An index theorem for split-step quantum walks

Abstract

Split-step quantum walks are models of supersymmetric quantum walk, and thus their Witten indices can be defined. We prove that the Witten index of a split-step quantum walk coincides with the difference between the winding numbers of functions corresponding to the right-limit of coins and the left-limit of coins. As a corollary, we give an alternative derivation of the index formula for split-step quantum walks, which is recently obtained by Suzuki and Tanaka.