Nearly optimal lattice simulation by product formulas

TitleNearly optimal lattice simulation by product formulas
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsChilds, AM, Su, Y
JournalPhys. Rev. Lett.
Volume123
Issue050503
Date Published12/17/2019
Abstract

Product formulas provide a straightforward yet surprisingly efficient approach to quantum simulation. We show that this algorithm can simulate an n-qubit Hamiltonian with nearest-neighbor interactions evolving for time t using only (nt)1+o(1) gates. While it is reasonable to expect this complexity---in particular, this was claimed without rigorous justification by Jordan, Lee, and Preskill---we are not aware of a straightforward proof. Our approach is based on an analysis of the local error structure of product formulas, as introduced by Descombes and Thalhammer and significantly simplified here. We prove error bounds for canonical product formulas, which include well-known constructions such as the Lie-Trotter-Suzuki formulas. We also develop a local error representation for time-dependent Hamiltonian simulation, and we discuss generalizations to periodic boundary conditions, constant-range interactions, and higher dimensions. Combined with a previous lower bound, our result implies that product formulas can simulate lattice Hamiltonians with nearly optimal gate complexity.

URLhttps://arxiv.org/abs/1901.00564
DOI10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.050503