We propose a different implementation of discrete-time quantum walks for a neutral atom in an array of optical microtraps or an optical lattice. We analyze a one-dimensional walk in position space, with the coin, the additional qubit degree of freedom that controls the displacement of the quantum walker, implemented as a spatially delocalized qubit, i.e., the coin is also encoded in position space. We analyze the dependence of the quantum walk on temperature and experimental imperfections such as shaking in the trap positions. Finally, combining a spatially delocalized qubit and a hyperfine qubit, we also give a scheme to realize a quantum walk on a two-dimensional square lattice with the possibility of implementing different coin operators.
We propose a different implementation of discrete-time quantum walks for a neutral atom in an array of optical microtraps or an optical lattice. We analyze a one-dimensional walk in position space, with the coin, the additional qubit degree of freedom that controls the displacement of the quantum walker, implemented as a spatially delocalized qubit, i.e., the coin is also encoded in position space. We analyze the dependence of the quantum walk on temperature and experimental imperfections such as shaking in the trap positions. Finally, combining a spatially delocalized qubit and a hyperfine qubit, we also give a scheme to realize a quantum walk on a two-dimensional square lattice with the possibility of implementing different coin operators.
One of the unique features of discrete-time quantum walks is called trapping, meaning the inability of the quantum walker to completely escape from its initial position, although the system is translationally invariant. The effect is dependent on the dimension and the explicit form of the local coin. A four-state discrete-time quantum walk on a square lattice is defined by its unitary coin operator, acting on the four-dimensional coin Hilbert space. The well-known example of the Grover coin leads to a partial trapping, i.e., there exists some escaping initial state for which the probability of staying at the initial position vanishes. On the other hand, some other coins are known to exhibit strong trapping, where such an escaping state does not exist. We present a systematic study of coins leading to trapping, explicitly construct all such coins for discrete-time quantum walks on the two-dimensional square lattice, and classify them according to the structure of the operator and the manifestation of the trapping effect. We distinguish three types of trapping coins exhibiting distinct dynamical properties, as exemplified by the existence or nonexistence of the escaping state and the area covered by the spreading wave packet.
Quantum walks have wide applications in quantum information, such as universal quantum computation, so it is important to explore properties of quantum walks thoroughly. We propose a novel method to implement discrete-time quantum walks (DTQWs) using only a single qubit, in which both coin and walker are encoded in the two-dimensional state space of a single qubit, operations are realized using single-qubit gates only, and high-dimensional final states of DTQWs can be obtained naturally. With this "one-qubit" approach, DTQW experiments can be realized much more easily, compared with previous methods, in most quantum systems and all properties based on quantum states of DTQWs (such as quantum correlation and coherence) can be investigated. By this approach, we experimentally implement one-particle and two-particle DTQWs with seven steps using single photons. Furthermore, we systematically investigate quantum correlations and coherence (based on the full state of the coin and walker) of the DTQW systems with different initial states of the coin, which have not been obtained and studied in DTQW experiments. As an application, we also study the assisted distillation of quantum coherence using the full state of the two-particle DTQW from the experiment. The maximal increase in distillable coherence for high-dimensional mixed states is investigated for the first time by obtaining its upper and lower bounds. Our work opens a new door to implement DTQW experiments and to better explore properties of quantum walks.
Quantum walks are more than tools for building quantum algorithms. They have been used effectively to model and simulate quantum dynamics in many complex physical processes. Particularly, a variant of discrete-time quantum walk known as split-step quantum walk is closely related to Dirac cellular automata and topological insulators, whose realizations rely on position-dependent control of evolution operators. Owing to the ease of manipulating multiple degrees of freedom of photons, we provide an optical setup of split-step operators which, in combination with position-dependent coin (PDC) operation, can accomplish a table-top setup of generalized split-step walks. Also, we propose an optical implementation for PDC operation that allows, for instance, realizing electric quantum walks, control localization dynamics, and emulate space-time curvature effects. In addition, we propose a setup to realize any t -step split-step quantum walk involving 2 J -plates, 2 variable waveplates, a half-waveplate, an optical switch, and an optical delay line.
We present an approach to induce localization of a Bose-Einstein condensate in a one-dimensional lattice under the influence of unitary quantum-walk evolution using disordered quantum coin operation. We introduce a discrete-time quantum-walk model in which the interference effect is modified to diffuse or strongly localize the probability distribution of the particle by assigning a different set of coin parameters picked randomly for each step of the walk, respectively. Spatial localization of the particle or state is explained by comparing the variance of the probability distribution of the quantum walk in position space using disordered coin operation to that of the walk using an identical coin operation for each step. Due to the high degree of control over quantum coin operation and most of the system parameters, ultracold atoms in an optical lattice offer opportunities to implement a disordered quantum walk that is unitary and induces localization. Here we present a scheme to use a Bose-Einstein condensate that can be evolved to the superposition of its internal states in an optical lattice and control the dynamics of atoms to observe localization. This approach can be adopted to any other physical system in which controlled disordered quantum walk can be implemented.
The field of quantum computation and quantum simulation has been recently driven to a new rising edge by the experimental realization of quantum walks in various setups, highlighting that different physical systems can be adapted for the implementation of these models. In particular, optical systems have shown their full potential, allowing the experimental demonstration of two-dimensional quantum walks for the first time [1, 2], even if several further progresses will sur ely be obtained also in the other physical scenarios that have been already exploited for the one-dimensional case [3, 4]. From the theoretical point of view, the interest in twodimensional quantum walks has been boosted by the fact that, differently from the one-dimensional version, highe rdimensional schemes (i.e., walkers moving on structures with dimension larger than one) can be exploited for the efficient implementation of quantum search algorithms [5]. In particular, the Grover walk has been intensively studied due to its localization feature [6]. It has been proved that the non localized case of the Grover walk can be simulated by a walk where the requirement of a higher dimensionality of the coin space is substituted with the alternance of the directions i n which the walker can move [7]. In the quest for more feasible quantum walk models, an important step forward is presented in this paper: a strong localization-like effect can be indeed obtained in the modified version of the alternate quantum walk presented here, reducing the gap with the standard two-dimensional version. This result could pave the way for adapting this scheme to the realization of quantum algorithms, providing a clear advantage in terms of experimental resources. After a short introduct ion on the quantum walk studied here, we characterize it in terms of its relevant parameters and show that a proper choice can guarantee a non-negligible probability of finding the walke r at the origin even for large times. We then hint at a qualitative relation between the ability of the system to localize and th e behavior of coherences established in the state of the parti cles performing a two-particle equivalent scheme of the walk, which in turns provides information on the way correlations are set up between them. We discuss the robustness of this model to imperfections and its possible experimental realization with the current state-of-the-art settings in linear o ptics and cold-atom devices. Let us consider a quantum system with two degrees of freedom, and thus described by a vector in the composite Hilbert space H = HW ⊗ HC . The coin space HC is a two-dimensional Hilbert space spanned by {|0i,|1i} and the walker space HW is an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space spanned by {|x,yi}, with x and y assuming all possible integer values. We take as a basis of this space H the set {|x,y,ci}, with |x,y,ci= |x,yiW ⊗ |ciC ; x and y could denote, for instance, the position of a particle ( walker) along the x and y directions, respectively, while |ciC is an internal twolevel degree of freedom. From now on, we consider|0,0iW as the initial state of our walker, and |+yiC = (|0iC+i|1iC)/ √ 2 as the coin one. The evolution of the system is given by a sequence of conditional shift, coin operations, and phase gates. The effec t of the two different conditional shift operations