The Minimal Modal Interpretation of Quantum Theory
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David Kagan University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
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Jacob Barandes Harvard University
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Format results
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Non local weak measurements
Aharon Brodutch Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC)
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Fault-tolerant logical gates in quantum error-correcting codes
Beni Yoshida Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
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Algebraic characterization of entanglement classes
Markus Grassl Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light
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An invariant of topologically ordered states under local unitary transformations
Jeongwan Haah Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Department of Physics
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Space-Time Circuit-to-Hamiltonian construction and Its Applications
Barbara Terhal Delft University of Technology
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Inferring causal structure: a quantum advantage
Katja Ried Universität Innsbruck
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Strong majorization entropic uncentainty relations
Karol Zyczkowski Jagiellonian University
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Quantum technologies as tools to deepen our understanding of quantum theory and relativity
Ivette Fuentes University of Southampton
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The quest for self-correcting quantum memory
Olivier Landon-Cardinal California Institute of Technology
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Physics, Logic and Mathematics of Time
Louis Kauffman University of Illinois at Chicago
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The Minimal Modal Interpretation of Quantum Theory
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David Kagan University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
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Jacob Barandes Harvard University
A persistent mystery of quantum theory is whether it admits an interpretation that is realist, self-consistent, model-independent, and unextravagant in the sense of featuring neither multiple worlds nor pilot waves. In this talk, I will present a new interpretation of quantum theory -- called the minimal modal interpretation (MMI) -- that aims to meet these conditions while also hewing closely to the basic structure of the theory in its widely accepted form. The MMI asserts that quantum systems -- whether closed or open -- have actual states that evolve along kinematical trajectories through their state spaces, and that those trajectories are governed by specific (if approximate) dynamical rules determined by a general new class of conditional probabilities, and in a manner that differs significantly from the de Broglie-Bohm formulation. The MMI is axiomatically parsimonious, leaves the usual dynamical content of quantum theory essentially intact, and includes only metaphysical entities that are either already a standard part of quantum theory or that have counterparts in classical physics. I will also address a number of important issues and implicit assumptions in the foundations community that I believe merit reconsideration and re-evaluation going forward. -
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Non local weak measurements
Aharon Brodutch Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC)
Weak measurement is increasingly acknowledged as an important theoretical and experimental tool. Weak values- the results of weak measurements- are often used to understand seemingly paradoxical quantum behavior. Until now however, it was not known how to perform a weak non-local measurement of a general operator. Such a procedure is necessary if we are to take the associated `weak values' seriously as a physical quantity. We propose a novel scheme for performing non-local weak measurement which is based on the principle of quantum erasure. This method can be used for a large class of observables including those related to Hardy's paradox. -
Fault-tolerant logical gates in quantum error-correcting codes
Beni Yoshida Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
Recently, Bravyi and Koenig have shown that there is a tradeoff between fault-tolerantly implementable logical gates and geometric locality of stabilizer codes. They consider locality-preserving operations which are implemented by a constant depth geometrically local circuit and are thus fault-tolerant by construction. In particular, they shown that, for local stabilizer codes in D spatial dimensions, locality preserving gates are restricted to a set of unitary gates known as the D-th level of the Clifford hierarchy. In this paper, we elaborate this idea and provide several extensions and applications of their characterization in various directions. First, we present a new no-go theorem for self-correcting quantum memory. Namely, we prove that a three-dimensional stabilizer Hamiltonian with a locality-preserving implementation of a non-Clifford gate cannot have a macroscopic energy barrier. Second, we prove that the code distance of a D-dimensional local stabilizer code with non-trivial locality-preserving m-th level Clifford logical gate is upper bounded by L^{D+1-m}. For codes with non-Clifford gates (m>2), this improves the previous best bound by Bravyi and Terhal. Third we prove that a qubit loss threshold of codes with non-trivial transversal m-th level Clifford logical gate is upper bounded by 1/m. As such, no family of fault-tolerant codes with transversal gates in increasing level of the Clifford hierarchy may exist. This result applies to arbitrary stabilizer and subsystem codes, and is not restricted to geometrically-local codes. Fourth we extend the result of Bravyi and Koenig to subsystem codes. A technical difficulty is that, unlike stabilizer codes, the so-called union lemma does not apply to subsystem codes. This problem is avoided by assuming the presence of error threshold in a subsystem code, and the same conclusion as Bravyi-Koenig is recovered. This is a joint work with Fernando Pastawski. arXiv:1408.1720 -
Algebraic characterization of entanglement classes
Markus Grassl Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light
Entanglement is a key feature of composite quantum system which is directly related to the potential power of quantum computers. In most computational models, it is assumed that local operations are relatively easy to implement. Therefore, quantum states that are related by local operations form a single entanglement class. In the case of local unitary operations, a finite set of polynomial invariants provides a complete characterization of the entanglement classes. Unfortunately, one faces the problem of combinatorial explosion so that computing such a complete set of invariants becomes difficult already for quite small system. The two main problems in this context are to compute invariants and to decide completeness, i.e., whether a given set of invariants generates the full invariant ring. Important tools are both univariate and multivariate Hilbert series which are already difficult to compute. We will also address computational aspects of these problems and techniques for showing completeness of a set of invariants. -
An invariant of topologically ordered states under local unitary transformations
Jeongwan Haah Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Department of Physics
For an anyon model in two spatial dimensions described by a modular tensor category, the topological S-matrix encodes the mutual braiding statistics, the quantum dimensions, and the fusion rules of anyons. It is nontrivial whether one can compute the topological S-matrix from a single ground state wave function. In this talk, I will show that, for a class of Hamiltonians, it is possible to define the S-matrix regardless of the degeneracy of the ground state. The definition manifests invariance of the S-matrix under local unitary transformations (quantum circuits). The defined S-matrix depends only on the ground state, in the sense that it can be computed by any Hamiltonian in the class of which the state is a ground state. This property, together with the local unitary invariance implies that any quantum circuit that connects two ground states of distinct topological S-matrices must have depth that is at least linear in the diameter of the system. A higher dimensional analog is straightforward. [arXiv:1407.2926] -
Space-Time Circuit-to-Hamiltonian construction and Its Applications
Barbara Terhal Delft University of Technology
The circuit-to-Hamiltonian construction translates a dynamics (a quantum circuit and its output) into statics (the groundstate of a circuit Hamiltonian) by explicitly defining a quantum register for a clock. The standard Feynman-Kitaev construction uses one global clock for all qubits while we consider a different construction in which a clock is assigned to each point in space where a qubit of the quantum circuit resides. We show how one can apply this construction to one-dimensional quantum circuits for which the circuit Hamiltonian realizes the dynamics of a vibrating string. We discuss how the construction can be used (1) in quantum complexity theory to obtain new and stronger results in QMA and (2) how one can realize, based on this construction, universal quantum adiabatic computation and a universal quantum walk using a 2D interacting particle Hamiltonian. See http://arxiv.org/abs/1311.6101 -
Inferring causal structure: a quantum advantage
Katja Ried Universität Innsbruck
A fundamental question in trying to understand the world -- be it classical or quantum -- is why things happen. We seek a causal account of events, and merely noting correlations between them does not provide a satisfactory answer. Classical statistics provides a better alternative: the framework of causal models proved itself a powerful tool for studying causal relations in a range of disciplines. We aim to adapt this formalism to allow for quantum variables and in the process discover a new perspective on how causality is different in the quantum world. Causal inference is a central task in the context of causal models: given observed statistics over a set of variables, one aims to infer how they are causally related. Yet in the seemingly simple case of just two classical variables, this is impossible (unless one makes additional assumptions). I will show how the analogous task for quantum variables can be solved. This quantum advantage is reminiscent of the advantages that quantum mechanics offers in computing and communication, and may lead to similarly rich insights. Our scheme is corroborated by data obtained in collaboration with Kevin Resch's experimental group. Time permitting, I will also address other applications of the quantum causal models. arXiv:1406.5036 -
Strong majorization entropic uncentainty relations
Karol Zyczkowski Jagiellonian University
We analyze entropic uncertainty relations in a finite dimensional Hilbert space and derive several strong bounds for the sum of two entropies obtained in projective measurements with respect to any two orthogonal bases. We improve the recent bounds by Coles and Piani, which are known to be stronger than the well known result of Maassen and Uffink. Furthermore, we find a novel bound based on majorization techniques, which also happens to be stronger than the recent results involving largest singular values of submatrices of the unitary matrix connecting both bases. The first set of new bounds give better results for unitary matrices close to the Fourier matrix, while the second one provides a significant improvement in the opposite sectors. Some results derived admit generalization to arbitrary mixed states, so that corresponding bounds are increased by the von Neumann entropy of the measured state. The majorization approach is finally extended to the case of several measurements. -
Quantum technologies as tools to deepen our understanding of quantum theory and relativity
Ivette Fuentes University of Southampton
Quantum information and quantum metrology can be used to study gravitational effects such as gravitational waves and the universality of the equivalence principle. On one hand, the possibility of carrying out experiments to probe gravity using quantum systems opens an avenue to deepen our understanding of the overlap of these theories. On the other hand, incorporating relativity in quantum technologies promises the development of a new generation of relativistic quantum applications of relevance in Earth-based and space-based setups. In this talk, I will introduce a framework for the application of quantum information and quantum metrology techniques to relativistic quantum fields. I will show how, using this framework, we have been able to develop an accelerometer and a gravitational wave detector which exploit both quantum and relativistic effects. Moreover, our framework can be used to estimate with high precision spacetime parameters such as the Earth's Schwarzchild radius and the gravitational constant. -
Local quanta, unitary inequivalence, and vacuum entanglement
In this work we develop a formalism for describing localised quanta for a real-valued Klein-Gordon field in a one-dimensional box [0, R]. We quantise the field using non-stationary local modes which, at some arbitrarily chosen initial time, are completely localised within the left or the right side of the box. In this concrete set-up we directly face the problems inherent to a notion of local field excitations, usually thought of as elementary particles. Specifically, by computing the Bogoliubov coefficients relating local and standard (global) quantizations, we show that the local quantisation yields a Fock space F^L which is unitarily inequivalent to the standard one F^G. In spite of this, we find that the local creators and annihilators remain well defined in the global Fock space F^G, and so do the local number operators associated to the left and right partitions of the box. We end up with a useful mathematical toolbox to analyse and characterise local features of quantum states in F^G . Specifically, an analysis of the global vacuum state |0_G> ∈ F^G in terms of local number operators shows, as expected, the existence of entanglement between the left and right regions of the box. The local vacuum |0_L> ∈ F^L , on the contrary, has a very different character. It is neither cyclic nor separating and displays no entanglement. Further analysis shows that the global vacuum also exhibits a distribution of local excitations reminiscent, in some respects, of a thermal bath. We discuss how the mathematical tools developed herein may open new ways for the analysis of fundamental problems in local quantum field theory. -
The quest for self-correcting quantum memory
Olivier Landon-Cardinal California Institute of Technology
A self-correcting quantum memory is a physical system whose quantum state can be preserved over a long period of time without the need for any external intervention. The most promising candidates are topological quantum systems which would protect information encoded in their degenerate groundspace while interacting with a thermal environment. Many models have been suggested but several approaches have been shown to fail due to no-go results of increasingly general scope. In a nutshell, 2D topological models and many 3D topological models have point-like excitations which propagate freely and change the groundstate at any non-zero temperature. A recent suggestion is to introduce effective long-range interactions between those point-like excitations. In this presentation, I will first explain the desiderata for self-correction, review the recent advances and no-go results, and describe the current endeavours to define a self-correcting system in 2D and 3D. Time permitting, I will briefly present our recent work on the thermal instability of models which aim to introduce effective long-range interactions between point-like excitations (joint work with Beni Yoshida, John Preskill and David Poulin). -
Physics, Logic and Mathematics of Time
Louis Kauffman University of Illinois at Chicago
Consider discrete physics with a minimal time step taken to be
tau. A time series of positions q,q',q'', ... has two classical
observables: position (q) and velocity (q'-q)/tau. They do not commute,
for observing position does not force the clock to tick, but observing
velocity does force the clock to tick. Thus if VQ denotes first observe
position, then observe velocity and QV denotes first observe velocity,
then observe position, we have
VQ: (q'-q)q/tau
QV: q'(q'-q)/tau
(since after one tick the position has moved from q to q').
Thus [Q,V]= QV - VQ = (q'-q)^2/tau. If we consider the equation
[Q,V] = k (a constant), then k = (q'-q))^2/tau and this is recognizably
the diffusion constant that arises in a process of Brownian motion.
Thus, starting with the simplest assumptions for discrete physics, we are
lead to recognizable physics. We take this point of view and follow it
in both physical and mathematical directions. A first mathematical
direction is to see how i, the square root of negative unity, is related
to the simplest time series: ..., -1,+1,-1,+1,... and making the
above analysis of time series more algebraic leads to the following
interpetation for i. Let e=[-1,+1] and e'=[+1,-1] denote, as ordered
pairs, two phase-shifted versions of the alternating series above.
Define an operator b such that eb = be' and b^2 = 1. Regard b as a time
shifting operator. The operator b shifts the alternating series by one
half its period. Regard e' = -e and ee' = [-1.-1] = -1 (combining term by
term). Then let i = eb. We have ii = (eb)(eb) = ebeb = ee'bb = -1. Thus ii = -1
through the definition of i as eb, a temporally sensitive entity that
shifts it phase in the course of interacting with (a copy of) itself.
By going to i as a discrete dynamical system, we can come back to the
general features of discrete dynamical systems and look in a new way at
the role of i in quantum mechanics. Note that the i we have constructed is
already part of a simple Clifford algebra generated by e and b with
ee = bb = 1 and eb + be = 0. We will discuss other mathematical physical
structures such as the Schrodinger equation, the Dirac equation and the
relationship of a simple logical operator (generalizing negation) with
Majorana Fermions.