The Hubbard Model for Universal Quantum Computation

Abstract

Quantum circuits based only on matchgates are able to perform non-trivial (but not universal) quantum algorithms. Because matchgates can be mapped to non-interacting fermions, these circuits can be efficiently simulated on a classical computer. One can perform universal quantum computation by adding any non-matchgate parity-preserving gate, implying that interacting fermions are natural candidates for universal quantum computation. Most work to date has focused on Majorana fermions, which are difficult to realize and manipulate in the laboratory, despite the advantage of topologically protecting quantum information. We instead show that universal quantum computation can be implemented using interacting spinless (spin-polarized) fermions and further propose a scheme for achieving universal quantum computation with the Hubbard model, which may be realized in the laboratory based on current experimental techniques.