Quantum optimization with noisy devices

The development of quantum computers capable of performing tasks beyond the reach of current classical computational devices is a challenge of modern science, raising high interest from both academia and industry. Achieving this milestone requires progress on multiple fronts, ranging from theoretical advancements in quantum algorithms to improvements in the physical platforms needed to implement them. This project contributes to this ambitious endeavor by focusing on optimization problems that can be potentially addressed with first prototypes of quantum computers. Specifically, we aim to develop innovative approaches to quantum optimization and characterize their potential in realistic conditions, particularly with current noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices. We focus on adiabatic quantum computation, which consists in slowly changing a quantum system's Hamiltonian such that its state is driven continuously from an initially easily prepared state to the final state representing the solution of the optimization problem. This approach faces significant challenges when implemented on NISQ devices due to their imperfections and susceptibility to environmental noise. Within this context, the overarching aim of this project is to discover alternative approaches to traditional quantum annealing that perform faster and more reliably even when facing environmental noise and fabrication imperfections. The project is structured along three specific objectives: 1. To develop a new approach to quantum optimization based on engineering an auxiliary system to enhance the algorithms speed. 2. To find appropriately tailored control functions for (quasi)-optimal performance that remain robust to imperfections and environmental noise.