Quantum combing
pp. 159-174
in: Rossella Lupacchini, Giovanna Corsi (eds), Deduction, computation, experiment, Berlin, Springer, 2008Abstract
Leading idea of this note is to argue that quantum information manipulation tools may allow us to explore much wider fields than mere computation, reaching beyond its boundaries to touch the very roots of the universal structure of languages. The paper is mostly conjectural and touches just the few technical details necessary to pursue the general argument, because its main aim is simply to show how a complex blend of notions coming from formal language theory, finite group theory, and quantum computation theory can lead to new views. As working study-case the problem of combing finite groups will be dealt with, which bridges language theoretical issues with structural and algorithmic issues.