Quantum analogue computing

Kendon, Vivien M. and Nemoto, Kae and Munro, William J. (2010) Quantum analogue computing. Philosophical Transactions A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 368 (1924). pp. 3609-3620. ISSN 1471-2962 (https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2010.0017)

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Abstract

We briefly review what a quantum computer is, what it promises to do for us and why it is so hard to build one. Among the first applications anticipated to bear fruit is the quantum simulation of quantum systems. While most quantum computation is an extension of classical digital computation, quantum simulation differs fundamentally in how the data are encoded in the quantum computer. To perform a quantum simulation, the Hilbert space of the system to be simulated is mapped directly onto the Hilbert space of the (logical) qubits in the quantum computer. This type of direct correspondence is how data are encoded in a classical analogue computer. There is no binary encoding, and increasing precision becomes exponentially costly: an extra bit of precision doubles the size of the computer. This has important consequences for both the precision and errorcorrection requirements of quantum simulation, and significant open questions remain about its practicality. It also means that the quantum version of analogue computers, continuous-variable quantum computers, becomes an equally efficient architecture for quantum simulation. Lessons from past use of classical analogue computers can help us to build better quantum simulators in future.

  • Item type:Article
    ID code:79060
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    13 August 2010
    Published
    Notes:© 2010 The Royal Society.
    Subjects:Science > Physics
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:23 Dec 2021 10:01
    Last modified:25 Apr 2024 01:25
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/79060
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