Two-dimensional quantum random walk (Q625535)

Classical random walk in one dimension is described in terms of probabilities to move left or right on a lattice. Quantum random walks are described instead in terms of (quantum) probability amplitudes. It is known that the average path length can be much larger than the allowed maximum allowed path in the corresponding classical walk. The paper addresses several families of two-dimensional quantum random walks. The region in which probabilities do not decay exponentially with time, grows linearly with time as in the one-dimensional case. The limit region turns out to be an algebraic set which is characterised as the rational image of a compact algebraic variety. The probability profile within the limit region is essentially a negative power of the Gaussian curvature of the same algebraic variety. The method is based on the analysis of the space-time generating function, as developed in [J. Comb. Theory, Ser. A 97, No.~1, 129--161, (2002; Zbl 1005.05007)] by \textit{R. Pemantle} and \textit{M. C. Wilson}.