Output statistics of quantum annealers with disorder

TL;DR

This paper shows that the output patterns of a quantum annealer are mainly influenced by static hardware disorder, leading to a Boltzmann-like distribution that hampers the identification of optimal solutions as problem size grows.

Contribution

It reveals that static disorder in quantum annealers explains output statistics and impacts solution accuracy, providing insights into device behavior.

Findings

Output statistics follow a Boltzmann-like distribution due to disorder.

Increasing problem size reduces chances of finding optimal solutions.

Disorder significantly affects the performance of quantum annealers.

Abstract

We demonstrate that the output statistics of a quantum annealing protocol run on D-Wave 2000Q can be explained by static disorder garnishing an otherwise ideal device hardware. A Boltzmann-like distribution over distinct output states emerges with increasing problem size, and significantly reduces the chances for a correct identification of the sought-after optimal solutions.