Quantum channels as a categorical completion

We propose a categorical foundation for the connection between pure and mixed states in quantum information and quantum computation. The foundation is based on distributive monoidal categories. First, we prove that the category of all quantum channels is a canonical completion of the category of pure quantum operations (with ancilla preparations). More precisely, we prove that the category of completely positive trace-preserving maps between finite-dimensional C*-algebras is a canonical completion of the category of finite-dimensional vector spaces and isometries. Second, we extend our result to give a foundation to the topological relationships between quantum channels. We do this by generalizing our categorical foundation to the topologically-enriched setting. In particular, we show that the operator norm topology on quantum channels is the canonical topology induced by the norm topology on isometries.Comment: 12 pages + ref, accepted at LICS 201

Semantics for a Quantum Programming Language by Operator Algebras

This paper presents a novel semantics for a quantum programming language by operator algebras, which are known to give a formulation for quantum theory that is alternative to the one by Hilbert spaces. We show that the opposite category of the category of W*-algebras and normal completely positive subunital maps is an elementary quantum flow chart category in the sense of Selinger. As a consequence, it gives a denotational semantics for Selinger's first-order functional quantum programming language QPL. The use of operator algebras allows us to accommodate infinite structures and to handle classical and quantum computations in a unified way.Comment: In Proceedings QPL 2014, arXiv:1412.810

Interval-valued algebras and fuzzy logics

In this chapter, we present a propositional calculus for several interval-valued fuzzy logics, i.e., logics having intervals as truth values. More precisely, the truth values are preferably subintervals of the unit interval. The idea behind it is that such an interval can model imprecise information. To compute the truth values of ‘p implies q’ and ‘p and q’, given the truth values of p and q, we use operations from residuated lattices. This truth-functional approach is similar to the methods developed for the well-studied fuzzy logics. Although the interpretation of the intervals as truth values expressing some kind of imprecision is a bit problematic, the purely mathematical study of the properties of interval-valued fuzzy logics and their algebraic semantics can be done without any problem. This study is the focus of this chapter

Poisson boundaries of monoidal categories

Given a rigid C*-tensor category C with simple unit and a probability measure $\mu$ on the set of isomorphism classes of its simple objects, we define the Poisson boundary of $(C,\mu)$. This is a new C*-tensor category P, generally with nonsimple unit, together with a unitary tensor functor $\Pi: C \to P$. Our main result is that if P has simple unit (which is a condition on some classical random walk), then $\Pi$ is a universal unitary tensor functor defining the amenable dimension function on C. Corollaries of this theorem unify various results in the literature on amenability of C*-tensor categories, quantum groups, and subfactors.Comment: v2: 37 pages, minor changes, to appear in Ann. Sci. Ecole Norm. Sup.; v1: 37 page

Reduced operator algebras of trace-preserving quantum automorphism groups

Let $B$ be a finite dimensional C$^\ast$-algebra equipped with its canonical trace induced by the regular representation of $B$ on itself. In this paper, we study various properties of the trace-preserving quantum automorphism group \G of $B$. We prove that the discrete dual quantum group \hG has the property of rapid decay, the reduced von Neumann algebra L^\infty(\G) has the Haagerup property and is solid, and that L^\infty(\G) is (in most cases) a prime type II$_1$-factor. As applications of these and other results, we deduce the metric approximation property, exactness, simplicity and uniqueness of trace for the reduced $C^\ast$-algebra C_r(\G), and the existence of a multiplier-bounded approximate identity for the convolution algebra L^1(\G).Comment: Section 6 removed and replaced by a more general solidity resul