Probing Geometric Excitations of Fractional Quantum Hall States on Quantum Computers

Intermediate-scale quantum technologies provide new opportunities for scientific discovery, yet they also pose the challenge of identifying suitable problems that can take advantage of such devices in spite of their present-day limitations. In solid-state materials, fractional quantum Hall phases continue to attract attention as hosts of emergent geometrical excitations analogous to gravitons, resulting from the nonperturbative interactions between the electrons. However, the direct observation of such excitations remains a challenge. Here, we identify a quasi-one-dimensional model that captures the geometric properties and graviton dynamics of fractional quantum Hall states. We then simulate geometric quench and the subsequent graviton dynamics on the IBM quantum computer using an optimally compiled Trotter circuit with bespoke error mitigation. Moreover, we develop an efficient, optimal-control-based variational quantum algorithm that can efficiently simulate graviton dynamics in larger systems. Our results open a new avenue for studying the emergence of gravitons in a new class of tractable models on the existing quantum hardware.

Automated summary

This article introduces a method to study the geometric properties and graviton dynamics of fractional quantum Hall states using intermediate-scale quantum technologies. The authors simulate geometric quench and graviton dynamics on the IBM quantum computer and develop an efficient variational quantum algorithm for simulating graviton dynamics in larger systems.