Quantum lattice-gas model for the diffusion equation

Presented is a factorized quantum lattice-gas algorithm to model the diffusion equation. It is a minimal model with two qubits per node of a one-dimensional lattice and it is suitable for implementation on a large array of small quantum computers interconnected by nearest-neighbor classical communication channels. The quantum lattice-gas system is described at the mesoscopic scale by a lattice-Boltzmann equation whose collision term is unconditionally stable and obeys the principle of detailed balance. An analytical treatment of the model is given to predict a macroscopic effective field theory. The numerical simulations axe in excellent agreement with the analytical results. In particular, numerical simulations confirm the value of the analytically calculated diffusion constant. The algorithm is time-explicit with numerical convergence that is first-order accurate in time and second-order accurate in space.