中文

Composing Quantum Instruments

量子物理 2026-06-26 v1 计算机科学中的逻辑 数学物理 范畴论 算子代数

摘要

We study the composition of classically-controlled quantum instruments--the natural quantum analogue of Markov kernels. Classically, Markov kernels compose by integrating one kernel against another. Defining this composition for quantum instruments with continuous outcomes requires an integral of quantum channel-valued functions with respect to a quantum instrument. We construct this integral in the Heisenberg picture using the Okamura-Ozawa normal extension to a von Neumann tensor product. This integral recovers the expected finite formula, preserves normal complete positivity and subunitality, and provides the multiplication for a monad governing the composition of quantum instruments. As an immediate consequence, we identify the category of quantum Markov kernels as the Kleisli category of this monad.

引用

@article{arxiv.2606.28291,
  title  = {Composing Quantum Instruments},
  author = {Robert I. Booth and Dominik Leichtle and Alex Rice and Kim Worrall},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2606.28291},
  year   = {2026}
}

评论

Independent work "The quantum instrument monad" by Tobias Fritz develops a closely related construction in the Schrödinger picture. The two works provide complementary Schrödinger- and Heisenberg-picture formulations