Quantum algorithm for vibronic dynamics: case study on singlet fission solar cell design

Abstract Vibronic interactions between nuclear motion and electronic states are critical for the accurate modeling of photochemistry. However, accurate simulations of fully quantum non-adiabatic dynamics are often prohibitively expensive for classical methods beyond small systems. In this work, we present a quantum algorithm based on product formulas for simulating time evolution under a general vibronic Hamiltonian in real space, capable of handling an arbitrary number of electronic states and vibrational modes. We develop the first trotterization scheme for vibronic Hamiltonians beyond two electronic states and introduce an array of optimization techniques for the exponentiation of each fragment in the product formula, resulting in a remarkably low cost of implementation. To demonstrate practical relevance, we outline a proof-of-principle integration of our algorithm into a materials discovery pipeline for designing more efficient singlet fission-based organic solar cells. We estimate that 100 fs of propagation using a second-order Trotter product formula for a 6-state, 21-mode model of exciton transport at an anthracene dimer requires 154 qubits and 2.76 × 10 6 Toffoli gates. While a 4-state, 246-mode model describing charge transfer at an anthracene-fullerene interface requires 1053 qubits and 2.66 × 10 7 Toffoli gates.