Quantum computers to test fundamental physics or viceversa

TL;DR

This paper explores how quantum computers can serve as experimental tools for testing fundamental quantum mechanics principles and as benchmarks for NISQ devices, using algorithms and data from Rigetti hardware.

Contribution

It introduces algorithms for testing quantum foundations on quantum computers and demonstrates their application on real hardware, bridging fundamental physics and quantum computing benchmarking.

Findings

Algorithms for Peres and Sorkin tests implemented

Test data obtained from Rigetti hardware

Quantum devices can serve as both testbeds and benchmarks

Abstract

We present two complementary viewpoints for combining quantum computers and the foundations of quantum mechanics. On one hand, ideal devices can be used as testbeds for experimental tests of the foundations of quantum mechanics: we provide algorithms for the Peres test of the superposition principle and the Sorkin test of Born's rule. On the other hand, noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices can be benchmarked using these same tests. These are deep-quantum benchmarks based on the foundations of quantum theory itself. We present test data from Rigetti hardware.