Communicating quantum processes

Gay, S.J. and Nagarajan, R. (2005) Communicating quantum processes. In: Proceedings of the 32nd ACM SIGACT-SIGPLAN Symposium on Principles of Programming Languages, Long Beach, California, USA, 12-14 January 2005, pp. 145-157. ISBN 158113830X (doi: 10.1145/1040305.1040318)

Abstract

We define a language CQP (Communicating Quantum Processes) for modelling systems which combine quantum and classical communication and computation. CQP combines the communication primitives of the pi-calculus with primitives for measurement and transformation of quantum state; in particular, quantum bits (qubits) can be transmitted from process to process along communication channels. CQP has a static type system which classifies channels, distinguishes between quantum and classical data, and controls the use of quantum state. We formally define the syntax, operational semantics and type system of CQP, prove that the semantics preserves typing, and prove that typing guarantees that each qubit is owned by a unique process within a system. We illustrate CQP by defining models of several quantum communication systems, and outline our plans for using CQP as the foundation for formal analysis and verification of combined quantum and classical systems.

• Item Type: Conference Proceedings
• Additional Information: © ACM, 2005. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of ACM for your personal use. Not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Proceedings of the 32nd ACM SIGACT-SIGPLAN Symposium on Principles of Programming Languages http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/1040305.1040318
• Keywords: Formal language, quantum communication, quantum computing, semantics, types, verification.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gay, Professor Simon
• Authors: Gay, S.J., and Nagarajan, R.
• Subjects: Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA75 Electronic computers. Computer science
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Computing Science
• Publisher: ACM Press
• ISSN: 0362-1340
• ISBN: 158113830X
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2005 ACM Press
• First Published: First published in Proceedings of the 32nd ACM SIGACT-SIGPLAN Symposium on Principles of Programming Languages
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced with the permission of the publisher