Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Continuous-time quantum hardware implementations generally lack the native capability to implement high-order terms that would facilitate efficient compilation of quantum algorithms. This limitation has, in part, motivated the development of perturbative gadgets—multi-qubit constructions used to effect a desired Hamiltonian using engineered low-energy subspaces of a larger system constructed using simpler, usually two-body, primitives. In this work, we demonstrate how a class of non-perturbative gadgets can produce high-order multi-body interactions by taking advantage of the odd–even properties of topological defect subspaces. The simplest example uses domain-wall defects in an effective Ising spin chain with linear connectivity and three-body couplings, alongside three- or five-body driving terms depending on the intended use. We demonstrate a version of a gadget which can perform an encoded bit-flip operation on a minor embedding chain, an important task to mitigate the limitations of quasi-two-dimensional (also sometimes called quasi-planar) topology. Although this will be the main focus of the paper due to conceptual simplicity, there exist systems constructed with only two-body couplings where the boundaries determine whether there are an odd or even number of defects, namely ice-like systems which may yield more complex gadget-like constructions.
Source: Quantum Science and Technology
Authors: David Headley, Nicholas Chancellor
Institution: Newcastle University
Language: English
Subfield: Artificial Intelligence
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,895
OpenAlex ID: W4416138731