Open system quantum annealing in mean field models with exponential degeneracy

TL;DR

This paper proposes an open system quantum annealing algorithm optimized for realistic noisy quantum devices, demonstrating its potential to outperform classical simulated annealing in models with exponential state degeneracy.

Contribution

It introduces an open system quantum annealing approach that leverages noise-induced thermalization and incoherent tunneling, analyzing its effectiveness on mean field models with exponential degeneracy.

Findings

Finite temperature effects are crucial in models with exponential degeneracy.

The proposed algorithm can outperform simulated annealing under certain conditions.

Optimal regimes for the open system quantum annealing are identified.

Abstract

Real life quantum computers are inevitably affected by intrinsic noise resulting in dissipative non-unitary dynamics realized by these devices. We consider an open system quantum annealing algorithm optimized for a realistic analog quantum device which takes advantage of noise-induced thermalization and relies on incoherent quantum tunneling at finite temperature. We analyze the performance of this algorithm considering a p-spin model which allows for a mean field quasicalssical solution and at the same time demonstrates the 1st order phase transition and exponential degeneracy of states. We demonstrate that finite temperature effects introduced by the noise are particularly important for the dynamics in presence of the exponential degeneracy of metastable states. We determine the optimal regime of the open system quantum annealing algorithm for this model and find that it can outperform simulated annealing in a range of parameters.