Quantum annealer finds ground states of complex magnetic lattices

Researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg have used quantum annealing hardware to determine the ground state of complex Ising models. The team applied a unit-cell-based optimization scheme, performing finite optimizations on each unit cell using commercial quantum annealing hardware, to problems featuring algebraically decaying long-range interactions. To demonstrate the capabilities of the approach, researchers chose to evaluate the ground state of the Kagomé lattice motivated by research into artificial spin ice metamaterials. The researchers write that the approach provides a timely connection between available quantum hardware and relevant systems. The determination of ground states for Ising models featuring algebraically decaying, competing long-range interactions is now possible using…