Quantum computational simulation to calculate the deuteron binding energy

Abstract

This paper in a nutshell, introduces quantum computational techniques used in nuclear physics to provide us with a new path forward in the exploration of many-body systems that are of central importance to nuclear physics, such as the deuteron (the simplest case of a many body system). The purpose of this paper is to bind QC algorithms with calculations based on complex nuclei, which unravel important details about the properties of matter, and formation of heavy elements. This research approaches towards low-energy nuclear many-body problems by simulating the lightest of complex nuclei, the deuteron, and by applying the VQE algorithm (quantum algorithm to find ground state energy) we generate binding energies of the deuteron accurate to a reasonable error. This research direction leads us to a better understanding of how quantum computation and information could be applied to a range of light nuclei, using QC hardware that is expected to be available during the immediate next few years. Another feature of this research is that it also explores the presently available quantum computers at IBM called the IBM Q-Experience (Q-X), which can be accessed remotely via the web and can serve to facilitate many quantum computational experiments. This research proves how useful a tool the IBM Q-X is to devise new quantum algorithms and test them for nuclear physics as well as other diverse fields of physics.