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Practical Introduction to Benchmarking and Characterization of Quantum Computers

Rapid progress in quantum technology has transformed quantum computing and quantum information science from theoretical possibilities into tangible engineering challenges. Breakthroughs in quantum algorithms, quantum simulations, and quantum error correction are bringing useful quantum computation closer to fruition. These remarkable achievements have been facilitated by advances in quantum characterization, verification, and validation (QCVV). QCVV methods and protocols enable scientists and engineers to scrutinize, understand, and enhance the performance of quantum information-processing devices. In this tutorial, we review the fundamental principles underpinning QCVV, and introduce a diverse array of QCVV tools used by quantum researchers. We define and explain QCVV’s core models and concepts—quantum states, measurements, and processes—and illustrate how these building blocks are leveraged to examine a target system or operation. We survey and introduce protocols ranging from simple qubit characterization to advanced benchmarking methods. Along the way, we provide illustrated examples and detailed descriptions of the protocols, highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each, and discuss their potential scalability to future large-scale quantum computers. This tutorial serves as a guidebook for researchers unfamiliar with the benchmarking and characterization of quantum computers, and also as a detailed reference for experienced practitioners.

open quantum systems & decoherence↗

Final report for next generation multi-scale quantum simulation software for strongly correlated materials

The goal of this project was to develop a new formalism for the correlated electron problem, which we call, the Multi Scale Many Body formalism. This report will focus on the work done at the Louisiana State University (LSU) since the mid term report. The LSU group moved from the University of Cincinnati (UC) to LSU in the summer of 2008. In the last full year at UC, only half of the funds were received and it took nearly two years for the funds to be transferred from UC to LSU . This effectively shut down the research at LSU until the transfer was completed in 2011, there were also two no-cost extensions of the grant until August of this year. The grant ended for the other SciDAC partners at Davis and ORNL in 2011. Since the mid term report, the LSU group has published 19 papers [P1-P19] acknowledging this SciDAC, which are listed below. In addition, numerous invited talked acknowledged the SciDAC. Below, we will summarize the work at LSU since the mid-term report and mainly since funding resumed. The projects include the further development of multi-scale methods for correlated systems (1), the study of quantum criticality at finite doping in the Hubbard model (2), the description of a promising new method to study Anderson localization with a million-fold reduction of computational complexity!, the description of other projects (4), and (5) a workshop to close out the project that brought together exascale program developers (Stellar, MPI, OpenMP,...) with applications developers.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

XPRESS: eXascale PRogramming Environment and System Software

The XPRESS project is the research and development of a complete software architecture for Exascale computing. The four major R&D thrusts include: 1) an Exascale lightweight kernel operating system (LXK), based on the Kitten operating system (OS), to manage billion way hardware parallelism, management of faults and power, management of global virtual name space, and other features of future system architectures; 2) a runtime system (HPX-5), co-designed with LXK, based on the ParalleX execution model that supports dynamic resource management and task scheduling; 3) system interfaces for interoperability between the runtime system and both the OS and the runtime system (RIOS); 4) compilation strategies and systems to translate MPI and OpenMP legacy codes to a form that can be run with performance at least as good as a native code implementation. The software architecture development has been driven by performance evaluation of mini-applications developed at Department of Energy Co-Design Centers as well as ancillary in-house developed applications and benchmarks. Research on the ParalleX execution model has been driven by the development of formal semantics and model checkers for the execution model. The major components of the software architecture are: ParalleX execution model – guiding principles for co-design of components of the system stack with advances in locality management and task prioritization through introspection; HPX runtime system – support of application dynamic adaptive resource management, task scheduling, and introspective control policies; LXK operating system – lightweight kernel operating system for order-constant scalability and low/no noise to manage resources; RIOS – a realm of Exascale system operation unique in the XPRESS project that includes the relationship between the new generation of lightweight kernel operating systems and runtime system software; XPI advanced programming model – intermediate form and low-level (readable) programming interface reflecting the ParalleX model, providing a target for source-to- source high level parallel language translation, and supporting early direct programming experimentation and measurement; Performance models & metrics – providing parameters and their mutual sensitivities to guide co-design and quantify operational behavior; Legacy migration – ensuring seamless transition of legacy codes and programming methods to the future generation of ParalleX-based Exascale systems; . Experiments and evaluation – critical to determining degree of effectiveness and likelihood of ultimate success as well as guiding corrective design changes to achieve DOE objectives; and Applications – collaborations with Co-Design Centers and other mission critical codes. The exemplar implementation of the ParalleX execution model, HPX-5, has been released along with five fully ported applications (LULESH, HPCG, SSSP, WAMR, and DASHMM) and multiple microbenchmarks. Using these applications, the system architecture demonstrated dynamic load balancing through active migration, legacy code migration, and data-driven approaches to for graph-like applications. Crucially for Exascale and billion way parallelism, the needs and patterns of irregular applications in HPX-5 were addressed using local flow control rather than relying on globally synchronized data structures.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Parameterizing microphysical effects on variances and covariances of moisture and heat content using a multivariate probability density function: a study with CLUBB (tag MVCS)

Abstract. Microphysical processes, such as the formation, growth, and evaporation of precipitation, interact with variability and covariances (e.g., fluxes) in moisture and heat content. For instance, evaporation of rain may produce cold pools, which in turn may trigger fresh convection and precipitation. These effects are usually omitted or else crudely parameterized at subgrid scales in weather and climate models.A more formal approach is pursued here, based on predictive, horizontally averaged equations for the variances, covariances, and fluxes of moisture and heat content. These higher-order moment equations contain microphysical source terms. The microphysics terms can be integrated analytically, given a suitably simple warm-rain microphysics scheme and an approximate assumption about the multivariate distribution of cloud-related and precipitation-related variables. Performing the integrations provides exact expressions within an idealized context.A large-eddy simulation (LES) of a shallow precipitating cumulus case is performed here, and it indicates that the microphysical effects on (co)variances and fluxes can be large. In some budgets and altitude ranges, they are dominant terms. The analytic expressions for the integrals are implemented in a single-column, higher-order closure model. Interactive single-column simulations agree qualitatively with the LES. The analytic integrations form a parameterization of microphysical effects in their own right, and they also serve as benchmark solutions that can be compared to non-analytic integration methods.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Late-Stage Oxidation of C( sp 3 )─H Bonds with High Efficiency and Alkyl Group Dihydroxylation of Complex Molecules

Here, the late-stage oxidation of C(sp 3 )─H bonds is highly valuable for modulating the solubility and binding of bioactive compounds and for diversification of complex molecules. Undirected methods for C(sp 3 )─H oxidation are valuable for the installation of hydroxyl groups at sites remote from other functional groups present in the molecule, but existing catalysts are limited by low turnover numbers and lengthy ligand syntheses. Perfluorinated ruthenium porphyrins are highly active catalysts for the oxidation of alkyl C─H bonds, but the scope of the transformation with complex molecules under conditions of limiting substrate has not been investigated. We report that carbonylruthenium(II) tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin [Ru(TPFPP)(CO)] catalyzes the selective oxidation of tertiary C(sp 3 )─H bonds in a broad range of complex natural products and drugs, with turnover numbers as high as 1000, and the tolerance of the reaction to various functional groups was rapidly assessed by performing a model reaction in the presence of additives. We show how the combination of this undirected C(sp 3 )─H oxidation and a directed C(sp 3 )─H silylation and oxidation provides rapid access to highly oxidized, 1,2-diol derivatives of natural products by a formal dihydroxylation of an alkyl group.

Alcohols↗

Quantum spin transport through magnetic superatom dimer (Cs{sub 8}V-Cs{sub 8}V)

Theoretical studies of the spin transport through a magnetic superatom dimer (Cs{sub 8}V)-(Cs{sub 8}V) have been carried out within a density functional theory combined with nonequilibrium Green's-function formalism. It is shown that the electronic transport is sensitive to the binding site as well as the contact distance between the dimer and the electrode, and that the conductance at zero bias exhibits an oscillatory behavior as a function of the contact distance. The conductance in ferromagnetic state shows an unusually high spin polarization that exceeds 80% at large separations. The I-V curve shows negative differential resistance for specific contact distances, whose origin lies in the shift of frontier energy levels as well as the charged state of the superatom, under external bias.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Semiconductor to metal transition by tuning the location of N{sub 2}{sup AA} in armchair graphene nanoribbons

The electronic band structures and transport properties of N{sub 2}{sup AA}-doped armchair graphene nanoribbons (aGNRs) with two quasi-adjacent substitutional nitrogen atoms incorporated in pairs of neighboring carbon atoms in the same sublattice A are investigated by using non-equilibrium Green function formalism in combination with density functional theory. The results show that the coupling effect between the Pz orbitals of carbon and nitrogen atoms plays an important role in the transition between semiconductor and metal by different locations of N{sub 2}{sup AA}-doped aGNRs. And the striking negative differential resistance behaviors can be found in such devices. These tremendous properties suggest potential application of N{sub 2}{sup AA}-doped aGNRs in graphene-based nanoelectronic devices.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Variational study of fermionic and bosonic systems with non-Gaussian states: Theory and applications

We present a new variational method for investigating the ground state and out of equilibrium dynamics of quantum many-body bosonic and fermionic systems. Our approach is based on constructing variational wavefunctions which extend Gaussian states by including generalized canonical transformations between the fields. The key advantage of such states compared to simple Gaussian states is presence of non-factorizable correlations and the possibility of describing states with strong entanglement between particles. In contrast to the commonly used canonical transformations, such as the polaron or Lang–Firsov transformations, we allow parameters of the transformations to be time dependent, which extends their regions of applicability. We derive equations of motion for the parameters characterizing the states both in real and imaginary time using the differential structure of the variational manifold. The ground state can be found by following the imaginary time evolution until it converges to a steady state. Collective excitations in the system can be obtained by linearizing the real-time equations of motion in the vicinity of the imaginary time steady-state solution. Our formalism allows us not only to determine the energy spectrum of quasiparticles and their lifetime, but to obtain the complete spectral functions and to explore far out of equilibrium dynamics such as coherent evolution following a quantum quench. We illustrate and benchmark this framework with several examples: a single polaron in the Holstein and Su–Schrieffer–Heeger models, non-equilibrium dynamics in the spin-boson and Kondo models, the superconducting to charge density wave phase transitions in the Holstein model.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Quantization of systems with temporally varying discretization. II. Local evolution moves

Several quantum gravity approaches and field theory on an evolving lattice involve a discretization changing dynamics generated by evolution moves. Local evolution moves in variational discrete systems (1) are a generalization of the Pachner evolution moves of simplicial gravity models, (2) update only a small subset of the dynamical data, (3) change the number of kinematical and physical degrees of freedom, and (4) generate a dynamical (or canonical) coarse graining or refining of the underlying discretization. To systematically explore such local moves and their implications in the quantum theory, this article suitably expands the quantum formalism for global evolution moves, constructed in Paper I [P. A. Höhn, “Quantization of systems with temporally varying discretization. I. Evolving Hilbert spaces,” J. Math. Phys. 55, 083508 (2014); e-print http://arxiv.org/abs/arXiv:1401.6062 [gr-qc]], by employing that global moves can be decomposed into sequences of local moves. This formalism is spelled out for systems with Euclidean configuration spaces. Various types of local moves, the different kinds of constraints generated by them, the constraint preservation, and possible divergences in resulting state sums are discussed. It is shown that non-trivial local coarse graining moves entail a non-unitary projection of (physical) Hilbert spaces and “fine grained” Dirac observables defined on them. Identities for undoing a local evolution move with its (time reversed) inverse are derived. Finally, the implications of these results for a Pachner move generated dynamics in simplicial quantum gravity models are commented on.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Effect of substituents on polarizability and hyperpolarizability values of benzimidazole metal complexes

In this report, the polarizability and first and second order hyperpolarizability values of bis benzimidazole Zn(II)-2R and bis benzimidazole Cd(II)-2R complexes, with different electron donating moieties R (R= Cl, Br, I, Acetate) were calculated using time dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) formalism embedded in MOPAC2012 package. Further the role of substituents on polarizability and hyperpolarizability values is investigated for the first time by analyzing the frontier molecular orbitals of the complexes with respect to the electronegativity of the substituents. It is found that the increase in electronegativity of the substituents correspondingly increases the energy gap of the molecules, which in turn reduces the polarizability values of both Zn and Cd benzimidazole complexes. Similarly, increase in electronegativity reduces the electric quadrupole moments of both the metal complexes, which in turn reduces the hyperpolarizability values.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Study of the structure of light, unstable nuclei and the mechanism of elastic proton scattering

The review presents calculations of elastic p {sup 6}He-, p {sup 8}Li-, p {sup 9}Li- and p {sup 9}C scattering in the framework of the Glauber theory of multiple diffraction scattering at intermediate energies of 70 and 700 MeV/nucleon. The most significant result of the calculations is that we have utilized realistic three-body wave functions obtained within modern nuclear models. The relation is found between differential cross sections and intercluster potentials, where the nuclear wave functions are calculated. Conclusions are made concerning the types of potentials which describe most realistically the available experimental data. The method for calculation of three-body wave functions in α-n-n-, α-t-n-, {sup 7}Be-p-p-, α-t-2n-, and {sup 7}Li-n-n models is described with discussion of inter-cluster potentials and the quantum-number configurations taken into consideration. It is revealed how the wave functions and the nuclear electromagnetic characteristics calculated using these wave functions depend on the choice of intercluster potentials. The derivation of matrix elements (amplitudes) of pA scattering in the framework of the Glauber approach with three-body wave functions is presented by an example of {sup 6}He nucleus. Discussing the results of calculation of differential cross sections and the analyzing power (A{sub y}), we established how the calculated characteristics depend on a wave-function structure and dynamics of the process determined by a Glauber operator of multiple scattering. The calculated differential cross sections and analyzing powers are compared with available experimental data and calculations by other authors performed for different formalisms, which allows us to make justified conclusions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measuring and Improving the Core Resilience of Networks

The concept of k-cores is important for understanding the global structure of networks, as well as for identifying central or important nodes within a network. It is often valuable to understand the resilience of the k-cores of a network to attacks and dropped edges (i.e., damaged communications links). We provide a formal definition of a network»s core resilience, and examine the problem of characterizing core resilience in terms of the network»s structural features: in particular, which structural properties cause a network to have high or low core resilience? To measure this, we introduce two novel node properties,Core Strength andCore Influence, which measure the resilience of individual nodes» core numbers and their influence on other nodes» core numbers. Using these properties, we propose theMaximize Resilience of k-Core algorithm to add edges to improve the core resilience of a network. We consider two attack scenarios - randomly deleted edges and randomly deleted nodes. Through experiments on a variety of technological and infrastructure network datasets, we verify the efficacy of our node-based resilience measures at predicting the resilience of a network, and evaluate MRKC at the task of improving a network»s core resilience. We find that on average, for edge deletion attacks, MRKC improves the resilience of a network by 11.1% over the original network, as compared to the best baseline method, which improves the resilience of a network by only 2%. For node deletion attacks, MRKC improves the core resilience of the original network by 19.7% on average, while the best baseline improves it by only 3%.

Laishram, Ricky↗

SU-F-T-09: In Phantom Full-Implant Validation of Plastic Scintillation Detectors for in Vivo Dosimetry During Low Dose Rate Brachytherapy

Purpose: To validate in a water phantom the use of plastic scintillation detectors to measure dose to the urethra and the rectal wall during a clinically realistic low dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy implant. Methods: A template was designed to replicate a clinically realistic LDR brachytherapy prostate implant inside a water phantom. Twenty-two catheters were inserted, including one mimicking the urethra and another the rectal wall. The needles inserted in the remaining 20 catheters were composed of thin-walled nylon tubes in which I-125 radioactive seeds (Air Kerma Strengths of (0.328±0.020)U) were abutted together with plastic spacers to replicate a typical loading. A plastic scintillation detector (PSD) with a 5-mm long × 1-mm diameter sensitive element was first placed inside the urethra and 1-second measurements were performed for 60s after each needle implant. Measurements were also performed at multiple positions along the urethra once all the needles were inserted. The procedure was then repeated with the PSD placed at the rectal wall. Results: Individual dose-rates ranging from 0.07µGy/s to 1.5µGy/s were measured after each needle implant. The average absolute relative differences were (6.2±3.6)% and (6.9±6.5)% to the values calculated with the TG-43 formalism, for the urethra and rectal wall respectively. These results are within expectations from the error uncertainty budget once accounting for uncertainties in seeds’ strength and positioning. Interestingly, the PSD allowed for unplanned error detection as the study was performed. Finally, the measured dose after the full implant at different positions along the mimicked organs at risk were in agreement with TG-43 values for all of the positions tested. Conclusion: Plastic scintillation detectors could be used as in vivo detectors for LDR brachytherapy as they would provide accurate dose information after each needle implant as well as along the organs at risk at the end of the implant.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

U 4+/5+/6+ in a Conserved Pseudotetrahedral Imidophosphorane Coordination Sphere

While several ligand systems support uranium across a range of oxidation states, spanning more than two oxidation states in a conserved coordination geometry is uncommon among structurally authenticated complexes. Imidophosphorane ligands significantly stabilize high-valent lanthanide and actinide complexes. Here, we report a series of homoleptic uranium imidophosphorane complexes, spanning the +4, +5 and +6 oxidation states in a four-coordinate pseudotetrahedral ligand field. The +6 oxidation state is accessible using a mild ferrocenium oxidant, yielding a rare example of U6+ in a pseudotetrahedral coordination environment. As the formal oxidation state increases, the U–N distances gradually contract, consistent with the Shannon ionic radii of U 4+/5+/6+ . Compared to reported complexes, the short U–N distances observed in the U 6+ complex are more comparable to dianionic imido ligands than monoanionic amido ligands.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Coaxial nanocable composed by imogolite and carbon nanotubes

The discovery and development of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) at the beginning of the 1990s has driven a major part of solid state research. The electronic properties of the CNTs have generated a large number of ideas, as building coaxial nanocables. In this work we propose a possible type of such nanocables, which is formed by three nanostructures: two conducting CNTs, where one of them is covered by an insulator (an inorganic oxide nanotube: the imogolite aluminosilicate). The theoretical calculations were carried out using the density functional tight-binding formalism, by means of the DFTB+ code. This formalism allows to calculate the band structure, which compares favorably with DFT calculations, but with a significantly lower computational cost. As a first step, we reproduce the calculations of already published results, where the formation of a nanocable composed by one CNT and the imogolite as an insulator. Afterwards, we simulate the band structure for the proposed structure to study the feasibility of the coaxial nanocable. Finally, using classical MD simulations, we study the possible mechanisms of formation of these nanocables.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Catalytic behavior of ‘Pt-atomic chain encapsulated gold nanotube’: A density functional study

With an aim to design novel material and explore its catalytic performance towards CO oxidation, Pt atomic chain was introduced inside gold nanotube (Au-NT). Theoretical calculations at the level of first principles formalism was carried out to investigate the atomic and electronic properties of the composite. Geometrically Pt atoms prefer to align in zig-zag fashion. Significant electronic charge transfer from inside Pt atoms to the outer wall Au atoms is observed. Interaction of O{sub 2} with Au-NT wall follows by injection of additional electronic charge in the anti-bonding orbital of oxygen molecule leading to activation of the O-O bond. Further interaction of CO molecule with the activated oxygen molecule leads to spontaneous oxidation reaction and formation of CO{sub 2}.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

H{sub 2}{sup +}, HeH and H{sub 2}: Approximating potential curves, calculating rovibrational states

Analytic consideration of the Bohr–Oppenheimer (BO) potential curves for diatomic molecules is proposed: accurate analytic interpolation for a potential curve consistent with its rovibrational spectra is found. It is shown that in the BO approximation for four lowest electronic states 1sσ{sub g} and 2pσ{sub u}, 2pπ{sub u} and 3dπ{sub g} of H{sub 2}{sup +}, the ground state X{sup 2}Σ{sup +} of HeH and the two lowest states {sup 1}Σ{sub g}{sup +} and {sup 3}Σ{sub u}{sup +} of H{sub 2}, the potential curves can be analytically interpolated in full range of internuclear distances R with not less than 4–5–6 s.d. Approximation based on matching the Laurant-type expansion at small R and a combination of the multipole expansion with one-instanton type contribution at large distances R is given by two-point Padé approximant. The position of minimum, when exists, is predicted within 1% or better. For the molecular ion H{sub 2}{sup +} in the Lagrange mesh method, the spectra of vibrational, rotational and rovibrational states (ν,L) associated with 1sσ{sub g} and 2pσ{sub u}, 2pπ{sub u} and 3dπ{sub g} potential curves are calculated. In general, it coincides with spectra found via numerical solution of the Schrödinger equation (when available) within six s.d. It is shown that 1sσ{sub g} curve contains 19 vibrational states (ν,0), while 2pσ{sub u} curve contains a single one (0,0) and 2pπ{sub u} state contains 12 vibrational states (ν,0). In general, 1sσ{sub g} electronic curve contains 420 rovibrational states, which increases up to 423 when we are beyond BO approximation. For the state 2pσ{sub u} the total number of rovibrational states (all with ν=0) is equal to 3, within or beyond Bohr–Oppenheimer approximation. As for the state 2pπ{sub u} within the Bohr–Oppenheimer approximation the total number of the rovibrational bound states is equal to 284. The state 3dπ{sub g} is repulsive, no rovibrational state is found. It is confirmed in Lagrange mesh formalism the statement that the ground state potential curve of the heteronuclear molecule HeH does not support rovibrational states. Accurate analytical expression for the potential curves of the hydrogen molecule H{sub 2} for the states {sup 1}Σ{sub g}{sup +} and {sup 3}Σ{sub u}{sup +} is presented. The ground state {sup 1}Σ{sub g}{sup +} contains 15 vibrational states (ν,0),ν=0–14. In general, this state supports 301 rovibrational states. The potential curve of the state {sup 3}Σ{sub u}{sup +} has a shallow minimum: it does not support any rovibrational state, it is repulsive.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Multicomponent diffusion in molten salt NaF-ZrF{sub 4}: Dynamical correlations and Maxwell–Stefan diffusivities

NaF-ZrF{sub 4} is used as a waste incinerator and as a coolant in Generation IV reactors.Structural and dynamical properties of molten NaF-ZrF{sub 4} system were studied along with Onsagercoefficients and Maxwell–Stefan (MS) Diffusivities applying Green–Kubo formalism and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The zirconium ions are found to be 8 fold coordinated with fluoride ions for all temperatures and concentrations. All the diffusive flux correlations show back-scattering. Even though the MS diffusivities are expected to depend very lightly on the composition because of decoupling of thermodynamic factor, the diffusivity Đ{sub Na-F} shows interesting behavior with the increase in concentration of ZrF{sub 4}. This is because of network formation in NaF-ZrF{sub 4}. Positive entropy constraints have been plotted to authenticate negative diffusivities observed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗