arXiv · 2601.16474
Quantum phase estimation with optimal confidence interval using three control qubits
Abstract
Quantum phase estimation is an important routine in many quantum algorithms, particularly for estimating the ground state energy in quantum chemistry simulations. This estimation involves applying powers of a unitary to the ground state, controlled by an auxiliary state prepared on a control register. In many applications the goal is to provide a confidence interval for the phase estimate, and optimal performance is provided by a discrete prolate spheroidal sequence. We show how to prepare the corresponding state in a far more efficient way than prior work. We find that a matrix product state representation with a bond dimension of 4 is sufficient to give a highly accurate approximation for all dimensions tested, up to $2^{24}$. This matrix product state can be efficiently prepared using a sequence of simple three-qubit operations. When the dimension is a power of 2, the phase estimation can be performed with only three qubits for the control register, making it suitable for early-generation fault-tolerant quantum computers with a limited number of logical qubits.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Kaur Kristjuhan, Dominic W. Berry. 2026-01-23. Quantum phase estimation with optimal confidence interval using three control qubits. https://doi.org/10.22331/q-2026-08-19-2193
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.