Researchers at RIKEN have developed a hybrid quantum-computational algorithm that allows for efficient calculations of atomic-level interactions in complex materials, enhancing the study of condensed-matter physics and quantum chemistry. This novel approach enables smaller quantum or even classical computers to be used in quantum material research, potentially leading to groundbreaking discoveries. The algorithm is built on the foundational concept introduced by Richard Feynman in 1981, which proposed using quantum computers to better understand complex quantum systems.
Central to this innovation is the efficient implementation of time-evolution operators, which represent complex behaviors in quantum materials. Traditional methods, like Trotterization, are computationally intensive and impractical for future quantum computers due to the vast number of quantum gates required. However, the new hybrid algorithm devised by Kaoru Mizuta and colleagues optimizes this process by combining quantum and classical techniques, enabling effective reproduction of time-evolution operators with lower computational demands.
Next steps for the team involve exploring how their optimized time-evolution operators can integrate with various quantum algorithms, emphasizing the feasibility of studying quantum physics and chemistry using smaller quantum computers.
