Overview

Program: MCQST Summer Bachelor Program 2025
Institution: Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich
Duration: July 29 - August 29, 2025
Location: Munich, Germany
Selection: 1 of 16 participants selected worldwide

In 2024, I was selected as one of only 16 participants from across the world for the highly competitive MCQST Summer Bachelor Program 2025. This prestigious program provides undergraduate students worldwide with exceptional opportunities to gain deep insights into cutting-edge research in Quantum Science and Technology (QST) at one of Europe’s leading quantum research centers.

Program Benefits and Support

Full Financial Support

  • Accommodation: Fully covered at Studentenstadt Freimann in Munich
  • Health Insurance: Complete coverage for program duration
  • Travel Reimbursement: Up to 1400 Euros for international travel
  • Research Stipend: Supporting focus on research without financial concerns

Research Project: Quantum Ground State Estimation

Project Title

“Quantum Ground State Estimation of SU(2) Gauge Theory using Variational Quantum Eigensolver”

Research Institution

Walther-Meißner-Institut (WMI), part of the Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften (Bavarian Academy of Sciences)

Research Team

  • Collaborators: K. Liegener, M. Knudsen, M. Singh, M. Werninghaus, F. Roy
  • Principal Investigator: Prof. S. Filipp
  • Research Focus: Quantum simulation of fundamental physics

Technical Research Contributions

Problem Statement

Tackled one of the fundamental challenges in quantum physics: finding the ground state of interacting Lattice Gauge Theories (LGT). This is particularly challenging due to entanglement over spaced lattice sites that causes numerical simulations to break down at certain scales on classical computers.

Methodology: Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE)

  • Hybrid Algorithm: Used VQE—a hybrid quantum-classical algorithm—to find ground state energy
  • Target System: Simplified SU(2) Yang-Mills theory describing the weak force in particle physics
  • Quantum Hardware: Implemented simulation on superconducting quantum device at WMI

Technical Implementation

Hamiltonian Decomposition

  • Translated complex physical Hamiltonian into quantum computer-usable form
  • Decomposed into electric and magnetic components expressed as sums of Pauli string operators
  • Prepared simulation framework for deployment on institute’s 17-qubit chip

Quantum Architecture Design

  • 4-qubit architecture: 3 physical qubits encoding quantum states + 1 ancilla qubit
  • Ancilla qubit function: Control circuit dynamics and enforce symmetry constraints
  • State preparation: Quantum algorithms for initial state preparation

Physical System Mapping

  • Hilbert space truncation to maximum angular momentum of j_max = 1/2
  • Ground state sector isolation—the θ-graph—where physical states are uniquely defined
  • Quantum number encoding: Three angular momentum quantum numbers (j₁, j₂, j₃)

Advanced Quantum Techniques

Shots-Based Analysis

  • Realistic measurement simulation using statistical sampling rather than exact energy computations
  • Post-selection techniques to enforce symmetry by projecting measurement outcomes into valid, gauge-invariant physical Hilbert space
  • Noise analysis: Demonstrated how energy landscape smooths as measurement shots increase

Variational Circuit Design

  • Problem-specific ansatz with 6 tunable parameters
  • Gate sequence optimization: Excitation and swap gates designed for efficient physical state space exploration
  • Parameter optimization: Systematic approach to variational parameter tuning

Research Insights and Contributions

Theoretical Contributions

  • Truncation strategy validation: Demonstrated how low energy cutoffs enable accurate modeling without simulating full infinite-dimensional Hilbert space
  • Symmetry utilization: Showed how ground state symmetries help resolve VQA quantum advantage challenges
  • Scalability analysis: Identified path to 7-qubit investigation of full 6-valent vertex Hilbert space

Practical Quantum Computing

  • NISQ device optimization: Worked with near-term Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum devices
  • Real hardware constraints: Addressed practical limitations of current quantum computers
  • Measurement strategy: Developed effective approaches for quantum state measurement and analysis

Skills Developed

Quantum Computing Expertise

  • Variational Quantum Algorithms: Deep understanding of VQE and hybrid quantum-classical methods
  • Quantum Hardware: Hands-on experience with superconducting quantum devices
  • Quantum Programming: Implementation of quantum circuits and measurement protocols

Theoretical Physics

  • Gauge Theory: Advanced understanding of SU(2) Yang-Mills theory and lattice formulations
  • Many-body Physics: Expertise in quantum many-body systems and entanglement
  • Quantum Field Theory: Application of QFT concepts to quantum computing

Research Methodology

  • International Collaboration: Working with leading quantum researchers across multiple institutions
  • Scientific Communication: Presenting complex quantum concepts to diverse audiences
  • Problem-solving: Tackling fundamental challenges at the intersection of physics and computer science

Impact and Future Directions

Scientific Contribution

This research positioned me at the intersection of quantum computing and fundamental physics, contributing to ongoing efforts to demonstrate practical quantum advantage in solving classically intractable problems.

Career Development

The experience reinforced my passion for quantum computing research and provided invaluable exposure to cutting-edge quantum technologies and methodologies at one of Europe’s premier quantum research centers.

Future Research Potential

The prepared quantum states and methodologies remain available for further physical experiments, providing a foundation for continued research in quantum simulation of gauge theories.