A Multi-Channel Representation for images on quantum computers using the RGBα color space

A Multi-Channel Representation for Quantum Image (MCRQI) is proposed to facilitate the further image processing tasks based on the Flexible Representation for Quantum Image (FRQI). Channel Swapping Operation, One Channel Operation, are proposed as basic image processing operations on MCRQI representation. The simulation experiment results on classical computer show that the channel information of R G B (color) and α (transparency) can be carried easily on quantum computer by employing three qubits to represent the color space, and also indicate that this MCRQI is very flexible to realize some classic-like operations. The MCRQI provides a foundation not only express image in RGBα color space, but also to explore theoretical and practical aspects of image processing on quantum computer.