Modeling Fusion Atomic Processes in Quantum Computers

Fusion plasmas will require atomic data for low charge states of high-Z impurities and for thermal charge exchange rates between partially ionized impurities and fuel species in the core. Simulations of many-electron atomic systems are challenging for classical computers, but emerging quantum computing technologies offer a promising approach to such problems. Here, we develop quantum algorithms, techniques, and workflows to approach energy level calculations for ground and excited states and solve state-selective time-dependent scattering problems for excitation and ionization processes. We examine the application of variational quantum eigensolvers for calculation of ionization energies and Trotterization schemes for the time evolution of scattering problems. Simulations of quantum calculations are performed using IBM's Qiskit and Qiskit Nature. The quantum calculations will be comparable to classical atomic algorithms for the distorted wave Born approximation and the R-matrix with pseudo-states method.