Quantum computation of magnon spectra

Abstract

We demonstrate quantum computation of two-point correlation functions for a Heisenberg spin chain. Using the IBM Q 20 quantum machines, we find that for two sites the correlation functions produce the exact results reliably. For four sites, results from the IBM Q 20 Tokyo quantum computer are noisy due to read out errors and decoherence. Nevertheless, the correlation functions retain the correct spectral information. This is illustrated in the frequency domain by accurately extracting the magnon energies from peaks in the spectral function.