Quantum Phase Estimation and the Aharonov-Bohm effect

Abstract

We consider the time evolution of a particle on a ring with a long solenoid through and show that due to the Aharonov-Bohm effect this system naturally makes up a physical implementation of the quantum phase estimation algorithm for a $U(1)$ unitary operator. The implementation of the full quantum phase estimation algorithm with a $U(N)$ unitary operator is realised through the non-abelian Aharonov-Bohm effect. The implementation allows for a more physically intuitive understanding of the algorithm. As an example we use the path integral formulation of the implemented quantum phase estimation algorithm to analyse the classical limit $\hbar\to0$.