1,596 research outputs found
Physics, Topology, Logic and Computation: A Rosetta Stone
In physics, Feynman diagrams are used to reason about quantum processes. In
the 1980s, it became clear that underlying these diagrams is a powerful analogy
between quantum physics and topology: namely, a linear operator behaves very
much like a "cobordism". Similar diagrams can be used to reason about logic,
where they represent proofs, and computation, where they represent programs.
With the rise of interest in quantum cryptography and quantum computation, it
became clear that there is extensive network of analogies between physics,
topology, logic and computation. In this expository paper, we make some of
these analogies precise using the concept of "closed symmetric monoidal
category". We assume no prior knowledge of category theory, proof theory or
computer science.Comment: 73 pages, 8 encapsulated postscript figure
Classical Control, Quantum Circuits and Linear Logic in Enriched Category Theory
We describe categorical models of a circuit-based (quantum) functional
programming language. We show that enriched categories play a crucial role.
Following earlier work on QWire by Paykin et al., we consider both a simple
first-order linear language for circuits, and a more powerful host language,
such that the circuit language is embedded inside the host language. Our
categorical semantics for the host language is standard, and involves cartesian
closed categories and monads. We interpret the circuit language not in an
ordinary category, but in a category that is enriched in the host category. We
show that this structure is also related to linear/non-linear models. As an
extended example, we recall an earlier result that the category of W*-algebras
is dcpo-enriched, and we use this model to extend the circuit language with
some recursive types
Resource modalities in game semantics
The description of resources in game semantics has never achieved the
simplicity and precision of linear logic, because of a misleading conception:
the belief that linear logic is more primitive than game semantics. We advocate
instead the contrary: that game semantics is conceptually more primitive than
linear logic. Starting from this revised point of view, we design a categorical
model of resources in game semantics, and construct an arena game model where
the usual notion of bracketing is extended to multi- bracketing in order to
capture various resource policies: linear, affine and exponential
A universe of processes and some of its guises
Our starting point is a particular `canvas' aimed to `draw' theories of
physics, which has symmetric monoidal categories as its mathematical backbone.
In this paper we consider the conceptual foundations for this canvas, and how
these can then be converted into mathematical structure. With very little
structural effort (i.e. in very abstract terms) and in a very short time span
the categorical quantum mechanics (CQM) research program has reproduced a
surprisingly large fragment of quantum theory. It also provides new insights
both in quantum foundations and in quantum information, and has even resulted
in automated reasoning software called `quantomatic' which exploits the
deductive power of CQM. In this paper we complement the available material by
not requiring prior knowledge of category theory, and by pointing at
connections to previous and current developments in the foundations of physics.
This research program is also in close synergy with developments elsewhere, for
example in representation theory, quantum algebra, knot theory, topological
quantum field theory and several other areas.Comment: Invited chapter in: "Deep Beauty: Understanding the Quantum World
through Mathematical Innovation", H. Halvorson, ed., Cambridge University
Press, forthcoming. (as usual, many pictures
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