Predicate transformer semantics of quantum programs

© Cambridge University Press 2010. This chapter presents a systematic exposition of predicate transformer semantics for quantum programs. It is divided into two parts: The first part reviews the state transformer (forward) semantics of quantum programs according to Selinger’s suggestion of representing quantum programs by superoperators and elucidates D’Hondt-Panangaden’s theory of quantum weakest preconditions in detail. In the second part, we develop a quite complete predicate transformer semantics of quantum programs based on Birkhoff–von Neumann quantum logic by considering only quantum predicates expressed by projection operators. In particular, the universal conjunctivity and termination law of quantum programs are proved, and Hoare’s induction rule is established in the quantum setting

Logical presentations of domains

Bibliography: pages 168-174.This thesis combines a fairly general overview of domain theory with a detailed examination of recent work which establishes a connection between domain theory and logic. To start with, the theory of domains is developed with such issues as the semantics of recursion and iteration; the solution of recursive domain equations; and non-determinism in mind. In this way, a reasonably comprehensive account of domains, as ordered sets, is given. The topological dimension of domain theory is then revealed, and the logical insights gained by regarding domains as topological spaces are emphasised. These logical insights are further reinforced by an examination of pointless topology and Stone duality. A few of the more prominent categories of domains are surveyed, and Stone-type dualities for the objects of some of these categories are presented. The above dualities are then applied to the task of presenting domains as logical theories. Two types of logical theory are considered, namely axiomatic systems, and Gentzen-style deductive systems. The way in which these theories describe domains is by capturing the relationships between the open subsets of domains

Semantic Domains and Denotational Semantics

The theory of domains was established in order to have appropriate spaces on which to define semantic functions for the denotational approach to programming-language semantics. There were two needs: first, there had to be spaces of several different types available to mirror both the type distinctions in the languages and also to allow for different kinds of semantical constructs - especially in dealing with languages with side effects; and second, the theory had to account for computability properties of functions - if the theory was going to be realistic. The first need is complicated by the fact that types can be both compound (or made up from other types) and recursive (or self-referential), and that a high-level language of types and a suitable semantics of types is required to explain what is going on. The second need is complicated by these complications of the semantical definitions and the fact that it has to be checked that the level of abstraction reached still allows a precise definition of computability