Optimizing the quantum adiabatic algorithm

Abstract

In quantum adiabatic algorithm, as the adiabatic parameter $s(t)$ changes slowly from zero to one with finite rate, a transition to excited states inevitably occurs and this induces an intrinsic computational error. We show that this computational error depends not only on the total computation time $T$ but also on the time derivatives of the adiabatic parameter $s(t)$ at the beginning and the end of evolution. Previous work (Phys. Rev. A \textbf{82}, 052305) also suggested this result. With six typical paths, we systematically demonstrate how to optimally design an adiabatic path to reduce the computational errors. Our method has a clear physical picture and also explains the pattern of computational error. In this paper we focus on quantum adiabatic search algorithm although our results are general.