title: Quantum annealing for the number-partitioning problem using a tunable spin glass of ions.
abstract: Exploiting quantum properties to outperform classical ways of information processing is an outstanding goal of modern physics. A promising route is quantum simulation, which aims at implementing relevant and computationally hard problems in controllable quantum systems. Here we demonstrate that in a trapped ion setup, with present day technology, it is possible to realize a spin model of the Mattis-type that exhibits spin glass phases. Our method produces the glassy behaviour without the need for any disorder potential, just by controlling the detuning of the spin-phonon coupling. Applying a transverse field, the system can be used to benchmark quantum annealing strategies which aim at reaching the ground state of the spin glass starting from the paramagnetic phase. In the vicinity of a phonon resonance, the problem maps onto number partitioning, and instances which are difficult to address classically can be implemented.
authors.affiliation: ICFO-Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Avinguda Carl-Friedrich Gauss 2, Castelldefels 08860, Spain.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Graß
authors.affiliation: ICFO-Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Avinguda Carl-Friedrich Gauss 2, Castelldefels 08860, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raventós
authors.affiliation: ICFO-Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Avinguda Carl-Friedrich Gauss 2, Castelldefels 08860, Spain.|Departament de Física Quàntica i Astrofísica, Facultat de Física, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain.|Institut de Ciències del Cosmos, Universitat de Barcelona, ICCUB, Martí i Franquès 1, Barcelona 08028, Spain.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Juliá-Díaz
authors.affiliation: ICFO-Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Avinguda Carl-Friedrich Gauss 2, Castelldefels 08860, Spain.|Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, Hans-Kopfermann-Straße 1, Garching 85748, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0290-4698
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gogolin
authors.affiliation: ICFO-Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Avinguda Carl-Friedrich Gauss 2, Castelldefels 08860, Spain.|ICREA-Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Lluís Companys 23, Barcelona 08010, Spain.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lewenstein