qa.quantum algebra - Quantum channels as categories: question 1.

A quantum channel is a mapping between Hilbert spaces, $Phi : L(mathcal{H}_{A}) to L(mathcal{H}_{B})$, where $L(mathcal{H}_{i})$ is the family of operators on $mathcal{H}_{i}$. In general, we are interested in CPTP maps. The operator spaces can be interpreted as $C^{*}$-algebras and thus we can also view the channel as a mapping between $C^{*}$-algebras, $Phi : mathcal{A} to mathcal{B}$. Since quantum channels can carry classical information as well, we could write such a combination as $Phi : L(mathcal{H}_{A}) otimes C(X) to L(mathcal{H}_{B})$ where $C(X)$ is the space of continuous functions on some set $X$ and is also a $C^{*}$-algebra. In other words, whether or not classical information is processed by the channel, it (the channel) is a mapping between $C^{*}$-algebras. Note, however, that these are not necessarily the same $C^{*}$-algebras. Since the channels are represented by square matrices, the input and output $C^{*}$-algebras must have the same dimension, $d$. Thus we can consider them both subsets of some $d$-dimensional $C^{*}$-algebra, $mathcal{C}$, i.e. $mathcal{A} subset mathcal{C}$ and $mathcal{B} subset mathcal{C}$. Thus a quantum channel is a mapping from $mathcal{C}$ to itself.

Proposition A quantum channel given by $t: L(mathcal{H}) to L(mathcal{H})$, together with the $d$-dimensional $C^{*}$-algebra, $mathcal{C}$, on which it acts, forms a category we call $mathrm{mathbf{Chan}}(d)$ where $mathcal{C}$ is the sole object and $t$ is the sole arrow.

Proof: Consider the quantum channels

$begin{eqnarray*}
r: L(mathcal{H}_{rho}) to L(mathcal{H}_{sigma}) &
qquad textrm{where} qquad &
sigma=sum_{i}A_{i}rho A_{i}^{dagger} \
t: L(mathcal{H}_{sigma}) to L(mathcal{H}_{tau}) &
qquad textrm{where} qquad &
tau=sum_{j}B_{j}sigma B_{j}^{dagger}
end{eqnarray*}$

where the usual properties of such channels are assumed (e.g. trace preserving, etc.). We form the composite $t circ r: L(mathcal{H}_{rho}) to L(mathcal{H}_{tau})$ where

$begin{align}
tau & = sum_{j}B_{j}left(sum_{i}A_{i}rho A_{i}^{dagger}right)B_{j}^{dagger} notag \
& = sum_{i,j}B_{j}A_{i}rho A_{i}^{dagger}B_{j}^{dagger} \
& = sum_{k}C_{k}rho C_{k}^{dagger} notag
end{align}$

and the $A_{i}$, $B_{i}$, and $C_{i}$ are Kraus operators.

Since $A$ and $B$ are summed over separate indices the trace-preserving property is maintained, i.e. $$sum_{k} C_{k}^{dagger}C_{k}=mathbf{1}.$$ For a similar methodology see Nayak and Sen (http://arxiv.org/abs/0605041).

We take the identity arrow, $1_{rho}: L(mathcal{H}_{rho}) to L(mathcal{H}_{rho})$, to be the time evolution of the state $rho$ in the absence of any channel. Since this definition is suitably general we have that $t circ 1_{A}=t=1_{B} circ t quad forall ,, t: A to B$.

Consider the three unital quantum channels $r: L(mathcal{H}_{rho}) to L(mathcal{H}_{sigma})$, $t: L(mathcal{H}_{sigma}) to L(mathcal{H}_{tau})$, and $v: L(mathcal{H}_{tau}) to L(mathcal{H}_{upsilon})$ where $sigma=sum_{i}A_{i}rho A_{i}^{dagger}$, $tau=sum_{j}B_{j}sigma B_{j}^{dagger}$, and $eta=sum_{k}C_{k}tau C_{k}^{dagger}$. We have

$begin{align}
v circ (t circ r) & = v circ left(sum_{i,j}B_{j}A_{i}rho A_{i}^{dagger}B_{j}^{dagger}right) = sum_{k}C_{k} left(sum_{i,j}B_{j}A_{i}rho A_{i}^{dagger}B_{j}^{dagger}right) C_{k}^{dagger} notag \
& = sum_{i,j,k}C_{k}B_{j}A_{i}rho A_{i}^{dagger}B_{j}^{dagger}C_{k}^{dagger} = sum_{i,j,k}C_{k}B_{j}left(A_{i}rho A_{i}^{dagger}right)B_{j}^{dagger}C_{k}^{dagger} notag \
& = left(sum_{i,j,k}C_{k}B_{j}tau B_{j}^{dagger}C_{k}^{dagger}right) circ r = (v circ t) circ r notag
end{align}$

and thus we have associativity. Note that similar arguments may be made for the inverse process of the channel if it exists (it is not necessary for the channel here to be reversible). $square$

Question 1: Am I doing the last line in the associativity argument correct and/or are there any other problems here? Is there a clearer or more concise proof? I have another question I am going to ask as a separate post about a construction I did with categories and groups that assumes the above is correct but I didn't want to post it until I made sure this is correct.