionals determined by density probability functions and the other using the associated Markov transition operator. The ensuing diffusion equation is shown to possess triangular matrix realization. The study is completed by the incorporation of Hamiltonian dynamics in the above random walk model, and by the construction of the dynamical equation obeyed by statistical moments of the problem for generic entangled density functions.
Classical random walks and Markov processes are easily described by Hopf algebras. It is also known that groups and Hopf algebras (quantum groups) lead to classical and quantum diffusions. We study here the more primitive notion of a quantum random walk associated with a general Hopf algebra and show that it has a simple physical interpretation in quantum mechanics. This is by means of a representation theorem motivated from the theory of Kac algebras: If H is any Hopf algebra, it may be realized in Lin(H) in such a way that Δh=W(h⊗1)W−1 for an operator W. This W is interpreted as the time evolution operator for the system at time t coupled quantum-mechanically to the system at time t+δ. Finally, for every Hopf algebra there is a dual one, leading us to a duality operation for quantum random walks and quantum diffusions and a notion of the coentropy of an observable. The dual system has its time reversed with respect to the original system, leading us to a novel kind of CTP theorem.