English

Path Integration on a Quantum Computer

Quantum Physics 2007-05-23 v2

Abstract

We study path integration on a quantum computer that performs quantum summation. We assume that the measure of path integration is Gaussian, with the eigenvalues of its covariance operator of order j^{-k} with k>1. For the Wiener measure occurring in many applications we have k=2. We want to compute an \e\e-approximation to path integrals whose integrands are at least Lipschitz. We prove: 1. Path integration on a quantum computer is tractable. 2. Path integration on a quantum computer can be solved roughly \e1\e^{-1} times faster than on a classical computer using randomization, and exponentially faster than on a classical computer with a worst case assurance. 3.The number of quantum queries is the square root of the number of function values needed on a classical computer using randomization. More precisely, the number of quantum queries is at most 4.22\e14.22 \e^{-1}. Furthermore, a lower bound is obtained for the minimal number of quantum queries which shows that this bound cannot be significantly improved. 4.The number of qubits is polynomial in \e1\e^{-1}. Furthermore, for the Wiener measure the degree is 2 for Lipschitz functions, and the degree is 1 for smoother integrands.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0109113,
  title  = {Path Integration on a Quantum Computer},
  author = {J. F. Traub and H. Wozniakowski},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0109113},
  year   = {2007}
}

Comments

24 pages; Revision of 9/2/02 includes a query lower bound and the upper bound of $4.22 \e^{-1}$ to compute an $\e$-approximation to a path integral