[Paper Review] Opportunities for Nuclear Physics & Quantum Information Science

Ian C. Cloët, Matthew R. Dietrich+24 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|Mar 13, 2019

Scientific Computing and Data Management15 citations

TL;DR

This whitepaper identifies five strategic research opportunities at the intersection of nuclear physics (NP) and quantum information science (QIS), proposing collaborative efforts to leverage quantum computing, quantum simulation, and quantum sensing for solving intractable NP problems—particularly the nuclear many-body problem and lattice gauge theories—while advancing QIS through NP-driven theoretical and technological innovation.

ABSTRACT

This whitepaper is an outcome of the workshop Intersections between Nuclear Physics and Quantum Information held at Argonne National Laboratory on 28-30 March 2018 [www.phy.anl.gov/npqi2018/]. The workshop brought together 116 national and international experts in nuclear physics and quantum information science to explore opportunities for the two fields to collaborate on topics of interest to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics, and more broadly to U.S. society and industry. The workshop consisted of 22 invited and 10 contributed talks, as well as three panel discussion sessions. Topics discussed included quantum computation, quantum simulation, quantum sensing, nuclear physics detectors, nuclear many-body problem, entanglement at collider energies, and lattice gauge theories.

Motivation & Objective

• .
• To foster collaboration between nuclear physics and quantum information science communities to address fundamental NP problems using quantum technologies.
• To develop new theoretical frameworks that apply quantum algorithms and QIS concepts to nuclear many-body systems and quantum chromodynamics.
• To support the development of quantum sensors and other QIS technologies with direct applications in nuclear physics experiments.
• To train a new generation of researchers skilled in both nuclear physics and quantum information science through targeted funding of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.

Proposed method

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• Proposes a theory-driven approach to adapt digital quantum computers and quantum simulators for simulating gauge field theories and many-body systems in nuclear physics.
• Advocates for the use of variational quantum algorithms and error-resilient protocols to simulate quantum field theories on near-term noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices.
• Recommends leveraging existing nuclear physics infrastructure—such as superconducting technologies, microfabrication, and isotope programs—for quantum sensor and qubit development.
• Encourages the use of quantum simulation platforms (e.g., trapped ions, ultracold atoms, superconducting circuits) to model strongly correlated nuclear systems and lattice gauge theories.
• Promotes the integration of quantum sensing techniques—such as NV centers and atomic spectroscopy—for high-precision detection of electric dipole moments and field dynamics.
• Calls for interdisciplinary workforce development through joint training programs and collaborative grants between national labs, universities, and industry.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 .
• RQ2 How can quantum computing be used to simulate quantum chromodynamics and lattice gauge theories that are intractable with classical methods?
• RQ3 What quantum algorithms and error mitigation strategies are most effective for simulating nuclear many-body systems on NISQ-era quantum processors?
• RQ4 How can quantum sensors based on atomic or solid-state systems improve the detection of fundamental symmetries, such as electric dipole moments, in nuclear physics experiments?
• RQ5 What theoretical frameworks can unify insights from quantum information science with the structure and dynamics of hadronic and nuclear systems?
• RQ6 How can existing nuclear physics infrastructure be repurposed to accelerate the development of quantum technologies?

Key findings

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• Quantum simulation of lattice gauge theories, such as the Schwinger model, has already been demonstrated on small-scale quantum processors, validating the feasibility of this approach.
• Variational quantum algorithms have shown promise in computing ground states and excitation spectra of few-body nuclear systems on current quantum hardware.
• Quantum sensors based on nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond can achieve magnetic field resolution below the standard quantum limit, enabling high-precision detection of weak nuclear signals.
• Entanglement in high-energy collisions, such as those at the LHC, may be probed through quantum field theory models, suggesting new avenues for experimental validation.
• Collaborative efforts between nuclear physicists and quantum information scientists can accelerate the development of fault-tolerant quantum computing by providing physically relevant testbeds for quantum algorithms.
• The integration of quantum computing and nuclear theory can lead to new insights into the nuclear many-body problem, including the emergence of collective behavior and phase transitions.