Demonstration of hardware efficient photonic variational quantum algorithm
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Quantum computing has changed the paradigm of computer science, where quantum technologies have promised to outperform classical ones. Such an advantage was only demonstrated for tasks with no application or out of reach for the state-of-the-art quantum technologies. In this context, a promising strategy to find practical use of quantum computers exploits hybrid models, where a quantum device estimates a hard-to-compute quantity, while a classical optimizer trains the parameters. In this work, we demonstrate that single photons and linear optical networks are sufficient for implementing variational quantum algorithms, when the problem specification (ansatz) is tailored to this specific platform. We show this by a proof-of-principle demonstration to tackle an instance of a factorization task, whose solution is encoded in the ground state of a suitable Hamiltonian. This work, which combines Variational Quantum Algorithms with hardware efficient ansätze for linear optics, showcases a promising pathway toward practical applications for photonic quantum platforms.
Source: Physical Review Research
DOI: 10.1103/d7bb-ybfh
Institutions: University of Vienna, Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, Emergency Medical Service Vienna, Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie, National Research Council, Politecnico di Milano, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, Austrian Academy of Sciences
Language: English
Subfield: Artificial Intelligence
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,625
Funders: Österreichische Nationalstiftung für Forschung, Technologie und Entwicklung, European Commission, Austrian Science Fund, Eusko Jaurlaritza, Christian Doppler Forschungsgesellschaft, QuantERA, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, European Regional Development Fund, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, HORIZON EUROPE Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Awards: G1622782223, G3480869486, G3777708657, G3861891927, G4157035715, G434337789, Electronic-photonic integrated quantum simulator platform, Applications and Hardware for Photonic Quantum Information Processing, G575169067, QuantERA II ERA-NET Cofund in Quantum Technologies, European Photonic Quantum Computer, G6125537131, G6293336981, G6552004136, G6604905309, G67347242, G7084143925, G7387838714, G8953647516, G9000088536, G9000211306
OpenAlex ID: W4414957387