Abstract In this work, we introduce a new qubit mapping strategy for the Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE) applied to nuclear shell model calculations, where each Slater Determinant (SD) is mapped to a qubit, rather than assigning qubits to individual single-particle states. While this approach may increase the total number of qubits required in some cases, it enables the construction of simpler quantum circuits that are more compatible with current noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices. We apply this method to seven nuclei: Four lithium isotopes ${}^{6-9}$ Li from the p -shell, ${}^{18}$ F from the sd -shell, and two heavier nuclei ( ${}^{210}$ Po, and ${}^{210}$ Pb). We run circuits representing their ground states on a noisy simulator (IBM’s FakeFez backend) and quantum hardware ( $ibm\_pittsburgh$ ). For heavier nuclei, we demonstrate the feasibility of simulating ${}^{210}$ Po and ${}^{210}$ Pb as 22- and 29-qubit systems, respectively. Additionally, we employ Zero-Noise Extrapolation (ZNE) via two-qubit gate folding to mitigate errors in both simulated and hardware-executed results. Post-mitigation, the best results show less than 4 % deviation from shell model binding energy predictions across all nuclei studied. This SD-based qubit mapping proves particularly effective for lighter nuclei and two-nucleon systems, offering a promising route for near-term quantum simulations in nuclear physics.Abstract In this work, we introduce a new qubit mapping strategy for the Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE) applied to nuclear shell model calculations, where each Slater Determinant (SD) is mapped to a qubit, rather than assigning qubits to individual single-particle states. While this approach may increase the total number of qubits required in some cases, it enables the construction of simpler quantum circuits that are more compatible with current noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices. We apply this method to seven nuclei: Four lithium isotopes $${}^{6-9}$$ Li from the p -shell, $${}^{18}$$ F from the sd -shell, and two heavier nuclei ( $${}^{210}$$ Po, and $${}^{210}$$ Pb). We run circuits representing their ground states on a noisy simulator (IBM’s FakeFez backend) and quantum hardware ( $$ibm\_pittsburgh$$ ). For heavier nuclei, we demonstrate the feasibility of simulating $${}^{210}$$ Po and $${}^{210}$$ Pb as 22- and 29-qubit systems, respectively. Additionally, we employ Zero-Noise Extrapolation (ZNE) via two-qubit gate folding to mitigate errors in both simulated and hardware-executed results. Post-mitigation, the best results show less than 4 % deviation from shell model binding energy predictions across all nuclei studied. This SD-based qubit mapping proves particularly effective for lighter nuclei and two-nucleon systems, offering a promising route for near-term quantum simulations in nuclear physics.

arXiv:2510.02124Discover Quantum ScienceFeb 17, 20262 citations

Correlation structure of the wave function and the expansion of the ground- state energy of nuclear matter

L. Schaefer, Judit Németh

Jan 1, 19740 citations

Calculations of nuclear matter with state-dependent correlations and a semirealistic nucleon-nucleon potential

Omar Benhar A, C. Ciofi degli Atti, Stefano Fantoni +1 more

Physics Letters BSep 1, 197724 citations

A low-circuit-depth quantum computing approach to the nuclear shell model

P. D. Stevenson, Chandan Sarma

Abstract In this work, we introduce a new qubit mapping strategy for the Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE) applied to nuclear shell model calculations, where each Slater determinant (SD) is mapped to a qubit, rather than assigning qubits to individual single-particle states. While this approach may increase the total number of qubits required in some cases, it enables the construction of simpler quantum circuits that are more compatible with current noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices. We apply this method to seven nuclei: Four lithium isotopes $^{6-9}$ Li from the \textit{p}-shell, $^{18}$ F from the \textit{sd}-shell, and two heavier nuclei ( $^{210}$ Po, and $^{210}$ Pb). We run circuits representing their ground states on a noisy simulator (IBM's \textit{FakeFez} backend) and quantum hardware ( $ibm\_pittsburgh$ ). For heavier nuclei, we demonstrate the feasibility of simulating $^{210}$ Po and $^{210}$ Pb as 22- and 29-qubit systems, respectively. Additionally, we employ Zero-Noise Extrapolation (ZNE) via two-qubit gate folding to mitigate errors in both simulated and hardware-executed results. Post-mitigation, the best results show less than 4 \% deviation from shell model predictions across all nuclei studied. This SD-based qubit mapping proves particularly effective for lighter nuclei and two-nucleon systems, offering a promising route for near-term quantum simulations in nuclear physics. PACS numbers: 21.60.Cs, 21.30.Fe, 21.10.Dr, 27.20.+nAbstract In this work, we introduce a new qubit mapping strategy for the Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE) applied to nuclear shell model calculations, where each Slater determinant (SD) is mapped to a qubit, rather than assigning qubits to individual single-particle states. While this approach may increase the total number of qubits required in some cases, it enables the construction of simpler quantum circuits that are more compatible with current noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices. We apply this method to seven nuclei: Four lithium isotopes $^{6-9}$Li from the \textit{p}-shell, $^{18}$F from the \textit{sd}-shell, and two heavier nuclei ($^{210}$Po, and $^{210}$Pb). We run circuits representing their ground states on a noisy simulator (IBM's \textit{FakeFez} backend) and quantum hardware ($ibm\_pittsburgh$). For heavier nuclei, we demonstrate the feasibility of simulating $^{210}$Po and $^{210}$Pb as 22- and 29-qubit systems, respectively. Additionally, we employ Zero-Noise Extrapolation (ZNE) via two-qubit gate folding to mitigate errors in both simulated and hardware-executed results. Post-mitigation, the best results show less than 4 \% deviation from shell model predictions across all nuclei studied. This SD-based qubit mapping proves particularly effective for lighter nuclei and two-nucleon systems, offering a promising route for near-term quantum simulations in nuclear physics. PACS numbers: 21.60.Cs, 21.30.Fe, 21.10.Dr, 27.20.+n

Nov 4, 20251 citation

Ground state correlations as variational parameters in the nuclear many-body problem

R. M. Dreizler, Abraham Klein, Franz R. Krejs +1 more

Nuclear Physics AMay 1, 197115 citations

Qubit-efficient variational algorithm for nuclear structure

Chandan Sarma, Paul Stevenson

In this work, we compare three qubit-mapping strategies to study the structure of the nuclear ground state within the shell model description employing the Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE) approach. Although the initial point for different mappings is a Hamiltonian matrix in many-body particle basis or Slater determinant (SD) basis, the structure of the trial wavefunction and resource counts are different for each mapping. These three mappings are tested for a mid $p$ -shell nucleus $^{10}$ B and compared the quantum resources required to find the ground state for each mapping. Further, we extend the qubit-efficient mapping to study the ground state of one more mid $p$ -shell nucleus $^{12}$ C. We run circuits up to 26-qubits representing their ground states on a noisy simulator (IBM's FakeFez backend) and quantum hardware ( $ibm\_fez$ ). The best post-error mitigated results from the hardware for $^{10}$ B ground state is obtained following SD to qubit mapping with a percent error of 0.21 \%. The percent errors for the same state following cSD and pnSD mapping are 3.37 and 8.88 \%, respectively. On the other hand, following the cSD mapping, the post-error mitigated ground state energy of $^{12}$ C is 6.82 \% away from the exact result. We further evaluate the fidelity of the VQE wavefunctions obtained from hardware with respect to the shell model wavefunctions for the cSD mapping. This cSD mapping can be useful for scaling the VQE algorithm for complex nuclei across different mass regions in terms of qubit efficiency.In this work, we compare three qubit-mapping strategies to study the structure of the nuclear ground state within the shell model description employing the Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE) approach. Although the initial point for different mappings is a Hamiltonian matrix in many-body particle basis or Slater determinant (SD) basis, the structure of the trial wavefunction and resource counts are different for each mapping. These three mappings are tested for a mid $p$-shell nucleus $^{10}$B and compared the quantum resources required to find the ground state for each mapping. Further, we extend the qubit-efficient mapping to study the ground state of one more mid $p$-shell nucleus $^{12}$C. We run circuits up to 26-qubits representing their ground states on a noisy simulator (IBM's FakeFez backend) and quantum hardware ($ibm\_fez$). The best post-error mitigated results from the hardware for $^{10}$B ground state is obtained following SD to qubit mapping with a percent error of 0.21 \%. The percent errors for the same state following cSD and pnSD mapping are 3.37 and 8.88 \%, respectively. On the other hand, following the cSD mapping, the post-error mitigated ground state energy of $^{12}$C is 6.82 \% away from the exact result. We further evaluate the fidelity of the VQE wavefunctions obtained from hardware with respect to the shell model wavefunctions for the cSD mapping. This cSD mapping can be useful for scaling the VQE algorithm for complex nuclei across different mass regions in terms of qubit efficiency.

nucl-thCross-listedarXiv:2605.30261May 29, 20260 citations

{}^{6-9}

Li from the p -shell,

{}^{18}

F from the sd -shell, and two heavier nuclei (

{}^{210}

Po, and

{}^{210}

Pb). We run circuits representing their ground states on a noisy simulator (IBM’s FakeFez backend) and quantum hardware (

ibm\_pittsburgh

). For heavier nuclei, we demonstrate the feasibility of simulating

{}^{210}

Po and

{}^{210}

Pb as 22- and 29-qubit systems, respectively. Additionally, we employ Zero-Noise Extrapolation (ZNE) via two-qubit gate folding to mitigate errors in both simulated and hardware-executed results. Post-mitigation, the best results show less than 4 % deviation from shell model binding energy predictions across all nuclei studied. This SD-based qubit mapping proves particularly effective for lighter nuclei and two-nucleon systems, offering a promising route for near-term quantum simulations in nuclear physics.

^{6-9}

Li from the \textit{p}-shell,

^{18}

F from the \textit{sd}-shell, and two heavier nuclei (

^{210}

Po, and

^{210}

Pb). We run circuits representing their ground states on a noisy simulator (IBM's \textit{FakeFez} backend) and quantum hardware (

ibm\_pittsburgh

). For heavier nuclei, we demonstrate the feasibility of simulating

^{210}

Po and

^{210}

Pb as 22- and 29-qubit systems, respectively. Additionally, we employ Zero-Noise Extrapolation (ZNE) via two-qubit gate folding to mitigate errors in both simulated and hardware-executed results. Post-mitigation, the best results show less than 4 \% deviation from shell model predictions across all nuclei studied. This SD-based qubit mapping proves particularly effective for lighter nuclei and two-nucleon systems, offering a promising route for near-term quantum simulations in nuclear physics. PACS numbers: 21.60.Cs, 21.30.Fe, 21.10.Dr, 27.20.+n

p

-shell nucleus

^{10}

B and compared the quantum resources required to find the ground state for each mapping. Further, we extend the qubit-efficient mapping to study the ground state of one more mid

p

-shell nucleus

^{12}

C. We run circuits up to 26-qubits representing their ground states on a noisy simulator (IBM's FakeFez backend) and quantum hardware (

ibm\_fez

). The best post-error mitigated results from the hardware for

^{10}

B ground state is obtained following SD to qubit mapping with a percent error of 0.21 \%. The percent errors for the same state following cSD and pnSD mapping are 3.37 and 8.88 \%, respectively. On the other hand, following the cSD mapping, the post-error mitigated ground state energy of

^{12}

C is 6.82 \% away from the exact result. We further evaluate the fidelity of the VQE wavefunctions obtained from hardware with respect to the shell model wavefunctions for the cSD mapping. This cSD mapping can be useful for scaling the VQE algorithm for complex nuclei across different mass regions in terms of qubit efficiency.