Quantum walk under coherence non-generating channels*

Abstract

We investigate the probability distribution of the quantum walk under coherence non-generating channels. We define a model called generalized classical walk with memory. Under certain conditions, generalized classical random walk with memory can degrade into classical random walk and classical random walk with memory. Based on its various spreading speed, the model may be a useful tool for building algorithms. Furthermore, the model may be useful for measuring the quantumness of quantum walk. The probability distributions of quantum walks are generalized classical random walks with memory under a class of coherence non-generating channels. Therefore, we can simulate classical random walk and classical random walk with memory by coherence non-generating channels. Also, we find that for another class of coherence non-generating channels, the probability distributions are influenced by the coherence in the initial state of the coin. Nevertheless, the influence degrades as the number of steps increases. Our results could be helpful to explore the relationship between coherence and quantum walk.