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Nonlinear quantum mechanics implies polynomial-time solution for NP-complete and #P problems

Daniel S. Abrams·Seth Lloyd
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Abstract

If quantum states exhibit small nonlinearities during time evolution, then quantum computers can be used to solve NP-complete problems in polynomial time. We provide algorithms that solve NP-complete and #P oracle problems by exploiting nonlinear quantum logic gates. It is argued that virtually any deterministic nonlinear quantum theory will include such gates, and the method is explicitly demonstrated using the Weinberg model of nonlinear quantum mechanics.

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Daniel S. Abrams, Seth Lloyd. 1998-01-21. Nonlinear quantum mechanics implies polynomial-time solution for NP-complete and #P problems. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.81.3992

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