Generalized unitary coupled cluster excitations for multireference molecular states optimized by the variational quantum eigensolver

The variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) algorithm, designed to calculate the energy of molecular ground states on near-term quantum computers, requires specification of symmetries that describe the system, for example, spin state and number of electrons. This opens the possibility of using VQE to obtain excited states as the lowest-energy solutions of a given set of symmetries. In this paper, the performances of various unitary coupled cluster (UCC) ansatze applied to VQE calculations on excited states are investigated using quantum circuits designed to represent single reference and multireference wavefunctions to calculate energy curves with respect to variations in the molecular geometry. These ansatze include standard Unitary Coupled Cluster Singles and Doubles (UCCSD), as well as modified versions of Unitary Coupled Cluster Generalized Singles and Doubles (UCCGSD) and k-UpCCGSD, which are engineered to tackle excited states without undesired spin symmetry crossover to lower states during VQE optimization. These studies are carried out on a range of systems, including H-2, H-3, H-4, NH, OH+, CH2, and NH2+, covering examples of spin singlet, doublet, and triplet molecular ground states with single and multireference excited states. In most cases, our calculations are in excellent agreement with results from full-configuration interaction calculations on classical machines, thus showing that the VQE algorithm is capable of calculating the lowest excited state at a certain symmetry, including multireference closed- and open-shell states, by setting appropriate restrictions on the excitations considered in the cluster operator and appropriate constraints in the qubit register encoding the starting mean field state.

Automated summary

The VQE algorithm is capable of calculating the lowest excited state at a certain symmetry, including both single and multireference excited states. The study investigated various UCC ansatze applied to VQE calculations on excited states, showing excellent agreement with results from classical machines.