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Quantum Channels on Graphs: A Resonant Tunneling Perspective

Giuseppe Catalano1,*, Farzad Kianvash2, and Vittorio Giovannetti1

  • *Contact author: giuseppe.catalano@sns.it
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Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 140202 – Published 30 September, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/21c5-cvnn

Abstract

Quantum transport on structured networks is strongly influenced by interference effects, which can dramatically modify how information propagates through a system. We develop a quantum-information-theoretic framework for scattering on graphs in which a full network of connected scattering sites is treated as a quantum channel linking designated input and output ports. Using the Redheffer star product to construct global scattering matrices from local ones, we identify resonant concatenation, a nonlinear composition rule generated by internal back reflections. In contrast to ordinary channel concatenation, resonant concatenation can suppress noise and even produce superactivation of the quantum capacity, yielding positive capacity in configurations where each constituent channel individually has zero capacity. We illustrate these effects through models exhibiting resonant-tunneling-enhanced transport. Our approach provides a general methodology for analyzing coherent information flow in quantum graphs, with relevance for quantum communication, control, and simulation in structured environments.

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Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 140202– Published 30 September, 2026
  • Received 12 February 2026
  • Accepted 8 September 2026
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.

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