Vector Ising spin annealer for minimizing Ising Hamiltonians

Abstract Complex optimization problems can be solved via dedicated machines which encode the problem in the couplings of spin Hamiltonians. However, traditional physical minimizers often select excited states due to limitations in spin dynamics. We introduce the Vector Ising Spin Annealer (VISA), a framework in gain-based computing that leverages light-matter interactions. We show that VISA overcomes the limitations by enabling spins to operate within a three-dimensional space, thereby providing a robust solution for effectively minimizing Ising Hamiltonians. Our comparative analysis demonstrates VISA’s superior performance relative to conventional single-dimension spin optimizers, highlighting its capacity to surmount significant energy barriers in intricate landscapes. Detailed studies on cyclic and random graphs reveal VISA’s proficiency in dynamically evolving the energy landscape through time-dependent gain and penalty annealing, underscoring its potential in advancing the field of complex problem-solving in physics-inspired and physics-based computing.