Benedikt Fauseweh

Imaginary-time evolution, an important technique in tensor network and quantum Monte Carlo algorithms on classical computers, has recently been adapted to quantum computing. In this study, we focus on probabilistic imaginary-time evolution (PITE) algorithm and derive its formulation in the context of state-vector-based simulations, where quantum state vectors are directly used to compute observables without statistical errors. We compare the results with those of shot-based simulations, which estimate observables through repeated projective measurements. Applying the PITE algorithm to the Heisenberg chain, we investigate optimal initial conditions for convergence. We further demonstrate the method on the transverse-field Ising model using a state-of-the-art trapped-ion quantum device. Finally, we explore the potential of error mitigation in this framework, highlighting practical considerations for near-term digital quantum simulations.

The advancements of quantum processors offer a promising new window to study exotic states of matter. One striking example is the possibility of non-ergodic behaviour in systems with a large number of local degrees of freedom. Here we use a trapped-ion qudit quantum processor to study a disorder-free $S=1$ Floquet model, which becomes prethermal by dynamic localization due to local spin interactions. We theoretically describe and experimentally observe an emergent $3T$ subharmonic response, demonstrating the ability to witness non-ergodic dynamics beyond qubit systems. Our numerical simulations reveal the role played by multipartite entanglement through the Quantum Fisher Information, showing how this quantity successfully reflects the transition between ergodic and localized regimes in a non-equilibrium context. These results pave the way for the study of ergodicity-breaking mechanisms in higher-dimensional quantum systems.