In this dissertation we present results for various quantum and stochastic processes. First, we bound separations between the entangled and classical values for several classes of nonlocal t-player games. We show that for many general classes of such games, the entangled winning probability can not be much higher than the classical one. The proofs use semidefinite-programming techniques and hypergraph norms. Next, we study so-called quasirandom properties of graphs, and extend this to the quantum realm. For a certain class of quantum channels we generalize several results on equivalence between different quasirandom properties, using the non-commutative Grothendieck inequality. We also look at methods for sampling random graphs with power-law degree distributions, using Markov Chain switching methods. Using these samples we present a conjecture on the asymptotic number of triangles in the uniform random graph model. Next we study a class of stochastic processes on graphs that include the discrete Bak-Sneppen process and the contact process. These processes exhibit a phenomenon which we call the Power Light Cone, that has been used in the physics community for a long time but had not yet been proven. We provide this proof, which allows for numerical computations that estimate critical exponents. Finally, we consider a quantum version of Pascal's triangle. When Pascal's triangle is plotted modulo 2, the Sierpinski triangle appears. We prove that when the quantum version of this triangle is plotted modulo 3, a fractal known as the Sierpinski carpet emerges.
In this dissertation we present results for various quantum and stochastic processes. First, we bound separations between the entangled and classical values for several classes of nonlocal t-player games. We show that for many general classes of such games, the entangled winning probability can not be much higher than the classical one. The proofs use semidefinite-programming techniques and hypergraph norms. Next, we study so-called quasirandom properties of graphs, and extend this to the quantum realm. For a certain class of quantum channels we generalize several results on equivalence between different quasirandom properties, using the non-commutative Grothendieck inequality. We also look at methods for sampling random graphs with power-law degree distributions, using Markov Chain switching methods. Using these samples we present a conjecture on the asymptotic number of triangles in the uniform random graph model. Next we study a class of stochastic processes on graphs that include the discrete Bak-Sneppen process and the contact process. These processes exhibit a phenomenon which we call the Power Light Cone, that has been used in the physics community for a long time but had not yet been proven. We provide this proof, which allows for numerical computations that estimate critical exponents. Finally, we consider a quantum version of Pascal's triangle. When Pascal's triangle is plotted modulo 2, the Sierpinski triangle appears. We prove that when the quantum version of this triangle is plotted modulo 3, a fractal known as the Sierpinski carpet emerges.
In this PhD thesis we study the effects of quantum entanglement, one of quantum mechanics most peculiar features, in nonlocal games and communication problems in zero-error information theory. A nonlocal game is a thought experiment in which two cooperating players, who are forbidden to communicate, want to perform a certain task. Zero-error information theory is the mathematical field that studies communication problems where no error is tolerated. The unifying link among the various scenarios we consider is their combinatorial nature and in particular their reformulations as graph theoretical problems, mainly concerning the chromatic and stability numbers and some quantum generalizations thereof. In this thesis we propose a novel approach to the study of these quantum graph parameters using the paradigm of conic optimization. For that, we introduce and study the completely positive semidefinite cone, a new matrix cone consisting of all symmetric matrices that admit a Gram representation by positive semidefinite matrices. Furthermore, we investigate whether entanglement allows for better-than-classical communication schemes in some well-known problems from zero-error information theory. For example we study the channel coding problem, which asks a sender to transmit data reliably to a receiver in the presence of noise, as well as some of its generalizations.
A framework for finite-dimensional quantum Markov chains on Hilbert spaces is introduced. Quantum Markov chains generalize both classical Markov chains with possibly hidden states and existing models of quantum walks on finite graphs. Quantum Markov chains are based on Markov operations that may be applied to quantum systems and include quantum measurements, for example. It is proved that quantum Markov chains are asymptotically stationary and hence possess ergodic and entropic properties. With a quantum Markov chain one may associate a quantum Markov process, which is a stochastic process in the classical sense. Generalized Markov chains allow a representation with respect to a generalized Markov source model with definite (but possibly hidden) states relative to which observables give rise to classical stochastic processes. It is demonstrated that this model allows for observables to violate Bell’s inequality.
Quantum walks are the quantum mechanical analogue of classical random walks. Discrete-time quantum walks have been introduced and studied mostly on the line Z or higher dimensional space Z d but rarely defined on graphs with fractal dimensions because the coin operator depends on the position and the Fourier transform on the fractals is not defined. Inspired by its nature of classical walks, different quantum walks will be defined by choosing different shift and coin operators. When the coin operator is uniform, the results of classical walks will be obtained upon measurement at each step. Moreover, with measurement at each step, our results reveal more information about the classical random walks. In this dissertation, two graphs with fractal dimensions will be considered. The first one is Sierpinski gasket, a degree-4 regular graph with Hausdorff di- mension of df = ln 3/ ln 2. The second is the Cantor graph derived like Cantor set, with Hausdorff dimension of df = ln 2/ ln 3. The definitions and amplitude functions of the quantum walks will be introduced. The main part of this dissertation is to derive a recursive formula to compute the amplitude Green function. The exiting probability will be computed and compared with the classical results. When the generation of graphs goes to infinity, the recursion of the walks will be investigated and the convergence rates will be obtained and compared with the classical counterparts.
In this thesis we have focused on two topics: Discrete Quantum Walks and Quantum Image Processing. Our work is a contribution within the field of quantum computation from the perspective of a computer scientist.
With the purpose of finding new techniques to develop quantum algorithms, there has been
an increasing interest in studying Quantum Walks, the quantum counterparts of classical random walks. Our work in quantum walks begins with a critical and comprehensive assessment of those elements of classical random walks and discrete quantum walks on undirected graphs relevant to algorithm development.
We propose a model of discrete quantum walks on an infinite line using pairs of quantum coins under different degrees of entanglement, as well as quantum walkers in different initial state configurations, including superpositions of corresponding basis states. We have found that the probability distributions of such quantum walks have particular forms which are different from the probability distributions of classical random walks. Also, our numerical results show that the symmetry properties of quantum walks with entangled coins have a non-trivial relationship with corresponding initial states and evolution operators.
In addition, we have studied the properties of the entanglement generated between walkers, in a family of discrete Hadamard quantum walks on an infinite line with one coin and two walkers. We have found that there is indeed a relation between the amount of entanglement available in each step of the quantum walk and the symmetry of the initial coin state. However, as we show with our numerical simulations, such a relation is not straightforward and, in fact, it can be counterintuitive.
Quantum Image Processing is a blend of two fields: quantum computation and image processing. Our aim has been to promote cross-fertilisation and to explore how ideas from quantum computation could be used to develop image processing algorithms. Firstly, we propose methods for storing and retrieving images using non-entangled and entangled qubits. Secondly, we study a case in which 4 different values are randomly stored in a single qubit, and show that quantum mechanical properties can, in certain cases, allow better reproduction of original stored values compared with classical methods. Finally, we briefly note that entanglement may be used as a computational resource to perform hardware-based pattern recognition of geometrical shapes that would otherwise require
classical hardware and software.
In this thesis we have focused on two topics: Discrete Quantum Walks and Quantum Image Processing. Our work is a contribution within the field of quantum computation from the perspective of a computer scientist. With the purpose of finding new techniques to develop quantum algorithms, there has been an increasing interest in studying Quantum Walks, the quantum counterparts of classical random walks. Our work in quantum walks begins with a critical and comprehensive assessment of those elements of classical random walks and discrete quantum walks on undirected graphs relevant to algorithm development. We propose a model of discrete quantum walks on an infinite line using pairs of quantum coins under different degrees of entanglement, as well as quantum walkers in different initial state configurations, including superpositions of corresponding basis states. We have found that the probability distributions of such quantum walks have particular forms which are different from the probability distributions of classical random walks. Also, our numerical results show that the symmetry properties of quantum walks with entangled coins have a non-trivial relationship with corresponding initial states and evolution operators. In addition, we have studied the properties of the entanglement generated between walkers, in a family of discrete Hadamard quantum walks on an infinite line with one coin and two walkers. We have found that there is indeed a relation between the amount of entanglement available in each step of the quantum walk and the symmetry of the initial coin state. However, as we show with our numerical simulations, such a relation is not straightforward and, in fact, it can be counterintuitive. Quantum Image Processing is a blend of two fields: quantum computation and image processing. Our aim has been to promote cross-fertilisation and to explore how ideas from quantum computation could be used to develop image processing algorithms. Firstly, we propose methods for storing and retrieving images using non-entangled and entangled qubits. Secondly, we study a case in which 4 different values are randomly stored in a single qubit, and show that quantum mechanical properties can, in certain cases, allow better reproduction of original stored values compared with classical methods. Finally, we briefly note that entanglement may be used as a computational resource to perform hardware-based pattern recognition of geometrical shapes that would otherwise require classical hardware and software.
In this paper we consider a quantum version of Pascal's triangle. Pascal's triangle is a well-known triangular array of numbers and when these numbers are plotted modulo 2, a fractal known as the Sierpinski triangle appears. We first prove the appearance of more general fractals when Pascal's triangle is considered modulo prime powers. The numbers in Pascal's triangle can be obtained by scaling the probabilities of the simple symmetric random walk on the line. In this paper we consider a quantum version of Pascal's triangle by replacing the random walk by the quantum walk known as the Hadamard walk. We show that when the amplitudes of the Hadamard walk are scaled to become integers and plotted modulo three, a fractal known as the Sierpinski carpet emerges and we provide a proof of this using Lucas's theorem. We furthermore give a general class of quantum walks for which this phenomenon occurs.