The project focuses on harnessing quantum criticality to achieve energy-efficient quantum computation. It involves a five-week research visit to the Quantum Thermodynamics group at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, under the supervision of Prof. Sebastian Deffner. The main objective is to optimize the thermodynamic performance of quantum thermal machines modeled via the quantum Ising model by investigating various driving protocols. This research aims to uncover the most efficient annealing protocols to enhance the computational efficiency and minimize the energy consumption of D-Wave quantum annealers. The results are expected to provide significant insights into the interplay between quantum phase transitions and thermodynamic optimization, contributing to the development of robust, energy-efficient quantum technologies.

The project received funding from the Miniatura 8 program of the National Science Centre (NCN), in the amount of 49,013 PLN