Quantum Lattice Boltzmann Method based on linear equilibrium distribution functions

In this paper, we propose a complete formulation of the Lattice Boltzmann Method adapted for quantum computing. The classical collision, based on linear equilibrium distribution functions and streaming steps, are reformulated as linear algebraic operations. The inherently non-unitary collision operator is decomposed using Singular Value Decomposition and the Linear Combination of Unitaries technique. Bounce-back boundary conditions are incorporated directly into the collision matrix, while the streaming step is realized through conditional unitary shift operations on spatial registers, controlled by lattice velocity indices encoded in the distribution function register. This formulation ensures that the streaming step remains purely unitary. The resulting quantum circuit is implemented using Qiskit and validated against Couette flow and Poiseuille flow benchmarks. The simulation accurately reproduces the expected velocity profile, with relative errors below <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="m1"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>1</mml:mn> <mml:msup> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>0</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>−</mml:mo> <mml:mn>4</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:msup> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> . This work establishes a foundational framework for quantum fluid solvers and provides a pathway toward quantum computational fluid dynamics.

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Publication Details

Journal
Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering
Published
2026-01-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmech.2025.1717775
Primary Topic
Lattice Boltzmann Simulation Studies
Type
article
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article

Quantum Lattice Boltzmann Method based on linear equilibrium distribution functions

Zhengliang Liu, Benzi John, David R. Emerson
Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering
Lattice Boltzmann Simulation Studies
article

Quantum Lattice Boltzmann Method based on linear equilibrium distribution functions

Zhengliang Liu, Benzi John, David R. Emerson
article en

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a complete formulation of the Lattice Boltzmann Method adapted for quantum computing. The classical collision, based on linear equilibrium distribution functions and streaming steps, are reformulated as linear algebraic operations. The inherently non-unitary collision operator is decomposed using Singular Value Decomposition and the Linear Combination of Unitaries technique. Bounce-back boundary conditions are incorporated directly into the collision matrix, while the streaming step is realized through conditional unitary shift operations on spatial registers, controlled by lattice velocity indices encoded in the distribution function register. This formulation ensures that the streaming step remains purely unitary. The resulting quantum circuit is implemented using Qiskit and validated against Couette flow and Poiseuille flow benchmarks. The simulation accurately reproduces the expected velocity profile, with relative errors below <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="m1"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>1</mml:mn> <mml:msup> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>0</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>−</mml:mo> <mml:mn>4</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:msup> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> . This work establishes a foundational framework for quantum fluid solvers and provides a pathway toward quantum computational fluid dynamics.

Frontiers in Mechanical EngineeringVol. 11
Daresbury Laboratory (GB)
Openalex Percentile: Top 86%
Lattice Boltzmann Simulation Studies
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Quantum Lattice Boltzmann Method based on linear equilibrium distribution functions — Zhengliang Liu, Benzi John, et al. · Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS