Quantum Fourier Transform - Definition

Definition

The quantum Fourier transform is the classical discrete Fourier transform applied to the vector of amplitudes of a quantum state. The classical (unitary) Fourier transform acts on a vector in, (x0, ..., xN−1) and maps it to the vector (y0, ..., yN−1) according to the formula:

where is a primitive Nth root of unity.

Similarly, the quantum Fourier transform acts on a quantum state and maps it to a quantum state according to the formula:

.

This can also be expressed as the map

.

Equivalently, the quantum Fourier transform can be viewed as a unitary matrix acting on quantum state vectors, where the unitary matrix is given by

F_N = \frac{1}{\sqrt{N}} \begin{bmatrix} 1&1&1&1&\cdots &1 \\ 1&\omega&\omega^2&\omega^3&\cdots&\omega^{N-1} \\ 1&\omega^2&\omega^4&\omega^6&\cdots&\omega^{2(N-1)}\\ 1&\omega^3&\omega^6&\omega^9&\cdots&\omega^{3(N-1)}\\ \vdots&\vdots&\vdots&\vdots&&\vdots\\ 1&\omega^{N-1}&\omega^{2(N-1)}&\omega^{3(N-1)}&\cdots&\omega^{(N-1)(N-1)}\\ \end{bmatrix} .

Read more about this topic:  Quantum Fourier Transform

Famous quotes containing the word definition:

    “Although there is no universal agreement as to a definition of life, its biological manifestations are generally considered to be organization, metabolism, growth, irritability, adaptation, and reproduction.”
    —The Columbia Encyclopedia, Fifth Edition, the first sentence of the article on “life” (based on wording in the First Edition, 1935)

    “Mothers often are too easily intimidated by their children’s negative reactions...When the child cries or is unhappy, the mother reads this as meaning that she is a failure. This is why it is so important for a mother to know...that the process of growing up involves by definition things that her child is not going to like. Her job is not to create a bed of roses, but to help him learn how to pick his way through the thorns.”
    —Elaine Heffner (20th century)

    “The man who knows governments most completely is he who troubles himself least about a definition which shall give their essence. Enjoying an intimate acquaintance with all their particularities in turn, he would naturally regard an abstract conception in which these were unified as a thing more misleading than enlightening.”
    —William James (1842–1910)