Unitarity plus causality implies localizability

DOI10.1016/J.JCSS.2010.05.004MaRDI QIDQ632800zbMATHOpenAlexWikidataFDO

Authors Pablo Arrighi, Vincent Nesme, Reinhard F. Werner

Publication date 28 March 2011

Published in Journal of Computer and System Sciences (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/0711.3975

quantum walks axiomatic quantum field theory discrete space-time

Random walks, random surfaces, lattice animals, etc. in equilibrium statistical mechanics (82B41) Quantum algorithms and complexity in the theory of computing (68Q12) Quantum computation (81P68) Axiomatic quantum field theory; operator algebras (81T05)

Abstract: We consider a graph with a single quantum system at each node. The entire compound system evolves in discrete time steps by iterating a global evolution

U

. We require that this global evolution

U

be unitary, in accordance with quantum theory, and that this global evolution

U

be causal, in accordance with special relativity. By causal we mean that information can only ever be transmitted at a bounded speed, the speed bound being quite naturally that of one edge of the underlying graph per iteration of

U

. We show that under these conditions the operator

U

can be implemented locally; i.e. it can be put into the form of a quantum circuit made up with more elementary operators -- each acting solely upon neighbouring nodes. We take quantum cellular automata as an example application of this representation theorem: this analysis bridges the gap between the axiomatic and the constructive approaches to defining QCA. KEYWORDS: Quantum cellular automata, Unitary causal operators, Quantum walks, Quantum computation, Axiomatic quantum field theory, Algebraic quantum field theory, Discrete space-time.

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