Simulations of frustrated Ising Hamiltonians using quantum approximate optimization.

Novel magnetic materials are important for future technological advances. Theoretical and numerical calculations of ground-state properties are essential in understanding these materials, however, computational complexity limits conventional methods for studying these states. Here we investigate an alternative approach to preparing materials ground states using the quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA) on near-term quantum computers.

Scaling quantum approximate optimization on near-term hardware.

The quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA) is an approach for near-term quantum computers to potentially demonstrate computational advantage in solving combinatorial optimization problems. However, the viability of the QAOA depends on how its performance and resource requirements scale with problem size and complexity for realistic hardware implementations. Here, we quantify scaling of the expected resource requirements by synthesizing optimized circuits for hardware architectures with varying levels of connectivity.

Multi-angle quantum approximate optimization algorithm.

The quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA) generates an approximate solution to combinatorial optimization problems using a variational ansatz circuit defined by parameterized layers of quantum evolution. In theory, the approximation improves with increasing ansatz depth but gate noise and circuit complexity undermine performance in practice. Here, we investigate a multi-angle ansatz for QAOA that reduces circuit depth and improves the approximation ratio by increasing the number of classical parameters.

Asymmetric temperature equilibration with heat flow from cold to hot in a quantum thermodynamic system.

A model computational quantum thermodynamic network is constructed with two variable temperature baths coupled by a linker system, with an asymmetry in the coupling of the linker to the two baths. It is found in computational simulations that the baths come to "thermal equilibrium" at different bath energies and temperatures. In a sense, heat is observed to flow from cold to hot.

Simulating quantum thermodynamics of a finite system and bath with variable temperature.

We construct a finite bath with variable temperature for quantum thermodynamic simulations in which heat flows between a system S and the bath environment E in time evolution of an initial SE pure state. The bath consists of harmonic oscillators that are not necessarily identical. Baths of various numbers of oscillators are considered; a bath with five oscillators is used in the simulations.

Quantum Microcanonical Entropy, Boltzmann's Equation, and the Second Law.

A recent proposal for a quantum entropy S for a pure state of a system-environment "universe" is developed to encompass a much more realistic temperature bath. Microcanonical entropy is formulated in the context of the idea of a quantum microcanonical shell. The fundamental relation that holds for the classical microcanonical ensemble - TΔ S = Δ F is tested for the quantum entropy Δ S in numerical simulations.