Efficient quantum algorithm for simulating Hamiltonian evolution
Barry Sanders (University of Calgary)
Date: Jan 24, 2007
Time: 12:30 pm
Location: Hennings 318
There are three main applications of quantum computer
algorithms: the hidden subgroup problem (with Shor's factorization
algorithm one important example), search problems (e.g. Grover's
algorithm), and our interest here: simulation (Feynman's original
motivation for the quantum computer as a tool for efficient simulation of
quantum evolution as opposed to classical computation, which may be
exponentially expensive). We develop an efficient quantum algorithm for
simulating quantum evolution for any (unknown) Hamiltonian over any time
t. Specifically, when the Hamiltonian acts on n qubits, has at most a
constant number of nonzero entries in each row and column, and its norm is
bounded by a constant, the cost of the simulation is O(log*n t^{1+1/2k})
for k any integer. In other words the cost of the simulation is nearly
constant in n and arbitrarily close to linear in the time of evolution;
moreover we prove that an algorithm for simulating general evolution of
quantum states cannot be sublinear in t. Our results provide a firm
algorithmic foundation for studying a quantum computer, especially with
respect to assessing and optimizing the cost of the simulation. In
addition our methods may lead to improved simulations for quantum control
on classical computers.
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