Ground state property calculations of LiHn complexes using IBM Qiskit’s quantum simulator

In this study, the variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) on a quantum simulator is used in calculating ground state electronic structure properties of the LiHn, n = 1–3, complexes including their singly charged ions. Results calculated using classical electronic structure algorithms are also included. We investigate the use of the unitary coupled cluster with singles and doubles (UCCSD) Ansatz using VQE within Qiskit and compare results to full configuration interaction (FCI) calculations. Computed ground state energies, electron affinities, ionization potentials, and dipole moments are considered. We report the first-of-its-kind simulated quantum computing results of selected LiHn species and use the parity orbital to qubit mapping scheme. We find that VQE/UCCSD results are comparable to classical coupled clusters with singles and doubles for all considered systems with respect to FCI. A VQE calculation cost evaluation is included in which we evaluate performance using both Jordan–Wigner and parity orbital to qubit mapping schemes. We also discuss some of the current limitations of utilizing VQE for the study of chemical systems.