Polylog-depth Quantum Thermal Simulation via Local Recovery Channels

Abstract:We establish sufficient conditions for preparing quantum thermal states of noncommuting local Hamiltonians with polylogarithmic circuit depth in arbitrary fixed spatial dimension. Our conditions combine locality and stability bounds on the effective interactions of reduced density matrices of a Gibbs state with a quantitative high-temperature condition and access to coarse classical reference Hamiltonians. When these references can be generated locally, the classical preprocessing cost is $N^{1+o(1)}$ for $N$ sites at inverse-polynomial global accuracy. We construct the preparation circuit from spatially localized Petz recovery maps. Quantum corrections derived from the microscopic Hamiltonian enable accurate recovery while the classical references remain coarse. After preprocessing, the resulting circuit prepares the canonical purification using $N\operatorname{polylog}(N/\varepsilon)$ gates and qubits, where $\varepsilon$ is the preparation error. These results link two fundamental questions: how correlations are organized in thermal equilibrium, and how efficiently the corresponding states can be realized through operations allowed by quantum mechanics. By translating static equilibrium structure into explicit preparation circuits, they give equilibrium locality a constructive computational interpretation and a physically grounded role in quantum algorithm design.

arXiv:2609.39674 [quant-ph]

(or arXiv:2609.39674v1 [quant-ph] for this version)

https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2609.39674 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration)

arXivLabs is a framework that allows collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on our website.

Both individuals and organizations that work with arXivLabs have embraced and accepted our values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv is committed to these values and only works with partners that adhere to them.

Have an idea for a project that will add value for arXiv's community? Learn more about arXivLabs.