The Equivalence of Schrödinger and Heisenberg Pictures in Quantum Cellular Automata

Abstract

Quantum cellular automata (QCA) are discrete models of space and time homogeneous quantum field theories (QFTs) and regarded as natural candidates for quantum simulation. Description of a QCA over the separable Hilbert space of finite, unbounded configurations (UFC Hilbert space) with unitary state evolution is the {\it Schrödinger template}, and over the incomplete infinite tensor product algebra (ITPA) with evolution by algebra automorphism is the {\it Heisenberg template}. Whether every Heisenberg template admits an equivalent Schrödinger template is a foundational question, and one that has persisted as an open problem. In the present paper we prove that for every Heisenberg template an equivalent Schrödinger template exists. We frame the question from a representation theory standpoint, using constructs and results from the representation theory of finite and countably infinite dimensional vector spaces and from category theory to answer it. With the previously known existence of a Heisenberg template for every Schrödinger template, our result establishes the equivalence of the templates.

22 pages. Includes new result showing the existence of Schrödinger template for every Heisenberg template. Revised for extended context, reorganization and some definitions