Quantum image processing?

• Published in: Quantum information processing Vol. 16; no. 1
• Main Author: Mastriani, Mario
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.01.2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Algorithms; Boolean algebra; Data Structures and Information Theory; Image processing; Mathematical Physics; Noise measurement; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Quantum Computing; Quantum Information Technology; Quantum Physics; Qubits (quantum computing); Representations; Spintronics; Quantum algorithms; Quantum/classical interfaces; Quantum signal processing; Quantum Boolean image processing; Quantum measurement; Quantum image processing
• ISSN: 1570-0755; 1573-1332
• DOI: 10.1007/s11128-016-1457-y

This paper presents a number of problems concerning the practical (real) implementation of the techniques known as quantum image processing. The most serious problem is the recovery of the outcomes after the quantum measurement, which will be demonstrated in this work that is equivalent to a noise measurement, and it is not considered in the literature on the subject. It is noteworthy that this is due to several factors: (1) a classical algorithm that uses Dirac’s notation and then it is coded in MATLAB does not constitute a quantum algorithm, (2) the literature emphasizes the internal representation of the image but says nothing about the classical-to-quantum and quantum-to-classical interfaces and how these are affected by decoherence, (3) the literature does not mention how to implement in a practical way (at the laboratory) these proposals internal representations, (4) given that quantum image processing works with generic qubits, this requires measurements in all axes of the Bloch sphere, logically, and (5) among others. In return, the technique known as quantum Boolean image processing is mentioned, which works with computational basis states (CBS), exclusively. This methodology allows us to avoid the problem of quantum measurement, which alters the results of the measured except in the case of CBS. Said so far is extended to quantum algorithms outside image processing too.