Researchers Tushti Patel and V. S. Prasannaa, affiliated with the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali, have extended a well-known quantum algorithm to a new framework, potentially offering advantages for certain applications in the energy sector, particularly in quantum chemistry.
The Harrow-Hassidim-Lloyd (HHL) algorithm, originally designed for qubits, has been adapted by Patel and Prasannaa to work with qutrits, a type of quantum bit that can hold three states instead of two. This extension, termed “qutrit HHL,” has been successfully implemented and tested on simple matrices, with results matching expected outcomes. The researchers also applied the algorithm to quantum chemistry, specifically to calculate the potential energy curve of the hydrogen molecule in a specific basis.
One of the key findings of this research is that, for a fixed precision, the qutrit HHL circuit requires fewer qudits (the general term for quantum bits, including qubits and qutrits) and a comparable number of two-qudit gates than its qubit counterpart. This could lead to more efficient quantum computations in certain scenarios.
The practical applications of this research for the energy sector lie primarily in the field of quantum chemistry. Quantum algorithms like HHL can be used to simulate molecular and chemical processes, which are crucial for developing new materials and understanding complex reactions. For instance, understanding the potential energy curve of a molecule like hydrogen can aid in the development of more efficient energy storage solutions, such as hydrogen fuel cells.
The research was published in the journal Physical Review A, a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the American Physical Society. While the work is still in its early stages and further research is needed to fully realize its potential, it represents a promising step towards more efficient quantum computations in the energy sector.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.