Public Abstract

DE-SC0020264: Quantum algorithms for fusion-plasma dynamics

Award Status: Active

Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
UEI: E2NYLCDML6V1
DUNS: 001425594

Most Recent Award Date: 07/24/2024
Number of Support Periods: 5
PM: Akli, Kramer

Current Budget Period: 09/01/2024 - 08/31/2025
Current Project Period: 09/01/2023 - 08/31/2026
PI: Loureiro, Nuno

Supplement Budget Period: N/A

Public Abstract

Quantum algorithms for fusion-plasma dynamics N. F. Loureiro, Plasma Science and Fusion Center, MIT (Principal Investigator) P. Cappelaro, MIT (co-Investigator) H. Krovi, Riverlane (co-Investigator) Andrew Childs, University of Maryland (co-Investigator) The dynamics of fusion-relevant plasmas is intrinsically highly nonlinear. State-of-the-art numerical approaches are routinely deployed on the world’s leading super-computers in order to simulate their behavior. While this has led to enormous progress, the computational resources required are vast and, still, the simulations that can be performed often demand severe compromise on the realism of the parameters that can be probed. Quantum computers hold the potential for very significant, perhaps exponential, computational speed up. However, it is currently unclear how one would use them to solve fusion-relevant problems. This work is motivated by this question. We will continue several research directions that are ongoing and which have already led to interesting and promising results; namely, linearization of nonlinear systems of equations via the Carleman approach, matrix-product-state-based algorithms (which, as an indirect benefit, may also lead to more efficient classical algorithms), quantum algorithms for the inverse scattering transform, and quantum cellular automata for the solution of certain classes of nonlinear partial differential equations. In addition, we introduce a few novel research directions, such as the investigation of the solution of the Vlasov-Poisson system via a mapping, enabled by the Wigner transform, to the Schrödinger-Poisson system; and attempts at solving plasma eigenvalue problems (such as those posed by MHD stability) via both quantum phase estimation and variational quantum eigensolver methods. Altogether, these research directions advance the state-of-the-art for tackling the solution of nonlinear partial differential equations on quantum computers, and thus bring the scientific community closer to being able to use these novel machines for fusion-relevant research.

Quantum algorithms for fusion-plasma dynamics

N. F. Loureiro, Plasma Science and Fusion Center, MIT (Principal Investigator)

P. Cappelaro, MIT (co-Investigator)

H. Krovi, Riverlane (co-Investigator)

Andrew Childs, University of Maryland (co-Investigator)

The dynamics of fusion-relevant plasmas is intrinsically highly nonlinear. State-of-the-art numerical approaches are routinely deployed on the world’s leading super-computers in order to simulate their behavior. While this has led to enormous progress, the computational resources required are vast and, still, the simulations that can be performed often demand severe compromise on the realism of the parameters that can be probed. Quantum computers hold the potential for very significant, perhaps exponential, computational speed up. However, it is currently unclear how one would use them to solve fusion-relevant problems. This work is motivated by this question. We will continue several research directions that are ongoing and which have already led to interesting and promising results; namely, linearization of nonlinear systems of equations via the Carleman approach, matrix-product-state-based algorithms (which, as an indirect benefit, may also lead to more efficient classical algorithms), quantum algorithms for the inverse scattering transform, and quantum cellular automata for the solution of certain classes of nonlinear partial differential equations. In addition, we introduce a few novel research directions, such as the investigation of the solution of the Vlasov-Poisson system via a mapping, enabled by the Wigner transform, to the Schrödinger-Poisson system; and attempts at solving plasma eigenvalue problems (such as those posed by MHD stability) via both quantum phase estimation and variational quantum eigensolver methods. Altogether, these research directions advance the state-of-the-art for tackling the solution of nonlinear partial differential equations on quantum computers, and thus bring the scientific community closer to being able to use these novel machines for fusion-relevant research.