Large Deviations at Level 2.5 for Markovian Open Quantum Systems: Quantum Jumps and Quantum State Diffusion

We consider quantum stochastic processes and discuss a level 2.5 large deviation formalism providing an explicit and complete characterisation of fluctuations of time-averaged quantities, in the large-time limit. We analyse two classes of quantum stochastic dynamics, within this framework. The first class consists of the quantum jump trajectories related to photon detection; the second is quantum state diffusion related to homodyne detection. For both processes, we present the level 2.5 functional starting from the corresponding quantum stochastic Schrödinger equation and we discuss connections of these functionals to optimal control theory.

Spreadability for Quantum Stochastic Processes, with an Application to Boolean Commutation Relations

In order to manage spreadability for quantum stochastic processes, we study in detail the structure of the involved monoids acting on the index-set of all integers Z , that is that generated by left and right hand-side partial shifts, the monoid of all strictly increasing maps whose range has finite complement, and finally the collection of all strictly increasing maps of Z . We show that such three monoids are strictly ordered, and the second-named one is the semidirect product between the first and the action of Z generated by the one-step shift. Even if the definition of a spreadable stochastic process is provided in terms of the invariance of the finite joint distributions under the natural action of the last monoid on the indices, we see that spreadability can be directly stated in terms of invariance with respect to the action of the first monoid. Concerning the stochastic processes involving the concrete boolean C ∗ -algebra generated by the annihilators acting on the boolean Fock space (i.e., the concrete C ∗ -algebra satisfying the boolean commutation relations), we study their spreadability directly in terms of the invariance under the monoid generated by all strictly increasing maps whose range has finite complement because, for this case, such an investigation appears more direct and manageable. Finally, we present the version of the Ryll–Nardzewski theorem for the boolean case, establishing that spreadable, exchangeable and stationary stochastic processes coincide, and describing their common structure.

Kolmogorov extension theorem for (quantum) causal modelling and general probabilistic theories

In classical physics, the Kolmogorov extension theorem lays the foundation for the theory of stochastic processes. It has been known for a long time that, in its original form, this theorem does not hold in quantum mechanics. More generally, it does not hold in any theory of stochastic processes -- classical, quantum or beyond -- that does not just describe passive observations, but allows for active interventions. Such processes form the basis of the study of causal modelling across the sciences, including in the quantum domain. To date, these frameworks have lacked a conceptual underpinning similar to that provided by Kolmogorov’s theorem for classical stochastic processes. We prove a generalized extension theorem that applies to all theories of stochastic processes, putting them on equally firm mathematical ground as their classical counterpart. Additionally, we show that quantum causal modelling and quantum stochastic processes are equivalent. This provides the correct framework for the description of experiments involving continuous control, which play a crucial role in the development of quantum technologies. Furthermore, we show that the original extension theorem follows from the generalized one in the correct limit, and elucidate how a comprehensive understanding of general stochastic processes allows one to unambiguously define the distinction between those that are classical and those that are quantum.

PT Symmetry, Non-Gaussian Path Integrals, and the Quantum Black–Scholes Equation

The Accardi–Boukas quantum Black–Scholes framework, provides a means by which one can apply the Hudson–Parthasarathy quantum stochastic calculus to problems in finance. Solutions to these equations can be modelled using nonlocal diffusion processes, via a Kramers–Moyal expansion, and this provides useful tools to understand their behaviour. In this paper we develop further links between quantum stochastic processes, and nonlocal diffusions, by inverting the question, and showing how certain nonlocal diffusions can be written as quantum stochastic processes. We then go on to show how one can use path integral formalism, and PT symmetric quantum mechanics, to build a non-Gaussian kernel function for the Accardi–Boukas quantum Black–Scholes. Behaviours observed in the real market are a natural model output, rather than something that must be deliberately included.