Stout Smearing on a Quantum Computer

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new, resource-efficient quantum smearing method that reduces high energy mode coupling in lattice gauge theories, improving quantum simulation accuracy without extensive resource demands.

Contribution

A novel, representation-agnostic quantum smearing algorithm that decreases high energy mode coupling in lattice gauge theories, offering an alternative to resource-intensive Trotterization improvements.

Findings

Reduces coupling to high energy modes in $D_4$ gauge theory

Requires fewer resources than improved Trotter formulas

Enhances accuracy of quantum simulations in lattice field theory

Abstract

Smearing of gauge-field configurations in lattice field theory improves the results of lattice simulations by suppressing high energy modes from correlation functions. In quantum simulations, high kinetic energy eigenstates are introduced when the time evolution operator is approximated such as Trotterization. While improved Trotter product formulae exist to reduce the errors, they have diminishing accuracy returns with respect to resource costs. Therefore having an algorithm that has fewer resources than an improved Trotter formula is desirable. In this work I develop a representation agnostic method for quantum smearing and show that it reduces the coupling to high energy modes in the discrete nonabelian gauge theory $D_4$