Potential theory for quantum Markov states and other quantum Markov chains (Q6045124)

The notion of quantum Markov chain was introduced by \textit{L. Accardi} [``Noncommutative Markov chains'', in: Proceedings of the International School of Mathematical Physics, Camerino, 268--295 (1974)]. These objects generalise classical Markov chains and it is unclear at first sight, given their great generality, whether many of the concepts employed in the classical setting have fruitful interpretations in the quantum framework. A strategy to address this challenge is to identify a significant subclass of quantum Markov chains for which certain classical notions may be usefully extended. The present paper does this very well. A quantum Markov chain has a completely positive, unital, normal linear map \(\mathcal{E} : \mathcal{M} \otimes \mathcal{M} \to \mathcal{M}\), where \(\mathcal{M}\) is a von Neumann algebra, called its \emph{transition expectation}. The \textit{backward transition operator} is \[ \mathcal{T} : \mathcal{M} \to \mathcal{M}; \ x \mapsto \mathcal{E}( 1_\mathcal{M} \otimes x ) \] and the \emph{forward transition operator} is \[ \mathcal{T}' : \mathcal{M} \to \mathcal{M}; \ x \mapsto \mathcal{E}( x \otimes 1_\mathcal{M} ). \] In general, these transition operators are distinct and do not commute. However, in Section~2, the authors identify many interesting classes of quantum Markov chains for which the backward transition operator \(\mathcal{T}\) and the forward transition operator \(\mathcal{T}'\) satisfy the identity \[ \tag{\(\star\)} ( \mathcal{T} \mathrel{\circ} \mathcal{T}' )^2 = \mathcal{T}^2 \mathrel{\circ} \mathcal{T}'. \] \begin{itemize} \item A classical Markov process can be viewed as a quantum Markov chain, in which case \(\mathcal{M}\) is commutative and \(\mathcal{E}( f \otimes g ) = f \mathcal{T}( g )\) for all \(f, g \in \mathcal{M}\), so that \(\mathcal{T}'\) is the identity map. \item The Accardi-Watson quantum random walk is a quantum Markov chain such that the identity \(\mathcal{T}' \mathrel{\circ} \mathcal{T} = \mathcal{T}\) holds. This identity is also satisfied by the ``diagonal states'' quantum Markov chains defined by \textit{L. Accardi} and \textit{D. Koroliuk} [in: Quantum probability and related topics. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing. 63--73 (1991; Zbl 0929.60094)], and by the entangled quantum Markov chains introduced by \textit{L. Accardi} and \textit{F. Fidaleo} [J. Funct. Anal. 200, No. 2, 324--347 (2003; Zbl 1031.46074)]. (This last fact is demonstrated in Section~5 and a characterisation theorem for entangled quantum Markov chains is stated and proved in the Appendix.) \item A \textit{quantum Markov state} is a quantum Markov chain such that \[ \mathcal{E}( x \otimes y ) = \mathcal{E}\bigl( x \otimes \mathcal{E}( y \otimes 1_\mathcal{M} ) \bigr) \qquad ( x, y \in \mathcal{M} ). \] It follows immediately that \(\mathcal{T} = \mathcal{T} \mathrel{\circ} \mathcal{T}'\). \end{itemize} When the identity (\(\star\)) holds, the authors show in Section~3 that a notion of potential may be introduced which is well motivated and satisfies some natural properties, including the existence of a Riesz decomposition theorem. Corresponding notions of transience, recurrence and irreducibility are introduced in Section~4, and a quantum Markov chain satisfying (\(\star\)) that is irreducible is shown to be either transient or recurrent. Section~5 provides an example of a quantum Markov chain for which (\(\star\)) is satisfied and the chain is irreducible and recurrent, but the stronger condition \(\mathcal{T}' \mathrel{\circ} \mathcal{T} = \mathcal{T}\) does not hold. The paper is well written, very easy to read and introduces a valuable new idea. As the authors say in the concluding Section~6, for the relevant class of quantum Markov chains, ``it is possible to define a notion of potential with all the good properties of potentials determined by a single Markovian operator.''