Factoring Discrete Quantum Walks on Distance Regular Graphs into Continuous Quantum Walks

Abstract

We consider a discrete-time quantum walk, called the Grover walk, on a distance regular graph $X$. Given that $X$ has diameter $d$ and invertible adjacency matrix, we show that the square of the transition matrix of the Grover walk on $X$ is a product of at most $d$ commuting transition matrices of continuous-time quantum walks, each on some distance digraph of the line digraph of $X$. We also obtain a similar factorization for any graph $X$ in a Bose Mesner algebra.