Optimal Ansatz-free Hamiltonian Learning In Situ

2026-06-17

AI Summary

This work addresses the challenges of Hamiltonian learning on near-term quantum devices, which typically rely on deep circuits, high time resolution, or ancillary qubits. The authors propose an in-situ learning algorithm that requires neither quantum control nor ancilla qubits. By leveraging Pauli product state preparation and measurement, combined with random sampling, band-limited kernel time sampling, and a shift-and-filter technique, the method efficiently reconstructs norm-bounded Hamiltonians. Theoretically, it achieves an optimal total evolution time scaling of Θ(Λ/ε² log(Λ/ε)) and, for the first time under no-control conditions, matches the information-theoretic lower bound of Ω(Λ/ε² log(Λ/ε)). The required probe time resolution depends only on the Hamiltonian norm, and the algorithm exhibits robustness against SPAM noise while maintaining optimal asymptotic performance for local Hamiltonians.

Abstract

Characterizing the features of a Hamiltonian that governs a quantum system serves as a fundamental subroutine of quantum device calibration, signal sensing, and error correction. Recent works proposed protocols have achieved the optimal Heisenberg-limited scaling learning ansatz-free Hamiltonians from their real-time evolutions without fully specifying interaction structures. However, these protocols rely on both deep circuits with interleaving probes and control, and extremely short time resolution, making them difficult to implement on near- and intermediate-term in situ quantum experiments. In this work, we propose a computationally efficient, control-free, and ancilla-free algorithm that uses only Pauli product state preparation and measurement, and learns an ansatz-free Hamiltonian $H$ with $||H||\leqΛ$ in total evolution time of $Θ(\fracΛ{ε^2}\log(\fracΛε))$. The evolution time cost of our algorithm is optimal for any control-free protocols as we further prove a lower bound of $Ω(\fracΛ{ε^2}\log(\fracΛε))$. Technically, our method introduces a randomized-sampling framework that combines band-limited kernel-based time sampling with a displacement sieve for Hamiltonian structure learning. The characteristic probe time resolution depends only on $Λ$ instead of $\varepsilon$, which makes our protocol especially appealing in the high-precision regime for sensing and calibration applications. We also show that the algorithm maintains the same asymptotic total evolution time in the presence of state-preparation-and-measurement (SPAM) noise when the Hamiltonian is local after calibration. Our results demonstrate the fundamental cost of experimentally friendly Hamiltonian learning and provide a practical route to rigorous in situ characterization of near-term quantum platforms.

Problem

• Hamiltonian learning
• quantum calibration
• ansatz-free
• in situ characterization
• near-term quantum devices

Innovation

• ansatz-free Hamiltonian learning
• control-free quantum protocol
• randomized sampling
• Heisenberg-limited scaling
• in situ characterization