Two quantum finite automata are equivalent if for all input string
ω over the input alphabet the two automata accept
ω with equal probability. In [Theoret. Comput. Sci. 410 (2009) 3006-3017], it was shown that a
k1-letter QFA
A1 and a
k2-letter QFA
A2 over
Σ={σ}, are equivalent if and only if they are
(n1+n2)4+k−1-equivalent where
ni is the number of states of
Ai,
i=1,2, and
k=max{k1,k2}. In this letter, we improve the above upper-bound to
(n12+n22−1)+k. This also answers an open problem of Qiu et al. [Acta Informatica 48 (2011) 271-290]. Further, we show that, in the case of
Σ={σ1,...,σt} with
2≤t<∞, there exists an integer
z such that
A1 and
A2 are equivalent if and only if they satisfy
z-equivalent.
In this paper, we focus on determining the equivalence for {\it 1-way quantum finite automata with control language} (CL-1QFAs) defined by Bertoni et al and {\it measure-many 1-way quantum finite automata} (MM-1QFAs) introduced by Kondacs and Watrous. More specifically, we obtain that: \begin{enumerate} \item[(i)] Two CL-1QFAs
A1 and
A2 with control languages (regular languages)
L1 and
L2, respectively, are equivalent if and only if they are
(c1n12+c2n22−1)-equivalent. Furthermore, if
L1 and
L2 are given in the form of DFAs, with
m1 and
m2 states, respectively, then there exists a polynomial-time algorithm running in time
O((m1n12+m2n22)4) that takes as input
A1 and
A2 and determines whether they are equivalent. \item[(ii)] Two MM-1QFAs
A1 and
A2 with
n1 and
n2 states, respectively, are equivalent if and only if they are
(3n12+3n22−1)-equivalent. Furthermore, there is a polynomial-time algorithm running in time
O((3n12+3n22)4) that takes as input
A1 and
A2 and determines whether
A1 and
A2 are equivalent.
The relationships among various quantum automata are clarified, and in particular, variously equivalent characterizations of quantum automata are established. The G-quantum automata, g-quantum automata, (generalized) quantum automata, G-quantum grammars and g-quantum grammars are presented, and their connections to some of the other existing quantum automata are expounded. Under a certain condition, the equivalence between the G(g)-quantum automata and G(g)-quantum grammars is discussed. Therefore the problem of quantum grammars generating quantum regular languages is solved. The relation between quantum and regular languages is dealt with, and particularly, two open problems proposed by Gudder are answered. Finally, the method of decreasing the dimensions of spaces of states on quantum automata is given.