Quantum annealing for the number partitioning problem using a tunable spin glass of ions

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how a controllable trapped ion system can simulate a spin glass model without disorder, enabling quantum annealing for complex problems like number partitioning.

Contribution

It introduces a method to realize a disorder-free spin glass in trapped ions and uses it to benchmark quantum annealing strategies for hard computational problems.

Findings

Realization of a disorder-free spin glass in trapped ions.

Mapping of the problem onto number partitioning near phonon resonance.

Potential for benchmarking quantum annealing in experimentally feasible setups.

Abstract

Exploiting quantum properties to outperform classical ways of information-processing is an outstanding goal of modern physics. A promising route is quantum simulation, which aims at implementing relevant and computationally hard problems in controllable quantum systems. Here we demonstrate that in a trapped ion setup, with present day technology, it is possible to realize a spin model of the Mattis type that exhibits spin glass phases. Remarkably, our method produces the glassy behavior without the need for any disorder potential, just by controlling the detuning of the spin-phonon coupling. Applying a transverse field, the system can be used to benchmark quantum annealing strategies which aim at reaching the ground state of the spin glass starting from the paramagnetic phase. In the vicinity of a phonon resonance, the problem maps onto number partitioning, and instances which are difficult to address classically can be implemented.