Abstract:
In this paper we show that one qubit polynomial time computations are at least as powerful as $\NC^1$ circuits. More precisely, we define syntactic models for quantum and stochastic branching programs of bounded width and prove upper and lower bounds on their power. We show any $\NC^1$ language can be accepted exactly by a width-$2$ quantum branching program of polynomial length, in contrast to the classical case where width $5$ is necessary unless $\NC^1=\ACC$. This separates width-$2$ quantum programs from width-$2$ doubly stochastic programs as we show the latter cannot compute the middle bit of multiplication. Finally, we show that bounded-width quantum and stochastic programs can be simulated by classical programs of larger but bounded width, and thus are in $\NC^1$. The main change over the original paper is the addition of the syntactic restriction.

Abstract:
We prove upper and lower bounds on the power of quantum and stochastic branching programs of bounded width. We show any NC^1 language can be accepted exactly by a width-2 quantum branching program of polynomial length, in contrast to the classical case where width 5 is necessary unless \NC^1=\ACC. This separates width-2 quantum programs from width-2 doubly stochastic programs as we show the latter cannot compute the middle bit of multiplication. Finally, we show that bounded-width quantum and stochastic programs can be simulated by classical programs of larger but bounded width, and thus are in \NC^1.