Paper: A Functional Quantum Programming Language (at LICS 2005)

Authors: Thorsten Altenkirch Jonathan Grattage

Abstract

We introduce the language QML, a functional language for quantum computations on finite types. Its design is guided by its categorical semantics: QML programs are interpreted by morphisms in the category F QC of finite quantum computations, which provides a constructive semantics of irreversible quantum computations realisable as quantum gates. QML integrates reversible and irreversible quantum computations in one language, using first order strict linear logic to make weakenings explicit. Strict programs are free from decoherence and hence preserve superpositions and entanglement -- which is essential for quantum parallelism.

BibTeX

  @InProceedings{AltenkirchGrattage-AFunctionalQuantumP,
    author = 	 {Thorsten Altenkirch and Jonathan Grattage},
    title = 	 {A Functional Quantum Programming Language},
    booktitle =  {Proceedings of the Twentieth Annual IEEE Symposium on Logic in Computer Science (LICS 2005)},
    year =	 {2005},
    month =	 {June}, 
    pages =      {249--258},
    location =   {Chicago, USA}, 
    publisher =	 {IEEE Computer Society Press}
  }