Digital Simulation of Topological Matter on Programmable Quantum Processors

Understand

Simulating the topological phases of matter in synthetic quantum simulators is a topic of considerable interest.

• Given the universality of digital quantum simulators, the prospect of digitally simulating exotic topological phases is greatly enhanced.
• However, it is still an open question how to realize digital quantum simulation of topological phases of matter.
• Here, using common single- and two-qubit elementary quantum gates, we propose and demonstrate an approach to design topologically protected quantum circuits on the current generation of noisy quantum processors where spin-orbital coupling and related topological matter can be digitally simulated.