Quantum Hash Function Based on Spectral Properties of Graphs and Discrete Walker Dynamics

TL;DR

This paper introduces a quantum spectral hashing algorithm that encodes message-induced graph properties into a 256-bit fingerprint using quantum phase estimation, enhancing collision resistance and structural sensitivity.

Contribution

The novel quantum graph hashing method leverages spectral properties and superposition-based phase estimation to produce high-entropy, structurally rich hashes for messages.

Findings

Larger toroidal grids reduce hash collisions.

The algorithm is implemented in Qiskit with noise-free simulation.

Spectral features distinguish co-spectral non-isomorphic graphs.

Abstract

We present Quantum Graph Hash (QGH-256), a novel quantum spectral hashing algorithm that generates high-entropy fingerprints from message-induced graphs. Each input message is mapped to a weighted graph via a discrete random walk on an n X n toroidal grid, where the walk dynamics determine the edge weights. Quantum Phase Estimation (QPE) is then used to extract the phase spectrum of the graph Laplacian. Unlike standard QPE settings, the phase estimation is performed with respect to a superposition state (a uniform superposition over all node basis states) rather than an eigenvector, ensuring that all eigencomponents contribute to the resulting spectrum. This yields spectral features that distinguish even co-spectral but non-isomorphic message-induced graphs. The final spectral fingerprint is converted into a 256-bit digest, producing a compact representation of the input. As the fingerprint encodes both spectral and dynamical properties of the message-induced graph, the resulting hash exhibits strong sensitivity to input perturbations and provides a structurally rich foundation for post-quantum hashing. To demonstrate the feasibility of the approach, we implement QGH-256 on a 4 X 4 toroidal grid, chosen empirically: smaller grids exhibit collisions, whereas larger grids significantly increase execution time. The entire pipeline is implemented in Qiskit, and we use a seeded statevector simulator to obtain stable, noise-free results.