Symmetry Breaking Slows Convergence of the ADAPT Variational Quantum Eigensolver

Luke W. Bertels, Harper R. Grimsley, Sophia E. Economou, Edwin Barnes, Nicholas J. Mayhall

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The accurate treatment of molecular systems exhibiting strong electronic correlations has long been a target of quantum simulation. Strong correlation often results in symmetry-breaking of the mean-field reference, leading to Löwdin's 'symmetry dilemma'[1] whereby accuracy in the energy can be increased by breaking intrinsic symmetries of the system. We explore the impact of symmetry breaking on the performance of ADAPT-VQE using two strongly correlated systems where increasing correlation leads to spontaneous symmetry breaking of the mean-field solutions. We analyze the role that symmetry breaking in the reference states and orbital mappings of the fermionic Hamiltonians have on the performance of ADAPT-VQE. We observe that breaking symmetry has a deleterious effect on ADAPT-VQE by increasing the length of the ansatz necessary for energy convergence and exacerbating the problem of 'gradient troughs'.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings - 2023 IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering, QCE 2023
EditorsHausi Muller, Yuri Alexev, Andrea Delgado, Greg Byrd
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages94-95
Number of pages2
ISBN (Electronic)9798350343236
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023
Event4th IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering, QCE 2023 - Bellevue, United States
Duration: Sep 17 2023Sep 22 2023

Publication series

NameProceedings - 2023 IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering, QCE 2023
Volume2

Conference

Conference4th IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering, QCE 2023
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBellevue
Period09/17/2309/22/23

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