Complementarity and quantum walks
Abstract
We show that quantum walks interpolate between a coherent `wave walk' and a random walk depending on how strongly the walker's coin state is measured; i.e., the quantum walk exhibits the quintessentially quantum property of complementarity, which is manifested as a trade-off between knowledge of which path the walker takes vs the sharpness of the interference pattern. A physical implementation of a quantum walk (the quantum quincunx) should thus have an identifiable walker and the capacity to demonstrate the interpolation between wave walk and random walk depending on the strength of measurement.
Cite
@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0404043,
title = {Complementarity and quantum walks},
author = {Viv Kendon and Barry C. Sanders},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0404043},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
7 pages, RevTex, 2 figures; v2 adds references; v3 updated to incorporate feedback and updated references; v4 substantially expanded to clarify presentation