Matchgates and classical simulation of quantum circuits

Let G(A,B) denote the 2-qubit gate which acts as the 1-qubit SU(2) gates A and B in the even and odd parity subspaces respectively, of two qubits. Using a Clifford algebra formalism we show that arbitrary uniform families of circuits of these gates, restricted to act only on nearest neighbour (n.n.) qubit lines, can be classically efficiently simulated. This reproduces a result originally proved by Valiant using his matchgate formalism, and subsequently related by others to free fermionic physics. We further show that if the n.n. condition is slightly relaxed, to allowing the same gates to act only on n.n. and next-n.n. qubit lines, then the resulting circuits can efficiently perform universal quantum computation. From this point of view, the gap between efficient classical and quantum computational power is bridged by a very modest use of a seemingly innocuous resource (qubit swapping). We also extend the simulation result above in various ways. In particular, by exploiting properties of Clifford operations in conjunction with the Jordan-Wigner representation of a Clifford algebra, we show how one may generalise the simulation result above to provide further classes of classically efficiently simulatable quantum circuits, which we call Gaussian quantum circuits.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figure

Quantum Circuits and Spin(3n) Groups

All quantum gates with one and two qubits may be described by elements of $Spin$ groups due to isomorphisms $Spin(3) \simeq SU(2)$ and $Spin(6) \simeq SU(4)$. However, the group of $n$-qubit gates $SU(2^n)$ for $n > 2$ has bigger dimension than $Spin(3n)$. A quantum circuit with one- and two-qubit gates may be used for construction of arbitrary unitary transformation $SU(2^n)$. Analogously, the `$Spin(3n)$ circuits' are introduced in this work as products of elements associated with one- and two-qubit gates with respect to the above-mentioned isomorphisms. The matrix tensor product implementation of the $Spin(3n)$ group together with relevant models by usual quantum circuits with $2n$ qubits are investigated in such a framework. A certain resemblance with well-known sets of non-universal quantum gates e.g., matchgates, noninteracting-fermion quantum circuits) related with $Spin(2n)$ may be found in presented approach. Finally, a possibility of the classical simulation of such circuits in polynomial time is discussed.Comment: v1. REVTeX 4-1, 2 columns, 10 pages, no figures, v3. extended, LaTeX2e, 1 col., 23+2 pages, v4. typos, accepted for publicatio

Cloud-Assisted Contracted Simulation of Quantum Chains

The work discusses validation of properties of quantum circuits with many qubits using non-universal set of quantum gates ensuring possibility of effective simulation on classical computer. An understanding analogy between different models of quantum chains is suggested for clarification. An example with IBM Q Experience cloud platform and Qiskit framework is discussed finally.Comment: REVTeX4-1, 6 pages, 6 figures, v2: minor updat

Holographic Algorithms Beyond Matchgates

Holographic algorithms introduced by Valiant are composed of two ingredients: matchgates, which are gadgets realizing local constraint functions by weighted planar perfect matchings, and holographic reductions, which show equivalences among problems with different descriptions via certain basis transformations. In this paper, we replace matchgates in the paradigm above by the affine type and the product type constraint functions, which are known to be tractable in general (not necessarily planar) graphs. More specifically, we present polynomial-time algorithms to decide if a given counting problem has a holographic reduction to another problem defined by the affine or product-type functions. Our algorithms also find a holographic transformation when one exists. We further present polynomial-time algorithms of the same decision and search problems for symmetric functions, where the complexity is measured in terms of the (exponentially more) succinct representations. The algorithm for the symmetric case also shows that the recent dichotomy theorem for Holant problems with symmetric constraints is efficiently decidable. Our proof techniques are mainly algebraic, e.g., using stabilizers and orbits of group actions.Comment: Inf. Comput., to appear. Author accepted manuscrip