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Journal of the Physical Society of Japan

Unique Solution to the Quantum Prisoner’s Dilemma Game

Ahmed S. Elgazzar

Published Feb 1, 2019• 12 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A quantized version of the prisoner’s dilemma game based on the Marinatto–Weber quantization scheme is introduced. A four-qubit-basis initial entangled quantum state is assumed. Two domains for Nash equilibria are observed in terms of the degree of entanglement of the game. Each Nash equilibrium point is found to be Pareto optimal in its corresponding domain. Therefore, there is a unique solution to the game dilemma in each domain of the entanglement parameter. The maximally entangled limit is studied, and the players’ payoffs are found to equal the average of the payoff matrix independently of their choices. Consequently, any combination of players’ choices is a solution to the dilemma of the game. The nonentangled limits are also studied and found to coincide with the classical mixed-strategy game. Our results are equivalent to those of the noisy schemes of the quantum prisoner’s dilemma game. In our scheme, entanglement can be interpreted as a noise.

DOI
10.7566/jpsj.88.034801

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A quantized version of the prisoner’s dilemma game based on the Marinatto–Weber quantization scheme is introduced. A four-qubit-basis initial entangled quantum state is assumed. Two domains for Nash equilibria are observed in terms of the degree of entanglement of the game. Each Nash equilibrium point is found to be Pareto optimal in its corresponding domain. Therefore, there is a unique solution to the game dilemma in each domain of the entanglement parameter. The maximally entangled limit is studied, and the players’ payoffs are found to equal the average of the payoff matrix independently of their choices. Consequently, any combination of players’ choices is a solution to the dilemma of the game. The nonentangled limits are also studied and found to coincide with the classical mixed-strategy game. Our results are equivalent to those of the noisy schemes of the quantum prisoner’s dilemma game. In our scheme, entanglement can be interpreted as a noise.
The concept of Nash equilibria in pure strategies for quantum extensions of the general form of the Prisoner's Dilemma game is investigated. The process of quantization involves incorporating two additional unitary strategies, which effectively expand the classical game. We consider five classes of such quantum games, which remain invariant under isomorphic transformations of the classical game. The resulting Nash equilibria are found to be more closely aligned with Pareto-optimal solutions than those of the conventional Nash equilibrium outcome of the classical game. Our results demonstrate the complexity and diversity of strategic behavior in the quantum setting, providing new insights into the dynamics of classical decision-making dilemmas. In particular, we provide a detailed characterization of strategy profiles and their corresponding Nash equilibria, thereby extending the understanding of quantum strategies' impact on traditional game-theoretical problems.
This paper investigates Nash equilibria in pure strategies for quantum approach to the Prisoner's Dilemma. The quantization process involves extending the classical game by introducing two additional unitary strategies. We consider five classes of such quantum games, which remain invariant under isomorphic transformations of the classical game. For each class, we identify and analyse all possible Nash equilibria. Our results reveal the complexity and diversity of strategic behaviour in the quantum setting, providing new insights into the dynamics of classical decision-making dilemmas. In the case of the standard Prisoner's Dilemma, the resulting Nash equilibria of quantum extensions are found to be closer to Pareto optimal solutions than those of the classical equilibrium.
In this paper, we extend the quantum game theory of Prisoner’s Dilemma to the N-player case. The final state of quantum game theory of N-player Prisoner’s Dilemma is derived, which can be used to investigate the payoff of each player. As demonstration, two cases (2-player and 3-player) are studied to illustrate the superiority of quantum strategy in the game theory. Specifically, the non-unique entanglement parameter is found to maximize the total payoff, which oscillates periodically. Finally, the optimal strategic set is proved to depend on the selection of initial states.
What happens when an infinite number of players play a quantum game? In this paper, we will answer this question by looking at the emergence of cooperation, in the presence of noise, in a one-shot quantum prisoner’s dilemma (QuPD). We will use the numerical agent-based model (ABM) and compare it with the analytical Nash equilibrium mapping (NEM) technique. To measure cooperation, we consider five indicators, i.e., game magnetization, entanglement susceptibility, correlation, player’s payoff average, and payoff capacity, respectively. In quantum social dilemmas, entanglement plays a non-trivial role in determining the behavior of the quantum players (or qubits) in the thermodynamic limit, and for QuPD, we consider the existence of bipartite entanglement between neighboring quantum players. For the five indicators in question, we observe first-order phase transitions at two entanglement values, and these phase transition points depend on the payoffs associated with the QuPD game. We numerically analyze and study the properties of both the quantum and the defect phases of the QuPD via the five indicators. The results of this paper demonstrate that both ABM and NEM, in conjunction with the chosen five indicators, provide insightful information on cooperative behavior in an infinite-player one-shot quantum prisoner’s dilemma.
This work concentrates on simultaneous move non-cooperating quantum games. Part of it is evidently not new, but it is included for the sake self consistence, as it is devoted to introduction of the mathematical and physical grounds of the pertinent topics, and the way in which a simple classical game is modified to become a quantum game (a procedure referred to as a quantization of a classical game). The connection between game theory and information science is briefly stressed, and the role of quantum entanglement (that plays a central role in the theory of quantum games), is exposed. Armed with these tools, we investigate some basic concepts like the existence (or absence) of a pure strategy and mixed strategy Nash equilibrium and its relation with the degree of entanglement. The main results of this work are as follows: 1) Construction of a numerical algorithm based on the method of best response functions, designed to search for pure strategy Nash equilibrium in quantum games. The formalism is based on the discretization of a continuous variable into a mesh of points, and can be applied to quantum games that are built upon two-players two-strategies classical games, based on the method of best response functions. 2) Application of this algorithm to study the question of how the existence of pure strategy Nash equilibrium is related to the degree of entanglement (specified by a continuous parameter γ ). It is shown that when the classical game GC has a pure strategy Nash equilibrium that is not Pareto efficient, then the quantum game GQ with maximal entanglement (γ = π/2) has no pure strategy Nash equilibrium. By studying a non-symmetric prisoner dilemma game, it is found that there is a critical value 0γc such that for γγc there is a pure strategy Nash equilibrium and for γ≥γc there is no pure strategy Nash equilibrium. The behavior of the two payoffs as function of γ starts at that of the classical ones at (D, D) and approaches the cooperative classical ones at (C, C) (C = confess, D = don’t confess). 3) We then study Bayesian quantum games and show that under certain conditions, there is a pure strategy Nash equilibrium in such games even when entanglement is maximal. 4) We define the basic ingredients of a quantum game based on a two-player three strategies classical game. This requires the introduction of trits (instead of bits) and quantum trits (instead of quantum bits). It is proved that in this quantum game, there is no classical commensurability in the sense that the classical strategies are not obtained as a special case of the quantum strategies.
A quantum approach to twice-repeated 2×22\times 22×2 game
Abstract This work proposes an extension of the well-known Eisert–Wilkens–Lewenstein scheme for playing a twice repeated 2×22\times 22×2 2 × 2 game using a single quantum system with ten maximally entangled qubits. The proposed scheme is then applied to the Prisoner’s Dilemma game. Rational strategy profiles are examined in the presence of limited awareness of the players. In particular, the paper considers two cases of a classical player against a quantum player game: the first case when the classical player does not know that his opponent is a quantum one and the second case, when the classical player is aware of it. To this end, the notion of unawareness was used, and the extended Nash equilibria were determined.