Application of the imaginary-time evolution method to quantum chemical calculations using a trapped-ion quantum computer

We have successfully implemented a fault-tolerant quantum computer (FTQC) algorithm together with an error detection technique on a quantum computer for the first time in the world. The imaginary-time evolution method has long been known as a ground-state calculation method in the field of quantum chemical calculations. We have developed a probabilistic imaginary-time evolution (PITE) method, which is one of the FTQC algorithms. We have also reported the quantum advantage of the PITE mathematically. In this study, we have applied PITE to ground-state calculations of quantum chemical calculations. Furthermore, we have successfully run PITE on a trapped-ion quantum computer with an error detection algorithm.