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Towards Nuclear Matrix Elements calculations with Quantum Computing

Job Summary

We are currently accepting applications for the above mentioned position. This is a unique opportunity for junior researchers with a recent PhD degree in Physics or related fields to join one of DIPC’s high-profile research teams.

Job Description

The Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), in collaboration with IBM, is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to join an interdisciplinary project at the interface between quantum computing and nuclear physics.

This project aims to exploit noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices for the determination of nuclear energy levels, which could have a significant impact on the field of nuclear shell-model computations.

Classically, nuclear states are obtained by diagonalization of the nuclear Hamiltonian in a many-body configuration. However, the number of possible configurations and consequently the size of the matrix grows combinatorially with the number of nucleons, preventing this method from being naively scaled up to heavy nuclei. Thus, the calculation is typically restricted to one or more nuclear shells, using an effective Hamiltonian. Quantum algorithms may allow for polynomial scaling in the resources needed for this calculation, allowing for an increased precision in the determination of the energy levels.

The aim of the project is to implement the calculation of nuclear energy levels on a real quantum computer for isotopes with a large number of nucleons using quantum algorithms such as Variational Quantum Eigensolvers (VQE) and Quantum Krylov Subspace Diagonalization (QKSD).

Computations for heavy nuclei could have far-reaching implications for nuclear and particle physics. As a notable example, nuclear shell models can be used to calculate the upper limit on the effective Majorana neutrino mass, given the half-life of a hypothetical nuclear process called neutrinoless double beta decay.

Benefits

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