Masters Theses
Abstract
"Quantum Logic, born of the attempts of J. von Neumann, P. Jordan, E. Wigner, and G. Birkhoff, to provide an axiomatic foundation for quantum mechanics, has lately been a subject of significant interest for its computing potential. Most recently, efforts in quantum computation, to resolve dilemmas created by uncertainties, have focused on increasing the efficiency of search and factorization algorithms.
We suggest an addition to this list of information-theoretic applications of quantum mechanics -- the use of the logical paradigm underlying the theory of quantum mechanics for representing uncertainty, and devising computation strategies for problems in risk assessment. The examples we present specifically address risk issues involved in the transport of nuclear weapons. Our results indicate that for some classes of problems, certain quantum logic representations of uncertainty are exponentially more compact than the corresponding Boolean logic representations. For a subclass of these problems, the gain in compactness comes at the loss of some information. Interestingly, this result is very similar to a tradeoff involved in the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm to solve the Deutsch problem in quantum computing. For another subclass of these problems, none of the given information is lost!
The benefits of our work in knowledge representation using quantum logic can be realized even without the existence of any quantum mechanical computing device. Our work suggests that the theory of quantum mechanics has a practical applicability and usefulness that goes beyond analyzing quantum mechanical systems or quantum mechanical devices"--Abstract, page iii.
Advisor(s)
Wunsch, Donald C.
Committee Member(s)
Insall, Matt
Parris, Paul Ernest, 1954-
Department(s)
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Degree Name
M.S. in Electrical Engineering
Publisher
University of Missouri--Rolla
Publication Date
Summer 2001
Pagination
vi, 37 pages
Note about bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 33-36).
Rights
© 2001 Amit Agarwal, All rights reserved.
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted Access
File Type
text
Language
English
Subject Headings
Quantum logic
Thesis Number
T 7950
Print OCLC #
48270089
Recommended Citation
Agarwal, Amit, "Representation of uncertainty with quantum logic formulations" (2001). Masters Theses. 2075.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/2075
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