Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: In the current noisy intermediate-scale quantum era, noise is widely regarded as the primary obstacle to achieving fault-tolerant quantum computation. However, certain stages of the quantum computing pipeline can, in fact, benefit from this noise. In this work, we exploit the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis to show that an O ( 1 ) number of noise occurrences can accelerate a fundamental task in quantum computing—the preparation of Gibbs states. We demonstrate this behavior using classical simulations with Haar-random and phase-flip noise, respectively, on a spin-1/2 chain with a local Hamiltonian. Our non-integrable model sees ∼ 3.5 x faster thermalization in the presence of noise, while our integrable model reaches a state that lies between a generalized Gibbs state and a Gibbs state due to noise. Since certifying a local Gibbs state is relatively easy on a quantum computer, our approach provides a new practical solution to a key problem in quantum computing. More broadly, these results establish a new paradigm in which noise can be harnessed on quantum computers, enabling practical advantages before the years of fault-tolerance.
Source: New Journal of Physics
Authors: Sameer Dambal, Yu Zhang, Eric R Bittner, Pavan Hosur
Language: English
Topic: Quantum many-body systems
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,610
OpenAlex ID: W7116048873