Quantum optimal control with quantum computers: an hybrid algorithm featuring machine learning optimization

Understand

We develop an hybrid quantum-classical algorithm to solve an optimal population transfer problem for a molecule subject to a laser pulse.

• The evolution of the molecular wavefunction under the laser pulse is simulated on a quantum computer, while the optimal pulse is iteratively shaped via a machine learning (evolutionary) algorithm.
• A method to encode on the quantum computer the n-electrons wavefunction is discussed, the circuits accomplishing its quantum simulation are derived and the scalability in terms of number of operations is discussed.
• Performance on Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum devices (IBM Q X2) is provided to assess the current technological gap.