Simulated Quantum Annealing

B. Heim¹, T. F. Ronnow¹, S.V. Isakov², and M. Troyer¹    

1: Theoretische Physik, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
2: Google, Brandschenkestrasse 110, 8002 Zurich, Switzerland  
 

Recent achievements in various fields allow to build increasingly better quantum annealing devices. With the possibility to build such devices, a proper understanding of methods to simulate quantum annealing becomes indispensible. Classical computer simulations can be a useful tool to identify not only problem classes that profit from quantum effects but also give directions on which architecture optimally suits a certain type of problem.

Our extensive study of simulated quantum annealing on lsing spin glasses shows the importance of minimizing any numerical error as numerical artifacts can alter the indicated asymptotic behavior.