Spectral Signatures of Prime Factorization

TL;DR

The paper introduces a quantum-based method for factoring integers using a specialized quantum device and measurements.

Contribution

A novel quantum protocol for integer factorization using a single-purpose quantum device and decoupling preparation cost from computation.

Findings

Factorization of integers N ≤ Λ requires I quantum measurements, where I is the number of prime factors.

Device initialization can be efficiently implemented on a quantum computer in d steps.

The method involves solving ~2d differential equations for device construction.

Abstract

We present a protocol for integer factorization for all integers N below a certain cut-off Λ=2d, grounded in the theory of quantum measurement. In this framework, the factorization of an integer N≤Λ is achieved in a number of steps equal to the total number I of primes present in its factorization; explicitly, the procedure consists of a sequence of I quantum measurements. The method requires a single-purpose quantum device designed to perform measurements of an observable with a prescribed spectrum. Crucially, the construction of this device involves solving, once and for all, a set of approximately 2d differential equations, independently of the specific integer to be factorized. We argue that the initialization task of this device can be efficiently implemented on a quantum computer in d steps, thereby decoupling the computational cost of device preparation from the factorization process itself.

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