Quantum annealing of pure and random Ising chains coupled to a bosonic environment

Abstract: We study quantum annealing of pure and random transverse Ising chains that are coupled to boson baths, using a novel numerical method based on the combination of the quasi-adiabatic propagation path integral (QUAPI) and the matrix product state (MPS) formalisms. We present numerical results on systems up to 64 spins and conclude that the baths disturb quantum annealing of pure and random Ising chains. The numerical method to compute the reduced density matrix is described in detail.