Exploration of Quantum Computing for Fusion Energy Science Applications*

Quantum computing promises to deliver large gains in computational power that can potentially benefit a number of Fusion Energy Science (FES) application areas. We review our recent efforts [1] to develop and extend quantum algorithms to perform both classical and quantum FES-relevant calculations, as well as to perform calculations on present-day quantum hardware platforms. We have developed and explored quantum algorithms that can: simulate the Liouville equation, even for nonlinear and non-Hamiltonian dynamics; perform eigenvalue estimation for generalized eigenvalue problems common in plasma physics and MHD theory; simulate nonlinear wave-wave interactions; and explore chaotic quantum and classical dynamics. We have implemented toy models of these algorithms on state-of-the-art quantum computing architectures to test the fidelity of emerging quantum hardware capabilities, including: nonlinear three-wave interactions, Grover’s search, and the chaotic dynamics of the quantum sawtooth map. The fidelity of the experimental results match noise models that include decay and dephasing processes and highlights key differences between state-of-the-art approaches to quantum computing hardware platforms.

[1] I. Joseph, Y. Shi, M. D. Porter, et al., Phys. Plasmas 30, 010501 (2023).



*LLNL-ABS-851679 was prepared by LLNL for U.S. DOE under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.