Perfect state transfer in quantum walks on orientable maps

A discrete-time quantum walk is the quantum analogue of a Markov chain on a graph. We show that the evolution of a general discrete-time quantum walk that consists of two reflections satisfies a Chebyshev recurrence, under a projection. We apply this to study perfect state transfer in a model of discrete-time quantum walk whose transition matrix is given by two reflections, defined by the face and vertex incidence relations of a graph embedded in an orientable surface, proposed by Zhan [J. Algebraic Combin. 53(4):1187–1213, 2020]. For this model, called the vertex-face walk, we prove results about perfect state transfer and periodicity and give infinite families of examples where these occur. In doing so, we bring together tools from algebraic and topological graph theory to analyze the evolution of this walk.