Extending Graphical Representations for Compact Closed Categories with Applications to Symbolic Quantum Computation

Graph-based formalisms of quantum computation provide an abstract and symbolic way to represent and simulate computations. However, manual manipulation of such graphs is slow and error prone. We present a formalism, based on compact closed categories, that supports mechanised reasoning about such graphs. This gives a compositional account of graph rewriting that preserves the underlying categorical semantics. Using this representation, we describe a generic system with a fixed logical kernel that supports reasoning about models of compact closed category. A salient feature of the system is that it provides a formal and declarative account of derived results that can include `ellipses'-style notation. We illustrate the framework by instantiating it for a graphical language of quantum computation and show how this can be used to perform symbolic computation. Key words: graph rewriting, quantum computing, categorical logic, interactive theorem proving, graphical calculi.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2008
• Where: AISC
• Authors: Lucas Dixon, Ross Duncan
• Keywords: AISC 2008, Artificial Intelligence, Compact Closed Categories, Graph Rewriting, Quantum Computation