We introduce a discrete-time quantum walk on a one-dimensional momentum space including both discrete jumps and continuous drift. Its time evolution has two diferent stages. Initially a Markovian diffusion develops during a characteristic time interval, after which dynamical localization sets in, as in the well known Quantum Kicked Rotor system. For some exceptional values of the model's parameter the system exhibits resonant behavior and the system model behaves as the standard discrete time quantum walker on the line.
We introduce a discrete-time quantum walk on a one-dimensional momentum space including both discrete jumps and continuous drift. Its time evolution has two diferent stages. Initially a Markovian diffusion develops during a characteristic time interval, after which dynamical localization sets in, as in the well known Quantum Kicked Rotor system. For some exceptional values of the model's parameter the system exhibits resonant behavior and the system model behaves as the standard discrete time quantum walker on the line.
Quantum walk (QW) is the quantum analog of the random walk. QW is an integral part of the development of numerous quantum algorithms. Hence, an in-depth understanding of QW helps us to grasp the quantum algorithms. We revisit the one-dimensional discrete-time QW and discuss basic steps in detail by incorporating the most general coin operator, constant in both space and time, and a localized initial state using numerical modeling. We investigate the impact of each parameter of the general coin operator on the probability distribution of the quantum walker. We show that by tuning the parameters of the general coin, one can regulate the probability distribution of the walker. We provide an algorithm for the one-dimensional quantum walk driven by the general coin operator. The study on general coin operators also includes the popular coins – Hadamard, Grover, and Fourier.
The discrete-time quantum walk (QW) is a quantum version of the random walk (RW) and has been widely investigated for the last two decades. Some remarkable properties of QW are well known. For example, QW has a ballistic spreading, i.e., QW is quadratically faster than RW. For some cases, localization occurs: a walker stays at the starting position forever. In this paper, we consider stationary measures of two-state QWs on the line. It was shown that for any space-homogeneous model, the uniform measure becomes the stationary measure. However, the corresponding result for space-inhomogeneous model is not known. Here, we present a class of space-inhomogeneous QWs on the line and cycles in which the uniform measure is stationary. Furthermore, we briefly discuss a difference between QWs and RWs.
In this work we introduce discrete-time quantum walks in state space, more precisely on Fock-state lattices. Fock-state lattices provide a natural and clean setting for implementing lattice models, particularly in quantum optical systems. Thus, contrary to the common setting where the walker resides in real space or phase space, here the walk takes place in a synthetic space. We present a general formalism based on Lie algebras and their properties. For each Lie algebra one can associate both a phase space and a Fock-state lattice, and by understanding how these spaces are related, together with the action of generalized displacement operators, we construct the discrete unitary operator that generates the walk. In this framework the displacement operators replace the usual nearest-neighbor shifts and lead to state-dependent tunneling on the lattice. By considering several examples we demonstrate ballistic spreading and other characteristic features of discrete-time quantum walks, such as coin-walker entanglement and symmetry-induced interference patterns. We also show that different algebraic structures can give rise to qualitatively different dynamics, including anomalous behavior such as super-ballistic spreading as well as localization effects.
Quantum random walks are shown to have non-intuitive dynamics which makes them an attractive area of study for devising quantum algorithms for long-standing open problems as well as those arising in the field of quantum computing. In the case of continuous-time quantum random walks, such peculiar dynamics can arise from simple evolution operators closely resembling the quantum free-wave propagator. We investigate the divergence of quantum walk dynamics from the free-wave evolution and show that in order for continuous-time quantum walks to display their characteristic propagation, the state space must be discrete. This behavior rules out many continuous quantum systems as possible candidates for implementing continuous-time quantum random walks. Furthermore our findings demonstrate that the properties of the quantum walk are critically dependant on its initialization which in turn impacts any subsequent quantum algorithms based upon it.
Quantum random walks are shown to have non-intuitive dynamics which makes them an attractive area of study for devising quantum algorithms for long-standing open problems as well as those arising in the field of quantum computing. In the case of continuous-time quantum random walks, such peculiar dynamics can arise from simple evolution operators closely resembling the quantum free-wave propagator. We investigate the divergence of quantum walk dynamics from the free-wave evolution and show that, in order for continuous-time quantum walks to display their characteristic propagation, the state space must be discrete. This behavior rules out many continuous quantum systems as possible candidates for implementing continuous-time quantum random walks.
Randomness is the essence of many processes in nature and human society. It can provide important insights into phenomena as diverse as disease transmission, financial markets, and signal processing. Quantum randomness is intrinsically different from classical stochasticity since it is affected by interference and entanglement. Quantum walks profit from the entanglement that is built up between a walker's position and the "coin" degree of freedom that determines the direction of a walker's motion. This entanglement makes quantum walks promising candidates for the implementation of quantum computational algorithms and as a detector of quantum behavior. While several proof-of-principle quantum walk experiments have recently been implemented, the walk scheme we demonstrate here involves the synthesis of the atom-optics kicked rotor with the dynamics of a state selective ratchet realized with a Bose-Einstein condensate. Here we present a discrete-time quantum walk that uses the momentum of ultra-cold rubidium-87 atoms as the walk space and two internal atomic states as the coin degree of freedom. To implement each step of the walk, i.e. a coin toss followed by a unitary shift operator, we use a microwave pulse, which produces a superposition of two internal states, and a resonant quantum ratchet, which entangles the internal and external degrees of freedom. Our quantum ratchet, whose direction at each step depends on the result of the coin toss, is realized by the atom-optics kicked rotor. We demonstrate the principle features of a standard quantum walk, contrasting them to the behavior of a classical walk. In addition, by manipulating either the walk or coin operator we show how the walk dynamics can be biased or reversed. Furthermore, we show the quantum-to-classical transition in our walk, via randomizing the mixing between the two internal states during each coin toss. Our walk offers distinct advantages arising from the robustness of its dynamics in momentum space, extendability to higher dimensions, and possible dependence on many-body correlations.